Ryder Cup 2012 - Singles

11.03am CDT, 5.03pm BST: Bubba Watson (11/8) v Luke Donald (11/10)

The first of many top heavy singles battles are Europe look to get some early momentum in their bid for an astonishing fightback, while the USA look to seal the deal early. Luke Donald has won just a point out of three so far but shot 64 with his own ball yesterday as he carried the lacklustre Sergio Garcia to victory, so he’s got every single right to be rated 11/10 for singles victory, not forgetting that he’s got an exceptional record at this event – he came into it with a 77% success record including two successes. Wastson as was beaten by Miguel Angel Jimenez two years ago and in the Presidents Cup but never again will he play on a Ryder Cup course which is so suited towards him – there is quite literally no rough at Medinah, which is typical of the course that Watson enjoys so much as he showed at Augusta, and while Europe can have high hopes this might be best left.

Advice: Donald can edge this 2&1, but this course suits Watson too much to be confident. 1-0 Europe

11.14am CDT, 5.14pm BST: Webb Simpson (6/4) v Ian Poulter (evs)

Ian Poulter has always been something of a Ryder Cup specialist but yesterday’s performance defied belief when he quite literally carried Rory McIlroy to victory over the one of the most impressive pairings seen so far at the tournament with an astonishing run of 5 birdies in the last 5 holes. It’s very much his show that has given Europe a slim, slim chance of retaining the trophy.  The markets have him down as easy meat for Webb Simpson, which might be unfair based on how well he’s played so far, notably when thrashing Rose and Molinari with the match over by the 14^th hole. With that being the case and Poulter also shooting to give us 18/1 and 8/1 winners in the top pointscorer markets, we’ll leave this alone and cheer him on.

Advice: Poutler is a rightful favourite but will have to call upon his reserves again to beat the super reliable putter Simpson. With outright gains at stake, this is one to watch with crossed fingers. 2-0 Europe

11.25am CDT, 5.25pm BST: Keegan Bradley (8/5) v Rory McIlroy (10/11)

With two points already on the board and several fine shots to his name, it’s understandably that Rory McIlroy – himself a finalist of the World Matchplay Championship only to lose in the final – is favourite to beat Keegan Bradley. However Bradley has won every match he’s played in so far, is loving his home debut in the Ryder Cup, has been boosted massively by his pairing with Phil Mickleson and will come here feeling full of life after his rampant victories. McIlroy has been one of the better Europeans and you could argue that his favouritism is deserved, but the price gap is simply miles too big in any circumstance, let alone these.

Advice: 3 pts Keegan Bradley (8/5 Stan James) 2-1 Europe

11.36am CDT, 5.36pm BST: Phil Mickelson (evs) v Justin Rose (6/4)

Phil Mickleson had a horrendous Ryder Cup record before coming here but the responsibility of playing alongside his tutee Keegan Bradley has focused him tremendously and he’s never played so well at this event, being arguably the most impressive American so far with a 100% record so far. His singles record was his most solid piece of form beforehand in any case but playing like this at a course which doesn’t punish his occasional waywardness, he looks excellent value to beat Justin Rose today and complete his finest tournament ever. Rose, who beat Lefty 3&2 at Valhalla four years ago, when the pair also went out fourth, was totally walloped in the Fourballs against Watson and Simpson when the emphasis is more on individual play and while he’s had a solid week so far, he may be running into a player with far too much momentum.

Advice: 2 pts Phil Mickleson (evs Boylesports, Ladbrokes) 2-2

11.47am CDT, 5.47pm BST: Brandt Snedeker (5/6) v Paul Lawrie (7/4)

Paul Lawrie has played twice and been well beaten twice so despite his run to the the semi-finals of the Volvo World Match Play in the spring, I couldn’t touch him with a bargepole against Brandt Snedeker, who will have gained a big boost from reversing their first day foursomes defeat against McIlroy and McDowell yesterday in a nervy contest. Indeed it’s a surprise that Peter Hanson – who beat Snedeker in the Accenture Championship – hasn’t been pitched into battle with the debutant but Snedeker, who went from unconsidered to leading contender within a month after winning the Tour Championship, is brilliant with the putter so should really enjoy these greens today and is a worthy favourite, even if he is odds on.  

