40th Ryder Cup

[Double Down]

Better than most people think. Match play is a total toss up a lot of the time. US needs Phil and Keegan to pull this out to finish the morning 2-2 though. That would be huge.

 

[JackReacher]

At one point a couple days ago, the U.S. was +180. Kinda bitter I passed it up.

 

[JackReacher]

Mickelson and Bradley with a pretty huge win. U.S. up, 2.5-1.5.

 

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

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

And Watson benches them for the afternoon? WTH?
Poulter THE Ryder Cup man for the Euros is humiliated by the US pairing (granted Poulter has had a rough year) and they get a seat for the later-day matches.

 

[qtlaw]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

And Watson benches them for the afternoon? WTH?
Poulter THE Ryder Cup man for the Euros is humiliated by the US pairing (granted Poulter has had a rough year) and they get a seat for the later-day matches.

Know what's been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup for the past 20 years (when its become competitive again)? The freakin' US Captains being beholden to the "experienced" guys. Over and over again, you see that the US loses when a "seasoned, experienced vet" loses.

When was the last time the Cup hinged on a youngster and he failed? More often than not, they have less scar tissue and they show up like Reed and Speith, then they get benched while some guy on the downside (Strange, Fuyrk) gets the extra chance to get hammered yet again.

I am probably way off but I have more memories of the Euros sticking with the hot young unknown gun than sitting him and guess what? he's the guy who keys the victory.

 

[Gehrig]

They had a chance to seize the momentum but gave it away. I didn't like the Mahan/Web picks and I really don't like them now. Bubba can't carry Web and Hunter really hasn't played well in two seasons. Keegan is only there because everyone assumed he and Phil need to be together. I don't get it.

If Bubba and Phil need the "perfect" partners to step up they should ride the pine, especially when their crutches aren't in form. For all the crap Reed has gotten he played well.

 

[hondo]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

And Watson benches them for the afternoon? WTH?
Poulter THE Ryder Cup man for the Euros is humiliated by the US pairing (granted Poulter has had a rough year) and they get a seat for the later-day matches.

Know what's been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup for the past 20 years (when its become competitive again)? The freakin' US Captains being beholden to the "experienced" guys. Over and over again, you see that the US loses when a "seasoned, experienced vet" loses.

When was the last time the Cup hinged on a youngster and he failed? More often than not, they have less scar tissue and they show up like Reed and Speith, then they get benched while some guy on the downside (Strange, Fuyrk) gets the extra chance to get hammered yet again.

I am probably way off but I have more memories of the Euros sticking with the hot young unknown gun than sitting him and guess what? he's the guy who keys the victory.

Some Ryder Cup records of "seasoned, experienced veterans," counting today:

Furyk 9-18-4 overall, 5-15-3 in doubles
Mickelson 15-19-6 overall, 11-14-6 in doubles
Couples 7-9-4 overall, 5-8-2 in doubles
Love 9-12-5 overall 6-11-3 in doubles
O'Meara 4-9-1 overall, 3-5-1 in doubles
Strange 6-12-2 overall, 4-9-2 in doubles (0-5-1 in fourball)
Stricker 3-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 in doubles
And of course, Eldrick T. Woods 13-17-3 overall, 9-16-1 in doubles
For kicks, Bubba, Simpson and Mahan are a combined 8-9-3 overall.

It's like the old joke about the coach of a bad college football team on the day camp opens: "The good news is we have 16 returning starters. The bad news is we have 16 returning starters."

This is frightening: the only American players on this year's team who have winning Ryder Cup records are Keegan Bradley (4-2) and Zach Johnson (6-5-1). With their early losses, Kuchar (3-3-2) and Mahan (3-3-3) dropped to .500. Of course Spieth and Reed are 1-0. After only playing 14 holes in curb-stomping Poulter and Gallacher (with six birdies and only one bogey), they certainly had momentum and probably more energy than anyone on the course -- until they got sat down.

Frightening news II: Outside of Bradley and Johnson, there are only four other Americans who are still regulars on the PGA Tour and have winning Ryder Cup records: Jason Dufner (3-1, hurt), Dustin Johnson (4-3, rehab), J.B Holmes (2-0-1) and Boo Weekley (2-0-1).

Tom Watson should have walked into the PGA offices in Palm Beach Gardens the day after the Tour Championship and told them he was dumping Mahan and Simpson and picking up Horschel and Kirk, under threat of resignation. I love the excuse about how they can't push the captain's deadline back further because they have to get the guys fitted for their uniforms and have their names stenciled on the bags.
You think Billy Horschel wouldn't go out there right now and kick some ass with a shirt from the pro shop and a carry bag left over from his Gator days?

