The Ryder Cup / October 1-3, 2010
 

The Ryder Cup and its matches are on the way. Go here for the latest:

http://www.rydercup.com/2010

Click on your entry point of choice and enjoy.

Meanwhile, let's get something going here, starting with the respective Captain's Picks. I'll begin the bombast with Captain Monty -- always a favorite! -- and ask . . .

How could you possibly pass over 2010 two-time and RECENT PGA TOUR winner Justin Rose? Two wins, four top-10s, 10 top 25s; $3.36 million official money; 69.84 Scoring Average; and 10th in FedEx Cup points. Luke's had a good run in Europe this year; the Molinari brothers are hot (on and off); and Padraig has had his Major Moments in recent years and still has his experience. But, still . . .

No Justin?

IMHO, No Justice!

:shock:

I couldn't agree with you more on this one. Casey had to have been hard to leave off the team, as well.

Donald has done well this year and has a good Ryder Cup record to boot; that may prove to be a very smart pick. His 2010 PGA Tour stats are solid, also. Two seconds, two thirds, six top 10's, and nine top 25's, plus he's closing strong.

It'll be interesting to see if the Molinari brothers get paired together and how they do. Could be a tough team given how comfortable they must be with one another and how well they know each other's game.

How about the US side?

From my armchair quarterback perspective, I don't like the Stuart Cink pick. I think our youth and confidence is a key strength of this team, and JB Holmes would've been a better personality fit while still bringing some Ryder Cup experience to the table. Had to pick Tiger for a number of reasons. Zach is gritty, experienced and a solid pick. The Fowler pick is risky but plays to the team strength, so I like it.

Monty said that he would prioritise players who were loyal to the european tour. Justin Rose has only played 2 et tournaments this year. His two wins on the PGA tour may be better than Eduardo Molinari's 2 wins & 5 top 10 finishes in Europe, but it is a close call. And after all, Eduardo played on the Ryder Cup qualifying tour. And Eduardo and Francesco makes up for a very strong partnership in foursome and best ball so Eduardo looks like the right pick to me.

Luke Donald's world standings and 2010 track record is too strong to ignore. I'd say he looks clearly stronger than Justin Rose on paper.

But I don't understand why Monty picked Harrington. He hasn't been much of a factor this year. His Ryder Cup CV doesn't stand out either. Justin and Paul Casey looks better. But I think Paul looks like the strongest player of the two. Justin Rose seems to have lost his form since his two wins earlier this season.

On the US side I guess it would be hard to not pick Tiger. He doesn't look like a good team player at the moment. He looks like a big risk factor. Tiger is a dominant player. Will he be as supportive and enthusiastic and bring the fighting spirit that Seve did when he couldn't find a fairway? Or will Tiger's dissatisfaction with his own game have a negative impact on the team spirit?

But the bottom line is: Making the Ryder Cup team is 70% justice and 30% captain's pick. Everyone has had their chance to make the team outright. Monty probably has put some good thinking behind his pick of Harrington even though I don't see it. And it sure will be interesting to see how Tiger handles himself and how that affects the US team. Tiger could swing the tournament both ways.

If Westy pulls out due to injury, Rose will get his spot so its not 100% all over for Justin.

I think harrington is a good pick, yes the others mentioned are great players but outside Faldo and Seve, Harrington is the BEST european player of the modern age. olazabal never won 3 majors, nor did Langer or Woosnam. he really is that good and the amount of flak he has received is totally unjustified IMO.

On the plus side, NO-ONE works harder on their game and given the fact that he has 3 weeks off before the Cup, I reckon it will be a very good Harrington that tees it up a Celtic Manor.

He is good, but not that good. His majors record is excellent, but there are a lot of european players who have done better outside the majors than Harrington.

This will be interesting as it plays out. I agree that Tiger's attitude isn't great for a team, but if he hadn't been picked, could you imagine the media circus and distraction those guys would be facing? It's going to be bad with him there, but all the team would hear if he wasn't would be questions about how his absence will affect / is affecting / and did affect the team. Had to pick him. Partner him with Stricker and hope for a president's cup repeat.

With Tiger's current form he can probably swing the cup both ways. It will be extra interesting to see him in action this time around.

I like Pavin's pick of Fowler. He's got the game, and a nice match play record in the Walker Cup and could help fire up the team in a way I don't think many others would.

October in Wales is far different than the USA. It could all be determined by which team plays best in cold or rainy weather. Our guys in layers and layers of clothing will struggle.

