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tyler

By tyler
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utopastac

utopastac

Posted
Posted

I'll be playing my usual 'support of the American underdog act' this year, despite the fact I'll hardly be able to watch any of it. ;)

On Paper, your team is WAY stronger than the American one. Anyone who thinks the team will play better without Tiger is deluded - his record isn't as amazing as you'd expect, but it's still better than anyone else's on the team and he's very often been involved in singles matches after the competition has been lost. Regarldess, I think we have a very interesting mix of experience with comedy long-drive players. You have people guaranteed to let you down in my opinion, whereas we have a lot of 'could go either way' players.

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milko

milko

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I'll be playing my usual 'support of the American underdog act' this year, despite the fact I'll hardly be able to watch any of it. :)

On Paper, your team is WAY stronger than the American one. Anyone who thinks the team will play better without Tiger is deluded - his record isn't as amazing as you'd expect, but it's still better than anyone else's on the team and he's very often been involved in singles matches after the competition has been lost. Regarldess, I think we have a very interesting mix of experience with comedy long-drive players. You have people guaranteed to let you down in my opinion, whereas we have a lot of 'could go either way' players.

Interesting! I'm curious about who you think is guaranteed to fail for Europe though. I can't wait to watch this one, I think it could end up being very close indeed. And I wonder if Harrington's finally going to bring his A-game to a Ryder Cup and win some points.

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utopastac

utopastac

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Interesting! I'm curious about who you think is guaranteed to fail for Europe though. I can't wait to watch this one, I think it could end up being very close indeed. And I wonder if Harrington's finally going to bring his A-game to a Ryder Cup and win some points.

Wilson, McDowell and to a large degree Hansen you just can't rely on, but obviously it depends on the pairings. I'd even argue that Poulter is a weak link, but he seems to have turned himself (along with Casey) into more of a 'big game' player.

I think Harrington will struggle this afternoon against what I consider to be the best/most exciting USA pairing of recent times. Tiger/Phil was always an error, but with Kim I think Mickleson will beat Harrington/Karlson.

If you look at the last few Ryder cups, the USA has dropped behind early. Last time Jim Furyk had an absolute shocker playing with Tiger, Tiger kept them in that match on his own. I just don't think that'll happen this time. Im going for 2.5 USA to 1.5 Europe after the foursomes:

Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson USA

Leonard/Mahan v Stenson/Casey HALF (this has got half written all over it in my opinion, which probably means it'll be a 10 and 8 drubbing).

Cink/Campbell v Rose/Poulter USA

Perry/Furyk v Westwood/Garcia EUROPE

I could be persuaded to support Europe though just becasue of having Faldo in charge. :)

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milko

milko

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Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson USA

Leonard/Mahan v Stenson/Casey HALF (this has got half written all over it in my opinion, which probably means it'll be a 10 and 8 drubbing).

Cink/Campbell v Rose/Poulter USA

Perry/Furyk v Westwood/Garcia EUROPE

The Guardian's guy has it thisaway:

Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson

Prediction: US win 1up

Justin Leonard & Hunter Mahan v Henrik Stenson & Paul Casey

Prediction: Europe win 2&1

Stewart Cink & Chad Campbell v Justin Rose & Ian Poulter

Prediction: Match halved

Kenny Perry & Jim Furyk v Lee Westwood & Sergio Garcia

Prediction: Europe win 3&2

I don't think I've watched enough golf this year to be able to say, myself. And sure, can't rely on most of the rookies, but that's more of a problem for the States! And generally they'll play a comparatively minor role. You're right about Poulter, I think he would have been a weak link until recently but I reckon he might do really well now. Almost time for tee-off! Which I'm having to follow in text since I'm at work :)

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utopastac

utopastac

Posted
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The Guardian's guy has it thisaway:

Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson

Prediction: US win 1up

Justin Leonard & Hunter Mahan v Henrik Stenson & Paul Casey

Prediction: Europe win 2&1

Stewart Cink & Chad Campbell v Justin Rose & Ian Poulter

Prediction: Match halved

Kenny Perry & Jim Furyk v Lee Westwood & Sergio Garcia

Prediction: Europe win 3&2

I don't think I've watched enough golf this year to be able to say, myself. And sure, can't rely on most of the rookies, but that's more of a problem for the States! And generally they'll play a comparatively minor role. You're right about Poulter, I think he would have been a weak link until recently but I reckon he might do really well now. Almost time for tee-off! Which I'm having to follow in text since I'm at work :)

I've watched as much as I can do, which basically restricts my European viewing, but i've seen all of the USA team and the majority of the Europe team a lot. I don't see Rose/Poulter getting anything out of that match. Poulter has been pretty terrible recently, and Stewart Cink is rock steady, especially in matchplay. Cambpell and Rose I can take or leave based on the performances over the year, but cink gives USA the edge. I can't see why Westwood and Garcia seserve 3&2 confidence, except for the fact that Jim hasn't played at the top of his game for months - I still think Europe will win it.

I'm hoping Garcia has to hole winning puts in the last 3 holes, becasue then USA will be guaranteed the points. Definition of choker.

Justin Leonard is in a proper resurgence, so i'm sticking with my predictions.

Harrington's golf game is hugely overrated, all of his three majors have been given to him in my opinion. No doubt he has mental strength, but he's not a massively talented golfer, which is why he very very often finishes in the middle of the field.

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milko

milko

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Plenty of time for these games to swing. But I was wondering about your predictions - it's not like the European teams don't go into this (nearly?) every time with a team that on paper is lower-ranked and less able to cope with big game pressure. And yet.

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utopastac

utopastac

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Plenty of time for these games to swing. But I was wondering about your predictions - it's not like the European teams don't go into this (nearly?) every time with a team that on paper is lower-ranked and less able to cope with big game pressure. And yet.

This European team is higher ranked than the USA team isn't it? It certainly feels like it is. I don't know. Regardless of rankings, I think the USA team has strong pairing potential and an almost completely random element in the singles, as well as easily the most exciting young player in the game. I just think we'll win.

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utopastac

utopastac

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Leonard/Mahan bt Stenson/Casey 3&2 .

:blink: FIRST POINT USA.

I this this proves, if there were any doubt, that my predictions are simply not worth me typing, let alone reading.

JB Holmes and Boo Weekley playing together this afternoon - that's kind of what I mean by the random element. Absolutely anything could happen in that match, should be fun to watch!

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lewismistreated

lewismistreated

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I've been glued to the chair for the past 9 hours watching Mickelson and Kim go from bottling it, to regaining that bottle, to thinking that the bottle wasn't really necessary, to finally deciding that they do in fact need the bottle and no sodding European will prevent them from getting it. Coming back from 3 holes down in the morning is a feat in and of itself.

To do it again in the afternoon is nothing short of heroic.

And to think there's two more days of this. I bloody love golf.

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