 

[qtlaw]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

And Watson benches them for the afternoon? WTH?
Poulter THE Ryder Cup man for the Euros is humiliated by the US pairing (granted Poulter has had a rough year) and they get a seat for the later-day matches.

Know what's been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup for the past 20 years (when its become competitive again)? The freakin' US Captains being beholden to the "experienced" guys. Over and over again, you see that the US loses when a "seasoned, experienced vet" loses.

When was the last time the Cup hinged on a youngster and he failed? More often than not, they have less scar tissue and they show up like Reed and Speith, then they get benched while some guy on the downside (Strange, Fuyrk) gets the extra chance to get hammered yet again.

I am probably way off but I have more memories of the Euros sticking with the hot young unknown gun than sitting him and guess what? he's the guy who keys the victory.

Some Ryder Cup records of "seasoned, experienced veterans," counting today:

Furyk 9-18-4 overall, 5-15-3 in doubles
Mickelson 15-19-6 overall, 11-14-6 in doubles
Couples 7-9-4 overall, 5-8-2 in doubles
Love 9-12-5 overall 6-11-3 in doubles
O'Meara 4-9-1 overall, 3-5-1 in doubles
Strange 6-12-2 overall, 4-9-2 in doubles (0-5-1 in fourball)
Stricker 3-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 in doubles
And of course, Eldrick T. Woods 13-17-3 overall, 9-16-1 in doubles
For kicks, Bubba, Simpson and Mahan are a combined 8-9-3 overall.

It's like the old joke about the coach of a bad college football team on the day camp opens: "The good news is we have 16 returning starters. The bad news is we have 16 returning starters."

This is frightening: the only American players on this year's team who have winning Ryder Cup records are Keegan Bradley (4-2) and Zach Johnson (6-5-1). With their early losses, Kuchar (3-3-2) and Mahan (3-3-3) dropped to .500. Of course Spieth and Reed are 1-0. After only playing 14 holes in curb-stomping Poulter and Gallacher (with six birdies and only one bogey), they certainly had momentum and probably more energy than anyone on the course -- until they got sat down.

Frightening news II: Outside of Bradley and Johnson, there are only four other Americans who are still regulars on the PGA Tour and have winning Ryder Cup records: Jason Dufner (3-1, hurt), Dustin Johnson (4-3, rehab), J.B Holmes (2-0-1) and Boo Weekley (2-0-1).

Tom Watson should have walked into the PGA offices in Palm Beach Gardens the day after the Tour Championship and told them he was dumping Mahan and Simpson and picking up Horschel and Kirk, under threat of resignation. I love the excuse about how they can't push the captain's deadline back further because they have to get the guys fitted for their uniforms and have their names stenciled on the bags.
You think Billy Horschel wouldn't go out there right now and kick some ass with a shirt from the pro shop and a carry bag left over from his Gator days?

Thanks that's what I was looking for (but was too lazy to get.)

 

[hondo]

Patrick Reed and Jordan Speith playing like BMFers.

And Watson benches them for the afternoon? WTH?
Poulter THE Ryder Cup man for the Euros is humiliated by the US pairing (granted Poulter has had a rough year) and they get a seat for the later-day matches.

Know what's been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup for the past 20 years (when its become competitive again)? The freakin' US Captains being beholden to the "experienced" guys. Over and over again, you see that the US loses when a "seasoned, experienced vet" loses.

When was the last time the Cup hinged on a youngster and he failed? More often than not, they have less scar tissue and they show up like Reed and Speith, then they get benched while some guy on the downside (Strange, Fuyrk) gets the extra chance to get hammered yet again.

I am probably way off but I have more memories of the Euros sticking with the hot young unknown gun than sitting him and guess what? he's the guy who keys the victory.

Some Ryder Cup records of "seasoned, experienced veterans," counting today:

Furyk 9-18-4 overall, 5-15-3 in doubles
Mickelson 15-19-6 overall, 11-14-6 in doubles
Couples 7-9-4 overall, 5-8-2 in doubles
Love 9-12-5 overall 6-11-3 in doubles
O'Meara 4-9-1 overall, 3-5-1 in doubles
Strange 6-12-2 overall, 4-9-2 in doubles (0-5-1 in fourball)
Stricker 3-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 in doubles
And of course, Eldrick T. Woods 13-17-3 overall, 9-16-1 in doubles
For kicks, Bubba, Simpson and Mahan are a combined 8-9-3 overall.

It's like the old joke about the coach of a bad college football team on the day camp opens: "The good news is we have 16 returning starters. The bad news is we have 16 returning starters."

