2014 Ryder Cup

So McGinley's picked his wildcards. No place for Luke Donald, but Westwood gets another go. Gallacher and the obvious pick Poulter the other two. Would consider Donald a bit unlucky given his matchplay record.

Europe-
Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter, Thomas Björn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson

Seems fair enough to pick Gallacher given his form, the fact he missed out on automatic by a whisker and that he will be on home territory.

TIBOG a bit unlucky but they had to leave someone out, and Poulter and Westwood are among the great Ryder Cup competitors. Anyway it's good to have a tough decision in terms of who to leave out, whereas it seems like the Yanks will be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit to find three more with a few high profile absentees.

Victor Dubuisson, never heard of him. What's his claim to fame and a position on the team? Sounds like a haughty Froggy.

Wiki tells me his is indeed a Frenchman, with one tour win and a 7th place finish in the US PGA.

Looks a decent squad. Carn Europe!!

VD finished runner up to Day in the Worl match play at the start of the year. Displayed an amazing short game mostly from behind cacti in the desert

Word I heard is that VD is a bit clapped out these days and under pressure his putting turns to pox.

beamer wrote:Seems fair enough to pick Gallacher given his form, the fact he missed out on automatic by a whisker and that he will be on home territory.

TIBOG a bit unlucky but they had to leave someone out, and Poulter and Westwood are among the great Ryder Cup competitors. Anyway it's good to have a tough decision in terms of who to leave out, whereas it seems like the Yanks will be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit to find three more with a few high profile absentees.

Westwood's very lucky to be selected. Been rather poor this year and his Ryder cup record is hardly enviable. Gallacher deserved the call up.

Seppos will have a strong team regardless. Dufner's a loss though.

Fred Nerk wrote:Word I heard is that VD is a bit clapped out these days and under pressure his putting turns to pox.

Hasn't played all that much since the USPGA has he? Well, at least not in Europe and he's been crap in the US to be fair.

tricycle wrote:

beamer wrote:Seems fair enough to pick Gallacher given his form, the fact he missed out on automatic by a whisker and that he will be on home territory.

TIBOG a bit unlucky but they had to leave someone out, and Poulter and Westwood are among the great Ryder Cup competitors. Anyway it's good to have a tough decision in terms of who to leave out, whereas it seems like the Yanks will be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit to find three more with a few high profile absentees.

Westwood's very lucky to be selected. Been rather poor this year and his Ryder cup record is hardly enviable. Gallacher deserved the call up.

Seppos will have a strong team regardless. Dufner's a loss though.

They don't do the whole 'team' concept as well as Europe, though. If they get off to a good start they have a chance, otherwise things could fall apart quite quickly in the chilly Scottish autumn weather.

In the last 10 years, the Ryder Cup seems to have become THE number one event in golf. It is extremely entertaining to watch.

The Europeans need the good start. In the singles, USA really should be racking up the points. Also something that they usually do, which is what made Medinah even weirder.

Head to head

Code:

Team USA          Team Europe
Bubba Watson      Rory McIlroy
Rickie Fowler     Henrik Stenson
Jim Furyk         Victor Dubuisson
Jimmy Walker      Jamie Donaldson
Phil Mickelson    Sergio Garcia
Matt Kuchar       Justin Rose
Jordan Spieth     Martin Kaymer
Patrick Reed      Thomas Bjorn
Zach Johnson      Graeme McDowell
Keegan Bradley    Ian Poulter
Hunter Mahan      Stephen Gallacher
Webb Simpson      Lee Westwood

looking at the Seppo team and seeing that fatphil and grubba bubba are both in - it is a no brainer who to barrack for...I will barrack for the Euros and RD/Gabba Dan/Big Dog will be cheering for the sepps

I find it highly unlikely that RD would barrack for the Yanks.

oh well....the euros prolly need a little mascot

tricycle wrote:

beamer wrote:Seems fair enough to pick Gallacher given his form, the fact he missed out on automatic by a whisker and that he will be on home territory.

TIBOG a bit unlucky but they had to leave someone out, and Poulter and Westwood are among the great Ryder Cup competitors. Anyway it's good to have a tough decision in terms of who to leave out, whereas it seems like the Yanks will be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit to find three more with a few high profile absentees.

Westwood's very lucky to be selected. Been rather poor this year and his Ryder cup record is hardly enviable. Gallacher deserved the call up.

Seppos will have a strong team regardless. Dufner's a loss though.

18-13-6 isn't too shabby a record for Westwood, even if his singles record isn't that great.

I'm 50/50 about Donald.
His recent form has been awful, thus opening the door to Westwood whose Ryder Cup form,
paradoxically, is not as good as Donald's ...Go figure!

Surprised at the omission of Molinari (Frank) ... he's a tough competitor as was proven against Tiger a couple of years back.

The Seppos however are fielding a strong outfit ... never write off Bubba and Phil ...

Tough Cup to call this far out... but home advantage might just pay off.

Hasn't had the best of years though. Think he's around where Jimenez is on both points lists. Was really expecting Luiten to make the team ahead of some of the big names.

horace wrote:oh well....the euros prolly need a little mascot

They already have McIlroy.

beamer wrote:18-13-6 isn't too shabby a record for Westwood, even if his singles record isn't that great.

Not shabby, not really great though. It's okay... his singles record is crap iirc. I like Westwood, pretty much my favourite player on tour, but don't think he's done anything to warrant a place in this year's side and he's not a great matchplayer, which can't be said of the equally out of form Donald. Could've easily accommodated a Luiten or Ilonen in his spot imo, although even Luiten's form has slipped.

If his singles record is crap, his pairs record is pretty impressive... there's one singles match per player, but up to four foursomes/fourballs.

But prior to 2012, Westwood's partners were Faldo, Clarke, Garcia, Monty, Donald and Hansen. Hansen was in 08... THat's the other extreme of the spectrum.

If we're looking at matchplay records of the past, Donald should walk into the team. Not just Ryder cups, but any matchplay in general. Looking at current form, neither really warrants a place and an Ilonen's in a better place. He may do a good job, but at this time, he looks the player who needs to be hidden most by Europe (same would apply to Donald).

Seems like this will be the last Ryder cup in the UK for at least 12 years.

Shame it won't return to its spiritual home of the Belfry any sooner than that.

Just out of interest, why is it never held on Open-style links courses, perhaps someone more of a golf expert could answer that?

Money? And also a potential to develop the sport seems to be a big factor for the ET. Also maybe weather at this time of year on the coast?

Corey Pavin was speaking about his wish to see a links course Ryder cup last time iirc. On checking, the last was in '77 and Belfry became the home a couple of editions later.

Another one I've always wondered about is why the Open never goes to Royal Portrush.

tricycle wrote:Another one I've always wondered about is why the Open never goes to Royal Portrush.

It has been proposed for a return there in 2019.

With about 9 or 10 English/Scottish courses already on the rota it's hard to see how there will still be room for them all on a regular basis. Although if Scotland votes yes will there be two Opens?

beamer wrote:

tricycle wrote:Another one I've always wondered about is why the Open never goes to Royal Portrush.

It has been proposed for a return there in 2019.

With about 9 or 10 English/Scottish courses already on the rota it's hard to see how there will still be room for them all on a regular basis. Although if Scotland votes yes will there be two Opens?

And there are siren voices suggesting that Porthcawl be added to the list as well.