Ryder Cup - European Picks

First topic message reminder :

Rory McIlroy
Danny Willett
Henrik Stenson
Chris Wood
Sergio García
Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Justin Rose
Andy Sullivan
Matthew Fitzpatrick


The above nine have qualified automatically for this year's Ryder Cup, which 3 will join them on the 29th August when Darren Clarke will announce his wildcards?

I also think our team looks a bit weak now.

But I also recall thinking that in the past. But when I look back on the old teams now, then suddenly don't look that bad anymore.

Maybe, in 10 years time, when we look back at this team, it won't look that bad either?

Look at players like McGinley, Philip Price, Ken Brown, Coltart, Howell, Levet, Hanson, Stephen Gallacher, Rocca, etc and you're looking at some fairly weak names, but some of those have actually done big things in the RC, on the other hand, look at Mickelson, Woods, Furyk, Watson etc who have done nothing than give away more points than they win.

There's far too much stall placed on names, reputation and the like, look at the arrogance of the English in football, always going on about golden generations etc about how much better they are "on paper" than other teams, yet, these days they aren't even good enough to get beaten on penalty shootouts, because they don't even get to that stage. Played off the park by a team that looked worse on paper in Iceland, yet we all know what happened.

Yes, the European team looks inexperienced and a bit light weight, but it has done in the past whilst the yanks have looked strong, but only one team plays as a team every time, and it isn't America.

Yes "weak names" have done well. But when you look back there has only been 1-2 weak names (who are still perceived weak) per team. This year it looks like there are even more weak names. Heck, in 1999 Paul Lawrie was, and probably still is, a weak name to me despite having won the Open. And Willett may be this years Paul Lawrie because he also looks a bit light weight. But time will tell how history judges players and that's my point here I guess.

Paul Lawrie was great last time he played in the RC, he absolutely pumped Snedeker.

America have often had 12 strong names, yet, does them no good.

McLaren wrote:Navy, I pretty much agree with all of what John said but will watch at least the final day of the RC as long as it doesn't clash with a Man Utd match or grand prix.  It is easy enough to find aspects of an event distasteful but still watch it.


Super/ben

If Westwood is just there to hold together team spirit could he not have achieved that from the position of VC?  Why does he need to play some average golf to boost team moral?

Clearly. You like F1.

McLaren wrote:Super, has it occurred to you that I understand what you are saying but disagree with you?

Knox has 2 PGAT wins this season.  If that doesn't sink in, then it is you who does not understand how good that is.  He hasn't won some tinpot european tour event where the field is bulked up with aging tennis players.

I give you Tiger Woods. Case closed.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:European team isn't the best with all due respect..

US......Johnson, Mickelson, Reed, Spieth, Walker, Koepka, Johnson..

Chuck in Fowler, Bubba and Furyk to the mix.............Add in home soil and a Tailor made course.....

It adds up to a good weekend for any European to keep the TV switched off....Like the robot says in the film Alien "You have my sympathies"...

Stenson, Rose for me are the only two that could scare anybody.....

18-10.....

Stick to U.S. politics I think.

He's probably a Trump supporter too

There's no point having a conversation with Mac about a team event. He plays all his sports with his thumbs in solitude in his bedroom. You can't expect him to grasp concepts like camaraderie.

Didn't he play for Everton?

Danny Camaraderie?
Semi decent player, shame about the dreadlocks

That's the fella

For some reason I went through a phase of singing him on championship manager.

Can someone define a "weak" name and a "strong" name and then tell me what the hell difference does it make in the last 5 or 6 RC matches? Thanks

Should've stuck with Bakayoko off of To Madeira and Cherno Samba, Mac

super_realist wrote:Paul Lawrie was great last time he played in the RC, he absolutely pumped Snedeker.

America have often had 12 strong names, yet, does them no good.

1-2 is "Great"?

Ok whatever.

Or Pinga from Torino I think, does anyone else remember him?

I would say that a lot of the time it's been the unsung Europeans that have arguably overachieved in Ryder Cup success.
Lawrie's thrashing of Snedeker, Phillip Price thumping Mickelson, Eamonn Darcy over Crenshaw, David Gilford's three points at Oak Hill, things like that are inspiring.

There's a seemingly constant debate in ice-hockey about who wins big matches, whether it's the superstars who play normally or the fourth line (the subs bench if you will) who play out of their skins. Ideally you want both, but Europe's unsung heroes have surely been a major part of their success.