Its not Florida, but its not Alaska either!

"Temperature

Throughout the month of October daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 15°C that's about 59°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 9°C, that's 49°F.

In recent times the highest recorded temperature in October has been 22°C that's 72°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 1°C, about 33°F.

Relative Humidity

The average daily relative humidity for October is around 78%.
Heat Index

The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels when relatively humidity is added to actual air temperature. From this a comfort level is calculated providing categories on how heat conditions might adversely affect someone.

Comfort Levels: Given average maximum temperatures and humidity levels generally you should not anticipate any discomfort from heat (see heat index for more information).

Precipitation

The average monthly amount of precipitation has been recorded at around 98 mm, that's 4 inches. Throughout the month you can expect to see rain or drizzle falling on 16 days of the month.

Wind

The average daily wind speed in October has been around 16 kph, that’s the equivalent to about 10 mph, or 9 knots. In recent years the maximum sustained wind speed has reached 69 kph, that’s the equivalent of around 43 mph, or 37 knots.

Fog

On average the month of October is affected by foggy conditions on less than 1 day."

No need for Snow Shoes and Parkas. :D

Smack!!!!!

It's strange not to make use of players like Casey and Rose, but as a European - it hopefully indicates the strengh of the European team !?

Didn't intend to 'drop one on you'. No offense intended.

Just you watch. It will now turn all nasty and you will be smacking me back.:laughing9

I hope it will be close and that no team wins all the time. About 50 - 50 will be best in the long run. Therefore it was a good thing that USA wun last time. But this time...

[QUOTE=BerntR;75692]He is good, but not that good. His majors record is excellent, but there are a lot of european players who have done better outside the majors than Harrington.[/quote]

Such as?

Westwood? Monty? Casey?

All good players but the truth is that Monty would swap all of his order of merit titles for just one major, Padraig has three, you don't get three by accident. It is majors that define a players career. The bashing that Padraig is getting from european media beggars belief and I think could cause serious disunity amongst the team. If we remember the last contentious captain's pick, it was when Woosie went with Clarke and Westwood and left out Thomas Bjorn. We all know how that ended up at the K-Club!

No-one is saying that Rose and Casey weren't worthy of being in the mix, but Harrington got the pick and it is time for the media to drop the issue and start getting behind the team.

Rompin' Finish In the Ryder Cup
 

Well, it's a wrap, and what a great victory for Europe, its team and its Captain. The USA team battled hard down the stretch, but the deficit at day's beginning proved too much.

Congrats to all on both sides of the pond.

Awesome spectacle!

:salut:

An incerdible finish, for it to come down to the last match, unreal. Look forward to 2012.

This is just way-too much of a disappointment. :(

It's not unusual that Europe wins:

.
Year Site USA Eur/GB/GBI W
2008 Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky 16 ½ 11 ½ USA
2006 The K Club, Straffan
Co. Kildare, Ireland 9 ½ 18 ½ E
2004 Oakland Hills CC
Bloomfield Township, MI 9 ½ 18 ½ E
2002 The Belfry
Sutton Coldfield, England 12 ½ 15 ½ E
1999 The Country Club
Brookline, MA 14 ½ 13 ½ USA
1997 Valderrama GC
Sotogrande Spain 13 ½ 14 ½ E
1995 Oak Hill CC
Rochester, NY 13 ½ 14 ½ E

Thank you AirAir, that news really cheered me up...

News?
You have to be better updated.

Maybe this will cheer you up:

1983 PGA National GC
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 14 ½ 13 ½ USA
1981 Walton Health GC
Surrey, England 18 ½ 9 ½ USA
1979 The Greenbrier
White Sulfer Springs, W. Va. 17 11 USA
1977 Royal Lytham & St. Annes
St. Annes, England 12 ½ 7 ½ USA
1975 Laurel Valley GC
Ligonier, Pa. 21 11 USA
1973 Muirfield
Edinburgh, Scotland 19 13 USA
1971 Old Warson CC
St. Louis, Mo. 18 ½ 13 ½ USA
1969 Royal Birkdale GC
Southport, England 16 16 A TIE
1967 Champions GC
Houston, Texas 23 ½ 8 ½ USA
1965 Royal Birkdale GC
Southport, England 19 ½ 12 ½ USA
1963 East Lake CC
Atlanta, Ga. 23 9 USA
1961 Royal Lytham & St. Annes
St, Annes, England 14 ½ 9 ½ USA
1959 Eldorado CC
Palm Desert, Calif. 8 ½ 3 ½ USA
1957 Lindrick GC
Yorkshire, England 4 ½ 7 ½ UK
1955 Thunderbird CC
Palm Springs, Calif. 8 4 USA
1953 Wentworth GC
Wentworth, England 6 ½ 5 ½ USA
1951 Pinehurst CC
Pinehurst, N.C. 9 ½ 2 ½ USA
1949 Ganton GC
Scarborough, England 7 5 USA
1947 Portland Golf Club
Portland, Ore. 11 1 USA

