Ive just spent around 6 hours reading reports ,write ups,previews etc etc and it all points in 1 direction ,a win for Europe .
To cut a long thread short ,coz i could write pages on this subject ,heres the basic outline of my reasons to back Europe.
The Europeans claim this is the best European team EVER , and thats saying something considering that they won the last ryder cup by 9 points ! All the team bar 1 player (paul mcginley) are at the top of their game , and the forecast windy conditions will suit the Europeans down to the ground ,and will be totally against the yanks who are much more at home playing in dry calm conditions .
The European team is of an equal level of quality throughout ,a nice even spread , whereas the yank team is very top heavy ,with Woods, Furyk, Di Marco and Mickleson the only real top players , the rest are either well out of form or very unproven , they have 4 rookies who will be all at sea in this competition and who arent exactly in top form either , and even Mickleson hasnt done anything since his fold up in the US open when bang in contention . Their wild card went to Scott Verplank who hasnt won for 5 years , and the real form players were ousted from the team because of the mad qualifying they have over there ,you get 5 times as many points for this season as opposed to last season , hence the reason we see Brett Wetterlich, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Zach Johnson . Old stalwarts David Toms ,Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell are all woefully out of sorts ,as is wildcard Verplank .Leaving the big 4 ,and of those Mickleson isnt at his best , Woods was well out of sorts at the recent matchplay tournament missing many easy putts (never a good sign), Di Marco`s just lost his mother and has played 1 good tourny all year, Micklesons played awful since his US open crash , and that leaves Jim Furyk and he cant get 18 points on his own can he !!
The Europeans are much more balanced talent and formwise , Sergio Garcia always does well in these match ups , as does Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie has been in top form recently ,Luke Donald is at the top of his game ,Darren Clarkes a Ryder cup veteran who always picks up his fare share of points ,as does Lee Westwood , and Paul Casey recently won the World Matchplay battering anotheyank Shaun Micheel in the biggest ever matchplay margin 10+8 !! The 2 swedes Stenson + Karlsson have 4 wins between them this season and are hitting the ball well , Olazabal is another veteran whos experience will be crucial to help the young guns ,and he gets a few points himself here and there , and then theres Mcginley whos badly out of sorts , but may well be rejuvenated by the Ryder cup seeing as it will bring fond memories for him .
A recent interview with a top US player who didnt make the team claimed that this US team would struggle to put pressure on a stiff breeze nevermind the European team ,and they fly over knowing the are well up against it . They havent been able to practise much as the weather has prevented hardly any golf and this will also count against them .
Theres many bets i could do , but i like to take small chances rather than big ones and i see the current 1.96 on
betfair for a european victory as very very big indeed . Theyve been cut to as low as 1.60 with
VC bet ,and they seem much nearer the mark. Id take a tie going into the final round as in the final 12 singles europe will mop up the points , but im expecting a lead of some sorts and then its all over red rover !
£50 Europe to win the Ryder Cup @ 1.96 (Betfair)
Regards
Man In The Know
Golf : Ryder Cup - September 22-24
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 2
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