Advice: 2 pts Brandt Snedeker (5/6 general) 3-2 USA

11.58am CDT, 5.58pm BST: Dustin Johnson (11/10) v Nicolas Colsaerts (11/8)

This should be a real treat as two of the biggest hitters in world golf go head to head in a crucial match. The late maturing Dustin Johnson is unbeaten and if he didn’t need enough of a mental advantage with the Medinah galleries pushing him on, he holed the putt that denied Colsaerts anything from their fourball match yesterday. It was very harsh on the Belgian, who was so good on Friday on one of the finest debuts in the history of the competition. Nicolas is a real fighter and played superbly yesterday, so I wouldn’t be wanting to take him on given that he’s the reigning world matchplay champion. 11/8 about the Belgian is tempting but might just be best left today.

Advice: Nicolas is more than capable of bouncing back and taking a massive point for Europe but he’s just a touch too short. 3-3

12.09am CDT, 6.09pm BST: Zach Johnson (6/5) v Graeme McDowell (11/8)

Graeme McDowell has shown animal like qualities this week despite winning just one point from three this week but it can’t possibly be forgotten how  famously beat Hunter Mahan to win the Ryder Cup for Europe at Celtic Manor. Zach Johnson has had an excellent two days so far and was denied only by Poulter, so will fancy his chances of dogging this one out.

Advice: Johnson can use home advantage to beat of McDowell but not one that can be called confidently. 4-3 USA

12.20am CDT, 6.20pm BST: Jim Furyk (11/8) v Sergio Garcia (5/4)

Sergio Garcia has been an expensive failure so far for us and he may be best opposed against Jim Furyk, who beat McIlroy and McDowell in a reverse of his opening day defeat in the foursomes. That will give him a lot of confidence and things get even better with his strong singles record (Won 4, Lost 2, Halved 1) compared to Garcia’s, who himself has lost four out of five singles in this competition. Fuyrk become just the fourth many in history to win all his points in the Presidents Cup and has the confidence and support to overturn the Spaniard.

Advice: 1 pt Jim Furyk (11/8 Betfred) 5-3 USA

12.31am CDT, 6.31pm BST: Jason Dufner (10/11) v Peter Hanson (2)

Jason Dufner is making his debut in this competition but has an excellent chance of holding what might possibly be the winning putt against Peter Hanson, who has had a lack of competitive practice, even then being thumped alongside Paul Lawrie in the foursomes on Friday evening. Hanson lost to a below par Phil Mickleson two years ago and is very vulnerable down the order to Dufner, who could easily have faltered under the Poulter barrage but made him fight for every birdie.

Advice: 2 pts Jason Dunfer (10/11 Ladbrokes) 6-3 USA

12.42am CDT, 6.42pm BST: Matt Kuchar (11/10) v Lee Westwood (8/5)

Lee Westwood has an excellent Ryder Cup record but a very poor singles one – He’s won 2 and lost 5 of his 7 – and he’s had a disastrous tournament, blowing a great lead in the opening day foursomes and being totally carried by Colsaerts' performance. Matt Kuchar has to be the bet.

Advice: 1 pt Matt Kuchar (11/10 Ladbrokes) 7-3 USA

12.53am CDT, 6.53pm BST: Steve Stricker (evs) v Martin Kaymer (15/8)

 The USA – holding such a large and commanding lead – may well have regained the trophy by the time this match reaches the back nine. As such, this match is really best avoided despite Stricker being quite a tempting option against Kaymer, who has lost the only match he’s played so far.

Advice: Stricker should win this, but that’s reflected in the prices and the Cup might be over by then. 9-3 USA

1.04am CDT, 7.04pm BST: Tiger Woods (4/5) v Francesco Molinari (23/10)

Tiger Woods has had a dreadful Ryder Cup record and is pointless going into today. With that in mind and the fact that he’s the last match possible, why should anyone back him to beat Francesco Molinari in a match that may well be halved before the end?

Advice: Leave well alone. 9-3 USA

VERDICT: The USA can romp to an emphatic victory in the Ryder Cup by winning the Singles event that they’ve so dominated. Much has been made about the strength of this team but it’s worth underlining that they’ve got 7 major champions here, with the course being set up for more than one – the lack of rough at Medinah is sure to suit Watson, Mickleson and Bradley especially – and the superior putting skills shown by the home side may well be more evident than ever in this format. Having already advised the win beforehand, there seems to be little other outright value barring an acca of the most confident choices. – Mickleson, Dufner, Bradley, Furyk and Snedeker.

Already Advised: 4 pts USA to win Singles (4/5 Ladbrokes)

Acca: Mickleson, Dufner, Bradley, Furyk and Snedeker (19/1 Sportingbet)