The Ryder Cup kicks off with one of the best events at the
tournament, the alternate shot foursomes, one of the sport’s unique sights as
one of the true elements of team golf. In "foursomes", two players
alternate hitting the same ball, from tee shot until a putt is made. They also
alternate who hits the tee shot on each hole. So, regardless of who makes the
putts, player one would hit drives on the first, third, and fifth holes, while
player two hits the tee shots on the second, fourth, and sixth holes. Below each
match is rated.
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker vs. Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell:
With the course at Medinah having been opened and cut away – there is literally
no rough at all and the fairways have been opened enough to allow even the most
wayward bombers to compete, so Rory should really fancy his chances standing at
fifth in the driving average list on this season’s PGA Tour. He performed
poorly at Celtic Manor but is a much wiser player now and won his foursomes
match with McDowell two years ago, so they are fancied to pair up to good
effect here. Furyk and Snedeker are a similar kind of matchup, but this can go
to Europe.
Advice: No bet at prices, but preference is for Europe. 1-0
Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley vs. Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia:
One of the marquee matchups, with three of the biggest players in the same
match, and Bradley is already a major champion in only his second year on the
PGA Tour. Bradley is a debutant though and Mickleson has lost 5 of his
foursomes, while Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, have a combined 14 wins, 1 tie,
and no losses in Ryder Cup foursomes. No contest.
Advice: 4 pts Donald/Garcia (10/11 general). 2-0
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson vs. Lee Westwood/Francesco
Molinari: This is harder to predict. Dufner is making his debut but he’s a late
developer in general, and his age is clearly helping rather than hindering him –
and his 70% of green shots is a really encouraging for the approach to the
sharp greens. Johnson, who is the shorting hitting off the two, is a
sensational putter who’s finally getting a chance to play at home having gone
to the K Club and Celtic Manor, while he’s been given a playing partner that
really suits him. Westwood and Molinari are very good tee to green players, but
have suffered nerves on the greens at the big stages before and may have to
give second best again.
Advice: 5/4 is tempting about the Americans given their
putting dependency, but the tee to green ability of the Westwood/Molinari
pairing means it might just be best left. 2-1
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods vs. Ian Poulter/Justin Rose:
Tiger Woods has a notoriously poor Ryder Cup record although the pairing of him
and Steve Sticker (who won their foursome convcingly two years ago) should work
well, That said, they’re very short in comparison to the 13/8 offered for Poulter
(top points scorer combined at Vallhalla) and Rose, who teamed up for two
points in the first three sessions two years ago. At the prices, only one team
stands out.
Advice: 1 pt Poulter/Rose (13/8 Betfred). 3-1 Europe
VERDICT: Europe have won the first morning's session in four
of the last six Ryder Cups and they should feel very confident about taking the
foursomes, a session in which they lead 37-27 over the history of the
tournament. Only two players - Peter Hanson and Francesco Molinari - own losing
records compared to an American record which sees Only Matt Kuchar (one from
one) own a winning record. Olzabal’s matchups contrast strong winning records (Luke
Donald has won all six of his games, Sergio Garcia is eight from 11, Lee
Westwood has won seven from 13, Ian Poulter two from three, Justin Rose two
from four) with the best tee to green approaches, and that can see them take a convincing
lead, as they will need to do to retain the trophy. Back the visitors for a 3-1
lead.
Advice: 3 pts Europe (6/4 general), 3-1 Europe (6/1 general)
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