Hey Daryl, that airair really has a way of making you feel better!!!!!!!!
An incredible finish to the tournament,that could have gone either way, have to tell you that messers Fowler, Cink and Furyk really endeared themselves to the European crowd. an incredible atmosphere, which must have been great to play in, and for all you euros reading this, how much does Ian Poulter like the Ryder Cup?
Where are we in 2012? Winged Foot or did I hear wrong?

Poulter is a terrier with a fighting face. But what about Jeff Overton when he made the eagle on the par 4 8th hole in the fourballs with Bubba Watson - who also got very fired up on that occasion. I have never seen anything like it before!

2012 the RC is at Medinah Country Club.

What an event. 8 hour delay on Friday was awful. US did well to get a first session lead.

The Saturday was another great day for team america and it looked bleak.

Sunday however was all about team Europe! What a great day and what a session. 5.5 points from 6! Incredible and what made it even more special wa sthat every member of the team contributed - including the controversial pick of HArrington!

Monday was set up perfectly and I barely left my chair all day. At one stage it was looking like a cake walk but team USA threw away the script and some incredible golf was played.

The mechanic rolled his ass on the practice ground, then rolled away the years for a brilliant victory over Bubba.

Tiger reminded everyone that he still is the greatest player to ever pick up sticks, 9 under for 15 holes? I think Molinari did well to stay out that long! The only shame of it was Stevie wandering around like a lost tourist because he refused to wear a caddy bib.

When Ricky Fowler showed why he was worth his woldcard by birdieing the last 4 holes to snatch a half, it came down to our wee mon from Ulster. G-mac has had an ad running in the build up to the Ryder Cup where he states that winners are made when no one is watching and legends are made when the world is watching. G-mac had the golfing world watching when he holed that putt on 16 for birdie and the chance to win back the RC for Europe.

Hunter may have made it easier for him on 17 than anyone might have wished, but I have no doubt that if he'd needed to, G-mac would have rolled in the putt.

A great cup, a great win for Europe and as usual, respect to the losing team who maintained their dignity.

All hail field marshall Montgomery!!!!!!!!!

:notworthy :hello2:

Well spoken.

worst Ryder Cup ever.

Delays on three days, no flow, screwed up matches so you could not really employ strategy.

On top of that I tivo'd NBC for Monday only to find out it was not even on NBC. Nice.

Not much one can do with the weather. But what happened on Monday was great golf and very exciting. I understand that it was disappointing to witness Hunter Mahan's unsuccessful shot, but that doesn't spoil all the great golf that was performed all day long. And so close. A great Ryder Cup.

Agreed. Not much can be done with the weather, unless you guys across the pond have invented something that controls the weather :laughing1
That is the main comment to have come out of the Ryder Cup this week, is that its on too late in the year. October is not the greatest of months in the UK or Europe (it will prob be the same in the States as well) It used to be in mid to late Sept which worked out quite well but the FedEx Cup kinda scuppers that idea now and the PGA Tour will never allow to have the Ryder Cup slap bang in the middle of the play offs and some players (on both sides) could end up playing 4-5 weeks in a row.
Alex

No blame was assessed to anyone in my post, I just commented on where this Ryder Cup ranks, it has nothing to do with who won. I thought 2002 was great, USA lost there as usual.

The fact that you couldn't see what was going on the last day doesn't make this year's Ryder Cup the worst ever for everybody else who saw what was going on - both the spectators and all the TV watchers here in Europe and elsewhere. And the weather was wonderful (except some fog the first half hour).

Agreed, 99 at brookline is probably my least favourite Ryder Cup but I admit that its mainly down to the fact that we lost. 2years ago the event was great but we lost then too.

I thought this was a great Ryder Cup not just because we won but because it came down to the last match. Yes the weather was an inconvenience but there was plenty of golf on Saturday and after a delay on Sunday as well. Monday was magical and great entertainment. In no way would I classify this the worst ryder ever.

The fact that you can't program your VCR shouldn't mean its the event''s fault!