It's just like Christmas!
You are six years old, and you have been waiting for Christmas day to arrive. The November days drag by slower every day, until the day comes when you can turn that calendar page to December. Now, the real countdown begins, 25 days until the man in the red suit delivers all those presents. You mark the days off on the calendar with a big red x. Then Christmas eve arrives, and you nervously go to bed early, struggling to get off to sleep. The anticipation and excitement is almost too much to bear.
That's what the build up to certain golf tournaments feel like for me, especially the Masters and the Ryder Cup. They seem to bring out my inner child and I get more and more excited, as the big day approaches. Now here we are, with around 8 hours to go before the first tee shot is played at Le Golf National. The wait is almost over and it is time for some serious drama to unfold.
PAIRINGS FOR MORNING FOURBALLS
- Justin Rose/Jon Rahm (Europe) v Brooks Koepka/Tony Finau (USA)
- Rory McIlroy/Thorbjorn Olesen (Europe) v Dustin Johnson/Rickie Fowler (USA)
- Paul Casey/Tyrrell Hatton (Europe) v Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas (USA)
- Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood (Europe) v Patrick Reed/Tiger Woods (USA)
The first fourball gets under way at 7:10am, with the others following in 15 minute intervals, with the fourth fourball starting at 7:55am. I know what I'll be doing while eating my breakfast tomorrow morning!
No room for the postman Ian Poulter in the morning session surprisingly, but we will be sure to see him in the afternoon foursomes I would imagine.
Swedish golf fans will be disappointed that their two countrymen sit out the first session, but again, I wont be surprised to see both of these guys involved in the afternoon, and they will be chomping at the bit to get out on the course playing for some of those precious 28 points which are up for grabs over this 3 day competition.
Looking at the American pairings, I'm not really surprised by the selections from Jim Furyk, but I did expect him to put Woods and Reed out first. He opted instead to leave them until the last match. I think that match looks to be the best one, at least on paper. I expect this one to be very tight and could well require the full 18 holes to decide.
Who will win the Ryder Cup?
Well lets start off by seeing what the bookies think. As you can see the Americans are slight favorites, even though they are the away team.
I must say, I agree with the bookies. The Americans are certainly favorites on paper. Winning a Ryder cup takes the same discipline, skill and guile as winning a major. Lets take a look at how each team has faired in recent majors, starting with the American guys.
- 2018 Reed(Masters), Koepka (US Open + PGA Championship)
- 2017 Koepka (US Open), Justin Thomas (PGA Championship), Jordan Speith (Open Cham)
- 2016 D Johnson (US Open), Jimmy Walker (PGA Championship)
- 2015 Jordan Speith (Masters + US Open), Zach Johnson (Open Cham)
That's 11 majors from 16 in that 4 year period and 9 of those wins were by members of this panel, Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson the two who missed out.
Europe by contrast have just 4 in the same period, with 3 of those wins for players in the panel this year.
- 2018 Francesco Molinari (Open Cham)
- 2017 Sergio Garcia (Masters)
- 2016 Danny Willett (Masters), Henrik Stenson (Open Champ)
- 2015 none
So, looking at major championship form, world rankings, form and ability, my brain tells me that USA will win this by at least two shots. My heart tells me something different. It tells me that team Europe will be hard to beat, and if it goes down to the wire and is close come Sunday afternoon, Europe will prevail as they are willed on by a passionate European crowd.
Two cheeky bets
I like a bit of value in a bet. I don't like 2/1 or 3/1, I much prefer 20/1 or 50/1, so with that in mind, I have gone for two higher odds bets for a small stake each
- Thorbjorn Olesen to be top European player @ 20/1 e/w (pays 1st -4th on e/w)
- Europe to win 15-13 @14/1
Now, time for bed, I'm afraid I'll see Santa Claus, if I don't go soon.
Thanks as always for reading my post.
Peace Out
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