This is frightening: the only American players on this year's team who have winning Ryder Cup records are Keegan Bradley (4-2) and Zach Johnson (6-5-1). With their early losses, Kuchar (3-3-2) and Mahan (3-3-3) dropped to .500. Of course Spieth and Reed are 1-0. After only playing 14 holes in curb-stomping Poulter and Gallacher (with six birdies and only one bogey), they certainly had momentum and probably more energy than anyone on the course -- until they got sat down.

Frightening news II: Outside of Bradley and Johnson, there are only four other Americans who are still regulars on the PGA Tour and have winning Ryder Cup records: Jason Dufner (3-1, hurt), Dustin Johnson (4-3, rehab), J.B Holmes (2-0-1) and Boo Weekley (2-0-1).

Tom Watson should have walked into the PGA offices in Palm Beach Gardens the day after the Tour Championship and told them he was dumping Mahan and Simpson and picking up Horschel and Kirk, under threat of resignation. I love the excuse about how they can't push the captain's deadline back further because they have to get the guys fitted for their uniforms and have their names stenciled on the bags.
You think Billy Horschel wouldn't go out there right now and kick some ass with a shirt from the pro shop and a carry bag left over from his Gator days?

Thanks that's what I was looking for (but was too lazy to get.)

You get credit for knowing it was a problem.

 

[Chef2]

The lost 1/2 point from Fowler and the mess Watson made of not playing Reed/Spieth will be huge.

 

[hondo]

The lost 1/2 point from Fowler and the mess Watson made of not playing Reed/Spieth will be huge.

Watson's getting hammered from all sides about this.
Bottom line: Two kids, one 21 years old and the other 24. They seal-clubbed a team that included Europe's Beast Mode, Poulter, who was 12-3 in the Cup, in only 14 holes. You not only don't play them again, against all common sense and logic, but now they have overnight to see what's going on with social media/golf media, and who knows what that will put into their minds or affect them. You sure as hell have lost the momentum they had.
Oh well, McGinley is sitting Garcia after he played well with McIlroy. At least he kept Rose and Stenson together.

 

[playthrough]

The "genius" of Tom Watson as captain ended with that benching of Reed/Spieth. He's just another U.S. captain who is making sure everyone gets to play, experience takes precedent in foursomes (even though the U.S. sucks donkey balls in that format in Ryder Cup), blah blah blah. This sure smells like another Cup where the U.S. will trail by 2 to 4 points before Sunday and need a Hail Mary in singles again.

I would love to see a captain come out one time and say if anyone wins in the morning, they're automatically playing in the afternoon, anyone loses, they're automatically sitting, and a pair that halves will be my choice. Granted, Mickelson/Bradley played in the afternoon today after winning and lost, but so what? I don't see how you get second-guessed for trying to ride winners and parking losers.

 

[joe]

Orange slices for everyone!

 

[old_tony]

Euros are hitting a ****load of kick-ins.

 

[Football_Bat]

Give me the young up-and-comers any day who are too stupid to know how important the Ryder Cup is.

 

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

Give me the young up-and-comers any day who are too stupid to know how important the Ryder Cup is.

This ..

Younger guys and first timers seem to perform better. .. Leonard, AK, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson (at Valhalla?), Garcia, Seve, ...




I think it was Mickelson who already threw up an excuse for this weekend when he said earlier this week the guys were tired (from the Fed Ex Cup events).

http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2014/9/25/6232461/phil-mickelson-2014-american-ryder-cup-team-roster-preview

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Give me the young up-and-comers any day who are too stupid to know how important the Ryder Cup is.

You would think the 2008 Ryder would have been a lesson. Six rookies, won by five points, played with ridiculous enthusiasm that threw the European team off.

 

[Chef2]

U.S. gets smoked this afternoon, 3 1/2-1/2

10-6 going into tomorrow......just like Brookline.

 

[I Should Coco]

Didn't think I would see any of this, but had a late night in the newsroom on Friday, and it was on when I got home.

Great stuff ... Justin Rose was on fire in the four-ball round, and Reed/Speith were locked in again. Of course, the second session (after I finally went to sleep at 4 a.m.) didn't go so well for the U.S.

Bring on singles!

Also, what a beautiful looking course, with perfect playing conditions. Sunny, 50-degrees, light winds ... I'm sure every fall day is like that in Scotland.

 

[MileHigh]

This thing was lost with the Reed/Spieth benching on Friday. Typical play well in the mornings, get smoked in foursomes.

Finally Watson gets smart and sends out Spieth (vs. McDowell) and Reed (vs. Stenson) to start singles at 4:30 a.m. MDT.

Fowler vs. McIlroy looks like a replay of the British and PGA from this year.

They need a Hail Mary. It'd surprise me if they get it. But I'll still watch.