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It’s time.
The 43rd Ryder Cup is almost ready to go, with Whistling Straits on the shore of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin playing host.
Europe, led by Padraig Harrington, is looking for its tenth victory in the last 13 editions of the biennial clash.
• “So cringe!” – Fans react to Brooks-Bryson video
• The story behind the numbers on the Euro bags
Steve Stricker’s Americans, meantime, are bidding to win on home soil for the fourth time in the last six matches.
It’s shaping up to be a truly spectacular week – but who’s going to win? Which players are going to perform best? Which rookie is going to have a debut to remember?
Our guys have their say…
Bryce Ritchie
To win: EUR ??
“Steve
Stricker. Jim Furyk. Davis Love III. From a European perspective, those
three names are covered in Ryder Cup scar tissue, with only Love III
having experienced some kind of redemption in 2016 when he was given the
opportunity to win the cup back following the disaster of Medinah.
Furyk must hate the Ryder Cup by now, surely. Quite simply, he was an
awful captain in Paris.
“I
still believe this is an event the Americans can’t quite grasp, and the
squabbling between Brooks and Bryson and (potentially) Reed and
Everyone Else isn’t going to make Stricker’s job any easier. Since 1999,
the US have won twice, so the odds are that they will start to pick up
wins – but it’s not that straightforward. Having six wild cards will
mean someone will miss out, and the US traditionally go with their
rankings for picks. I see another US disaster.”
MVP Jordan Spieth
Top rookie Scottie Scheffler
Michael McEwan
To win: USA ??
“For
all that is made of Europe’s record in the Ryder Cup over the last 40
years, not enough is made of the fact that the US remain formidable
opponents on home turf. They’ve won three of the last five contests
staged Stateside and, but for a ‘miracle’ in 2012, it would have been
four. Maybe even five if Hal Sutton hadn’t decided to use the biggest
stage in golf to conduct perhaps the weirdest experiment in the game’s
history. Even now, 17 years later, pairing Tiger and Phil seems like a
borderline certifiable decision.
“But
back to this year. Yes, Steve Stricker’s Ryder Cup record is awful but
(a) he’s not playing, (b) he is a proven and popular captain, and (c)
he’s captaining in his home state. Expect ridiculous fans – the ‘Cheeseheads’
are a seriously rowdy bunch at the best of times – as well as a three-
or four-point winning margin and an inglorious swansong for Sergio,
Poulter and other mainstays of Europe’s 21st century success. The guard
might just be changing…”
MVP Justin Thomas
Top rookie Xander Schauffele
David Cunninghame
To win: USA ??
‘USA!
USA! USA!’ By the end of the three days in Wisconsin I’ll be sick to
the back teeth of hearing fans bellow out this inane chant, with the
Americans storming to victory.
“Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau
will set aside their petty and tiresome squabbling to get on in the
team room, Collin Morikawa will flush his way to victories on all three
days and the likes of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Dustin Johnson will step up to the plate and deliver. Home
advantage also seems to be playing a more influential role in recent
years, and this is the main reason why I can’t see Europe retaining the
cup. Stricker will do everything within his power to ensure a winning
course set-up for his six qualifiers and six captain’s picks.”
MVP Justin Thomas
Top rookie Collin Morikawa
• Bryson “wants an end” to Brooks feud
Cameron Adam
To win: USA ??
“The
first words that come to mind when I look at the current American team
are ‘murderers’ row’. Eight of the world’s top ten are flying the red,
white and blue – not a statistic we want heading into a 12-man team
event. On the plus side, we do have the current world No.1 in Jon Rahm,
and a wealth of young and hungry talent ready to prove themselves on
American soil. Regardless of rankings, if Harrington can get his
pairings right, it will be a competitive match-up. Pair the veterans
with the rookies (where possible). We’ll embrace being underdogs.”
MVP Dustin Johnson
Top rookie Patrick Cantlay
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