Darren Clarke: "ahum, ..... can I still make one tiny, tiny amendment. Swapping Alex for Andy? Same capital A's but a WORLD of difference in readiness and actual form on the golfcourse"

Good to see Willett, Fitzpatrick and Westwood put in good scores yesterday. High time, especially for Willett.

could Casey get picked for the US team?

Silly question Mac.

Not really, do you know whether or not you have to have the correct passport to represent a team on the Ryder cup?

He's European, he identifies as European and he's played for the European Ryder Cup team.

Even if he was eligible, can you imagine how much clog the PGA would get by picking such a player? Not only would Casey be a Knox like outsider, the country would hardly get behind a player who was quoted as saying he liked "nothing better than beating America".

America are way too flagwaving to pick a player who isn't at least a citizen.

super_realist wrote:America are way too flagwaving to pick a player who isn't at least a citizen.

Unlike the people of Britain who have moved on from moronic flag waving?  Britain now officially the most small minded jingoistic country going.

There is no official table of who is the most flag waving nation you plank.

super_realist wrote:There is no official table of who is the most flag waving nation you plank.

What did you think the #brexit vote was about?

There still isn't a league table of flag waving oaf.

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:There is no official table of who is the most flag waving nation you plank.

What did you think the #brexit vote was about?

I'm not following...explain??

Good thing for Europe is that it will be cold at Hazeltine in October...Bad news is Minnesota is known as the water state and the Europeans are not holding enough...Considering you got beat handily in 2008 with plenty of rookies I guess it doesn't bode too well this time either !!....After the ride Reed got last time I'll be interested to see how Chris Wood and the like get on....With the pressure...It will be noisy..

Always think experience away is an advantage...You had just one rookie last time.

I think it'll finish around 18-10..I just do.......Stenson,  Rose, Garcia have plenty of balls...Westwood too but not sure which Lee will turn up..Masters champion is struggling it seems.

Europe did brilliantly on the final day last time with Jose...Memory serves correctly ninety percent of this board had given the USA the win only to say after they never doubted their boys when it was over...But it's OK. .

Europe does play better than the sum of its parts to be sure and credit to them....But too many rookies for me..

Looking forward to this Ryder cup....Be honest are you guys ???

Still good to see so many regulars on here... Good stuff.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Good thing for Europe is that it will be cold at Hazeltine in October...Bad news is Minnesota is known as the water state and the Europeans are not holding enough...Considering you got beat handily in 2008 with plenty of rookies I guess it doesn't bode too well this time either !!....After the ride Reed got last time I'll be interested to see how Chris Wood and the like get on....With the pressure...It will be noisy..

Always think experience away is an advantage...You had just one rookie last time.

I think it'll finish around 18-10..I just do.......Stenson,  Rose, Garcia have plenty of balls...Westwood too but not sure which Lee will turn up..Masters champion is struggling it seems.

Europe did brilliantly on the final day last time...Memory serves correctly ninety percent of this board had given the USA the win only to say after they never doubted their boys after..

Europe does play better than the sum of its parts to be sure and credit to them....But too many rookies for me..

Looking forward to this Ryder cup....Be honest are you guys ???

Still good to see so many regulars on here... Good stuff.

Yes, looking forward to it immensely, regardless of the result, obviously a European win will be more pleasing but it wouldn't be the end of the world if they didn't do it. Might be good to hand the US one to keep them interested. Impossible to predict at this stage and you should know, you've got the last 3 wrong..

Going for a four-peat TRUSS, then you can go for one-for-the-thumb en France. Bon chance en France et all that.

Truss, where do you hide inbetween the Ryder Cups? Do you hibernate in a secret oxygen chamber, and then come every second september you're let out, like the cattle after the winter?

First one I really watched was Kiawah Island...Pedro...

Brilliant rough and tumble...All the way up to Langer's miss...

Love Ryder cup..

I was at Kiawah, TRUSS, how come I missed you?
David Gilford would have wiped the floor with Volcano if Pate hadn't called in sick - hollow victory at best . . . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:I was at Kiawah, TRUSS, how come I missed you?
David Gilford would have wiped the floor with Volcano if Pate hadn't called in sick - hollow victory at best . . . . . . . .

Pate had a word with Jimenez a little later..

Don't ever change Kwini..

Like I said Ryder cup....It's everything..But just for a weekend..

It's all good..

How many wins in a row for Europe before a continent vs a country becomes a farce?

For this reason aren't some of the European fans actually hoping for a team 'merica victory?

Very good TRUSS, But what did Miguel have to do with Steve Pate?

Mac, it's not Europe's fault that America haven't won lately.

We get you don't like it, so why bother to comment?

