40th Ryder Cup

[trifectarich]

Friday-Sunday at Gleneagles in Scotland, which is great if you're a person who doesn't sleep very much; the first match goes at 2:35 a.m. (Eastern).

Each side has four players in the top 10 of the world rankings. Vegas has Europe as nearly a 2-to-1 favorite (-190) and there's no question Europe has more players who are playing better of late. Players on this year's US team have one Tour win since May vs. six for Europe.

It's been more than 20 years (1993) since the U.S. has won away from home. Weather forecast is exactly what you'd expect in Scotland at this time of year: temps in the 50s and some rain every day.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I think the U.S. is a value bet at that price. Last two Cups have been one-point affairs, meaning two or three putts decided the issue. Also, course is much more like an American course than British one. Ought to be, since Nicklaus designed it.

 

[playthrough]

Friday-Sunday at Gleneagles in Scotland, which is great if you're a person who doesn't sleep very much; the first match goes at 2:35 a.m. (Eastern).

Each side has four players in the top 10 of the world rankings. Vegas has Europe as nearly a 2-to-1 favorite (-190) and there's no question Europe has more players who are playing better of late. Players on this year's US team have one Tour win since May vs. six for Europe.

It's been more than 20 years (1993) since the U.S. has won away from home. Weather forecast is exactly what you'd expect in Scotland at this time of year: temps in the 50s and some rain every day.

Does that mean the U.S. is +160 or +170? A friend of mine was in Reno a few weeks ago and said the U.S. odds were even-money at his hotel. That sounded way off for a road game and an inferior team on paper. If I could have gotten good plus-odds I would have gotten down on the U.S. Very American-style course and if the weather is good, even better for the U.S.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Reno sucks ass for sports betting. The last time I was there during an NFL weekend, a straight bet was -125 instead of -110.

 

[MileHigh]

Hopefully, the U.S. rain gear is better than it was four years ago in Wales.

No Tiger means I give the U.S. a shot at winning this.

 

[2underpar]

I am not sure how the US can win even on a Nicklaus design. Maybe a Rory-McDowell fistfight will divide the Euros.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Seems as if McGinley is going to partner McIlroy with Kaymer, Dubuisson with McDowell, Garcia with Stenson and Rose with Poulter to open the ball Friday morning.
For all the chatter, it doesn't sound as if Watson is going to change many surviving partnerships, as Mickelson and Bradley and Watson and Simpson have practiced together each morning so far.

 

[playthrough]

Hopefully, the U.S. rain gear is better than it was four years ago in Wales.

No Tiger means I give the U.S. a shot at winning this.

I like the Tiger-less team too. Good roundtable last night on Golf Channel about Tiger in Ryder Cups. Captains would put his pair out first in a session frequently, which was a no-win prop when other U.S. pairs would see the scoreboards during play. If Tiger and whoever was winning, fine, they're supposed to, but if they're losing, yikes. That was never more true when Tiger and Phil played together.

 

[Gehrig]

If it was anyone other than Tom Watson as captain, I would say the USA has little chance. But the captain means more than people think. I think you'll get the USA's best out there and I think Watson will know how to match these players up. And you know they're going to play hard for him. Whether that's enough, I don't know.

From what I hear, the course is set up easy. Very soft greens. I fear McIlroy may be the hot guy this week with those kinds of conditions. I was hoping for faster conditions. I feel that would have benefited the US guys more. Soft greens tend to help Rory and Sergio more, guys who are good at aiming at pins.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Any course in Scotland at this time of year is liable to be wet and soft.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I am not sure how the US can win even on a Nicklaus design. Maybe a Rory-McDowell fistfight will divide the Euros.

Phil:

"Well, not only are we able to play together, we also don't litigate against each other, and that's a real plus, I feel, heading into this week," Mickelson quipped.

I like it.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

If it was anyone other than Tom Watson as captain, I would say the USA has little chance. But the captain means more than people think. I think you'll get the USA's best out there and I think Watson will know how to match these players up. And you know they're going to play hard for him. Whether that's enough, I don't know.

From what I hear, the course is set up easy. Very soft greens. I fear McIlroy may be the hot guy this week with those kinds of conditions. I was hoping for faster conditions. I feel that would have benefited the US guys more. Soft greens tend to help Rory and Sergio more, guys who are good at aiming at pins.

They can only hope to contain the Great Sergio Garcia.

 

[kleeda]

I am unreasonably excited about this year.

 

[MileHigh]

I am not sure how the US can win even on a Nicklaus design. Maybe a Rory-McDowell fistfight will divide the Euros.

Phil:

"Well, not only are we able to play together, we also don't litigate against each other, and that's a real plus, I feel, heading into this week," Mickelson quipped.

I like it.

Love it. It's getting lost in the wash in that it's happening early morning, the middle of the NFL season and the end of the MLB regular season. I'm up early anyway and will have it on.

 

[hondo]

We'll, I just saw the group photos of the US and Euro players and their WAGS and the British media can give their "Barbies" snark about the US girls a rest. The Euros are about 2-up on blondes

 

[trifectarich]

Friday-Sunday at Gleneagles in Scotland, which is great if you're a person who doesn't sleep very much; the first match goes at 2:35 a.m. (Eastern).

Each side has four players in the top 10 of the world rankings. Vegas has Europe as nearly a 2-to-1 favorite (-190) and there's no question Europe has more players who are playing better of late. Players on this year's US team have one Tour win since May vs. six for Europe.

It's been more than 20 years (1993) since the U.S. has won away from home. Weather forecast is exactly what you'd expect in Scotland at this time of year: temps in the 50s and some rain every day.

Does that mean the U.S. is +160 or +170? A friend of mine was in Reno a few weeks ago and said the U.S. odds were even-money at his hotel. That sounded way off for a road game and an inferior team on paper. If I could have gotten good plus-odds I would have gotten down on the U.S. Very American-style course and if the weather is good, even better for the U.S.

If you want to make a profit of $100, you have to risk $190 on a bet with the European Team. If you want to bet the U.S., you bet $100 to make a profit of $170.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

U.S. still a value bet at plus 170. I might just take a little flutter later today.

 

[Football_Bat]

Any course in Scotland at this time of year is liable to be wet and soft.

How I like it.

But really it's been dry all week, which means a ton of 3-putts and potentially high scores for all competitors. The rough is typically Scottish and will only add to the number of pluses.

In a related report, Curtis Strange skipped his weenie doc appointment.

 

[Double Down]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

 

[JackReacher]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

What kind of chance do you give the U.S. in this thing?