The Ryder cup is back with a bang this September and any amateur golfer or golf fan worth his salt is beyond excited! Yes, Augusta National and it's beautifully maintained grounds and blistering quick greens captures our imaginations every April. Sure, the Opens can have us transfixed to our screens, when the wind blows and the pros struggle to break par. Then, ladies and gentlemen, there is the Ryder Cup.
The varying match-play format and teaming up of guys who are usually pitted against each other makes for a wonderful spectacle. The Ryder cup serves up drama like few other sporting events when it is a close affair going into the Sunday singles.
On second thoughts
Hold on a second, it's always exciting! Who can forget Medinah when the Europeans looked dead and buried at 10-4 down, and staged one of the greatest sporting come backs of all time.
The "Miracle at Medinah" reminds us that it's never over in sport, and you've got to just hang in there.
THE COURSE
What will Le Golf National serve up?
Well firstly, where is Le Golf National?
It's just outside Paris, in a town called Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a suburb southwest of Paris
Here is a zoomed in look at an overhead shot of Le Golf National, which I have taken from Google Maps - as we can see there is a lot of water, which makes for some very interesting match play golf. In match-play, the players react to each other and will take on shots which they would not usually take on, and on other occasions play super conservative when their competitors are in trouble.
These photos speak for themselves
This will be a serious test of golf, and the drama that is set to unfold from September 28th until 30th is sure to be sensational.
Did I mention there was water? You had better know your distance and know how to stop a golf ball on the green. Even the best of amateur single figure handicap players would do well to start and finish a round with the same ball around this Parisian golfcourse?
And just look at those undulating fairways - photos never do courses justice either, so I'd say they are even scarier looking in the flesh.
THE PLAYERS
Tommy Fleetwood won here last year
Tommy Fleetwood has form around this golf course. He won the French open here in 2017, finishing on -12, one shot ahead of American Peter Uihlein.
Tommy talked about the strength of the American Ryder cup squad this week, saying:
“Most of us guys on the European team play in the same tournaments against Phil and Tiger week in and week out at the moment,”
“You can't deny they're two of the best golfers ever and they always will be, but when you tee it up you're just playing another golfer, it doesn't matter who it is.
“They were always guaranteed to be picked and they've had good years themselves.”
"And there's no doubt about it they've got an unbelievable team"
But, regarding the European team he goes on to say:
"But at the same time, for Europe to be able to pick the four guys that got picked (Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson) just shows the strength in European golf"
“I honestly think it could be one of the greatest Ryder Cups ever. We do have a really good team spirit this year."
“Maybe it's always like that, but it's my first one so I can only go on that, and we've got a great bunch of players and I fancy our chances, I really do.”
Justin Rose becomes world number 1
Good news for the Europeans, as Justin knocks Dustin off top spot. After losing a play-off to Keegan Bradley at the BMW Championship last week, the English man is now ranked number 1 in the world, which will do his confidence no harm going into the Ryder cup.
When asked about being the fourth Englishman to hold the title of world number one, Rose said:
"It’s absolutely unbelievable. They are all heroes, all great guys, all role models. It’s scary company really because they are all absolutely incredible players,”
Rose continued:
“It’s something I’m incredibly proud of. It has been a good stretch of golf for over a year. I always envisioned myself getting to world No 1 by winning tournaments and I haven’t won – it kind of takes a slight bit of the edge off – but I’m delighted to have got to the top.”
This can only be positive for Europe as the look to take on what is a very strong American team, captained by Jim Furyk.
Thomas Bjorn on Tiger Woods
"I probably never really thought that he would get back to these levels,"
Bjorn said of Tiger, who was one of the US wildcard captain picks.
"As a golf fan I'm delighted to see him back where he is because he means so much to the game of golf and to what this sport is, so it's brilliant to see him back."
This whole Ryder cup could well swing on how Tiger does. If Tigers goes out and wins his 4 matches, I see the US winning, if he comes undone and struggles, then it could be advantage Europe.
Either way, it's going to be a joy to watch events unfold.
THE TEAMS
European Team
Rory McIlroy
Justin Rose
Tommy Fleetwood
Jon Rahm
Ian Poulter
Francesco Molinari
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Sergio Garcia
Alex Noren
Tyrrell Hatton
Thorbjorn Olesen
US Team
Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka
Justin Thomas
Jordan Spieth
Patrick Reed
Tiger Woods
Rickie Fowler
Bryson Dechambeau
Phil Mickelson
Bubba Watson
Webb Simpson
Tony Finau
Some Predictions
Who will win the 2018 Ryder Cup?
This is very much a question of head vs heart. My head tells me that this is a very strong US team, filled with players who are on form and chomping at the bit. My heart tells me that this is the Ryder cup and that anything is possible, and matchplay is such a quirky format that can always and does always throw up some surprises.
I am going to follow my heart and tip Europe to win at odds of 11/8 with Paddypower.
Who will be the top scoring US player?
Patrick Reed at 8/1 is my shout for the top US point scorer. He loves match play. He loves the Ryder cup. I can see him securing 2.5 or 3 points for the US team.
Who will be the top scoring European player?
Even though his form isn't as good as other team members, I will opt for Ian Poulter at 9/1 for the top European point scorer. He has a record of 12 wins, 4 halves and only 2 losses in 5 Ryder cups since his first in 2004. That form speaks for itself, and none of the Americans will want to face Ian, especially in singles where he has won 4 out of 5 times in 5 Ryder Cup appearances.
Do you agree or disagree?
Who do you think will prevail?
Thanks as always for taking the time to read my post, I really appreciate the support.
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