Just to pick up on another point
Truss said

"Europe does play better than the sum of its parts to be sure and credit to them....But too many rookies for me.."

That in a nutshell is why Europe have become so dominant in RC victories in recent times. I'm not convinced about the rookie thing either, take the Walker Cup, most of the Teams are effectively rookies. Again GB & I's recent record reinforces the view about the whole being better than the sum of the parts. I had a memory flash up on Facebook this morning from 5 years ago when I photo bombed the GB & I Walker Cup squad. It was during the Tassie at Carnoustie, the squad stopped off for a practice round on the way to Aberdeen. Looking at that squad Sullivan is the first one to make the leap from Walker to Ryder. Of the others I think Lewis is the only other one that's made the European Tour and he's not exactly setting it on fire. Contrast that to the 2011 U.S. Squad. Speith is on his 2nd Ryder Cup whilst English and Henley are pretty well established on the PGAT. Not sure what's happened to Uhlein lately or Cantlay but in summary, I think it was pretty clear in 2011 and even more so with hindsight that the US squad was much more talented individually...but the score was???

Hope Europe wins (what will the flag be post Brexit?) but think the home team will prosper.

Either way, will get a chance to watch most of it for a change, in Portugal golfing so by the time we finish each day it should be pretty good timing to watch the bulk of the days play (or at least the bulk of the day's coverage of Monty telling us how good he was at it) .

2012...............Poulter, Westwood, Donald, Lawrie, Kaymer, Rose, Garcia, McIlroy, McDowell.........

9 players with grit and pretty much all leaders... and you still were gifted a one point win by Woods on the last hole..........My guess is... if we could still win the cup Woods takes more time over his five footer.....

Stenson, McIlroy, Garcia, Kaymer, Westwood ......5 leaders....

Your team this time pales in comparison to 2012 and you needed "The miracle" to win last time..

Hoping it's close.........We all love a fun singles day.....But I'll probably end up swigging the fizzy stuff on the Saturday night..

You don't think Rose is a leader Truss?

Trouble with America is they have no leaders, no one who takes any such role, and the only thing America know how to do as a team is get beat.

Actually, Europe didn't need a "miracle" last time, as Europe stuffed America at Gleneagles and for the record, the singles is on Sunday you plank.

Woods conceding that putt was one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship the game has ever seen. Without conceding that putt Europe were looking at only retaining the cup and not winning outright.

Ha ha Mac, that wasn't sportsmanship at all, I think he did it because he knew the cup was gone and he couldn't care less because it meant yet another cup had gone away. Whether Europe won or retained it mattered not a jot, in the end in means USA didn't have it.

Super, the difference between getting more points or the same points makes a big difference. I hate the retaining concept. If you get the same amount of points over one event it is a draw. No point bringing past success into it.

The players present in a particular event all want to get more points than the other team.

It wouldn't mean the slightest thing to 9c. He's only interested in 1st place and rightly so, so whether Europe won or could only retain made no difference to 9C, he still lost, whether you "hate" the notion of retaining is irrelevant, it's the rules and 9c knew it.

Bet if he was putting for USA to retain he'd have tried.

Come to think of it though, retaining it instead of a draw is a bit odd. What would happen in the Ashes if it was drawn? You could have 2 wins each and a draw in that.

super_realist wrote:You don't think Rose is a leader Truss?

Trouble with America is they have no leaders, no one who takes any such role, and the only thing America know how to do as a team is get beat.

Actually, Europe didn't need a "miracle" last time, as Europe stuffed America at Gleneagles and for the record, the singles is on Sunday you plank.

You should try being more even tempered....

I know the singles is on a sunday read my post again !!............But I won't call you a name... I have more class..

Ryder cup history................USA 25 - GB/Europe 12............Guess we don't need leaders ...

I only called you a plank, hardly hurting your feelings is it? More akin to being called a silly-billy.

Why are you quoting some completely lop sided team event in who has won?

US v GB/Ire was a completely ridiculous situation. 300 million population against less than 60million. Like a heavyweight boxer against a flyweight.

US v the golfing population of Europe is far more fair, although probably favours Europe a bit more.

USA v Europe = 7 : 11 and just the 2 wins out of the last 10 for your great "leaders".

Not sure why you keep championing the cause of America in this event as they consistently let you down.

TRUSS,
I expect you were "swigging the fizzy stuff Saturday night" in 2012 as well.
Did it taste better on the way back up again than it did on the way down?

Good that our non-leaders include a recent US Open winner and current Masters champ . . . . . .