arnieboy
Challenge Tour Pro
Personally I don't think it will be Westwood who let's us down.
European Ryder Cup Team
- Thread starter njrose51
- Start date
njrose51
Challenge Tour Pro
Who knows what will happen? I think we can only base it on past RC events where anyone can come on form on the day - think Poulter and his birdie run. Plus, on the flip side, anyone can have a bad day. For me, a big thing is whether the rookies will manage their nerves. Experience counts. Team spirit counts. DC and his VCs will be key to giving us the best chance in the pairings ready for the Sunday.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
We've never had 4 captain's picks! It was always 2 until recently.
I think he's chosen wisely with his 3 too. Can't really knock any of them. All this negativity is quite amusing, someone else referred to it earlier, there are a lot of short memories around here...
drdel
Tour Rookie
Some of the young Americans are on form and play aggressively.
So Darren's got some nice guys but purely on current form I'd have concerns about Mcllroy, Sullivan, Westwood and Willet.
I hope I'm wrong but I'm not feeling too positive about a European win this time.
So Darren's got some nice guys but purely on current form I'd have concerns about Mcllroy, Sullivan, Westwood and Willet.
I hope I'm wrong but I'm not feeling too positive about a European win this time.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Good article about Knox and sort of confirms a nagging feeling I have that he just isn't the right player for the Ryder Cup
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/37222764
As for the form worries of players - it goes out of the window in RC and Europe have won countless RC despite being "weaker on paper"
Europe gel better every RC bar one and that was with Faldo.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/37222764
As for the form worries of players - it goes out of the window in RC and Europe have won countless RC despite being "weaker on paper"
Europe gel better every RC bar one and that was with Faldo.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
Jesus, thats a hell of an attitude!!
One would suggest that perhaps it wasnt the best approach...
Hickory_Hacker
Q-School Graduate
Looks like a non starter to me, lousy team and a telly advert pick having Westwood when he's finished.
rksquire
Head Pro
Man for man vs the USA team, it looks reasonably weak it has to be said. Alot of rookies, although granted that can go either way and it depends on the pressure heaped on them. Alot of the more experienced players also aren't necessarily at the top of their game so relying on them to cajole the rookies along is not a gameplan imo - much as I love him, I don't have faith that McIlroy could make the putts that a pairing with a rookie might require.
My real fear however is Clarke himself; he's not universally liked, although he is popular in America, and his attention to detail is not at the same level as McGinley. I understand the pick of Westwood and Kaymer, and also Pieters to an extent, but if you ignore Knox's arrogance in that interview you perhaps have to concede he's a helluva lot better equipped to be playing that some of those in the team.
Team USA had 3 rookies in '14 - Walker (now a major winner) Spieth (multi-major winner) and Reed (potential major winner!); Europe also had 3, and it's debatable if any have kicked on although you could make an argument for Donaldson. There's 6 (50%) in Europe this year! Certainly one of them is a major winner but it's more likely his brother will be on better form on Twitter than DW on the course, given his golf since. There's 4 powerhouses in the team - Rory, Rose, Stenson & Garcia - possibly only Rose is reliable at this point (Rory - putting awful, temperament all over the place; Stenson - nursing an injury; Garcia - well, to be honest, he's just becoming less relevant). Then we have guys through the back door like Captains buddy Westwood and Kaymer, although to be fair I don' think the latter will let anybody down and the former remains capable of nursing a rookie around the course.
By comparison, the USA has alot of big guns in play - DJ, Spieth, PM, Reed, Zach J, Snedeker and Walker - likely to be accompanied by Bubba & Fowler! Currently Koepka is a rookie but he could overpower most players.
All that being said, I'd love it if Europe could pull if off!
My real fear however is Clarke himself; he's not universally liked, although he is popular in America, and his attention to detail is not at the same level as McGinley. I understand the pick of Westwood and Kaymer, and also Pieters to an extent, but if you ignore Knox's arrogance in that interview you perhaps have to concede he's a helluva lot better equipped to be playing that some of those in the team.
Team USA had 3 rookies in '14 - Walker (now a major winner) Spieth (multi-major winner) and Reed (potential major winner!); Europe also had 3, and it's debatable if any have kicked on although you could make an argument for Donaldson. There's 6 (50%) in Europe this year! Certainly one of them is a major winner but it's more likely his brother will be on better form on Twitter than DW on the course, given his golf since. There's 4 powerhouses in the team - Rory, Rose, Stenson & Garcia - possibly only Rose is reliable at this point (Rory - putting awful, temperament all over the place; Stenson - nursing an injury; Garcia - well, to be honest, he's just becoming less relevant). Then we have guys through the back door like Captains buddy Westwood and Kaymer, although to be fair I don' think the latter will let anybody down and the former remains capable of nursing a rookie around the course.
By comparison, the USA has alot of big guns in play - DJ, Spieth, PM, Reed, Zach J, Snedeker and Walker - likely to be accompanied by Bubba & Fowler! Currently Koepka is a rookie but he could overpower most players.
All that being said, I'd love it if Europe could pull if off!
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I think every time the RC comes around the US team always looks stronger on paper
But then I look at those players and the RC records
Johnson - lost 3 RC
Micklson - lost 8 RC
Spieth , Walker , Reed and Snedeker lost one
Z Johnson - lost 4 RC
Then the possible wild cards
Watson - lost 3
Fowler - lost 3
Kuchar - lost 3
Holmes - won 1
Fuyrk - lost 7
It's a team full of players that keep losing but why when every time they are reported to be stronger on paper
For me it's simple - ego's , they are all extremely mentally self driven towards succeeding on their own but can't change that mentality towards a team ethic when it comes to the RC
I think this year will be close because it's in the states and I have no doubt that the US team will be installed as favourites but that is just the perfect scenario for Europe who will play with pride and without fear
But then I look at those players and the RC records
Johnson - lost 3 RC
Micklson - lost 8 RC
Spieth , Walker , Reed and Snedeker lost one
Z Johnson - lost 4 RC
Then the possible wild cards
Watson - lost 3
Fowler - lost 3
Kuchar - lost 3
Holmes - won 1
Fuyrk - lost 7
It's a team full of players that keep losing but why when every time they are reported to be stronger on paper
For me it's simple - ego's , they are all extremely mentally self driven towards succeeding on their own but can't change that mentality towards a team ethic when it comes to the RC
I think this year will be close because it's in the states and I have no doubt that the US team will be installed as favourites but that is just the perfect scenario for Europe who will play with pride and without fear
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Willett is useless at matchplay.
Didn't somebody off of here beat him around Walton Heath a few years ago???
Didn't somebody off of here beat him around Walton Heath a few years ago???
DCB
Well-known member
That's a scary attitude to be taking. If he was really intent on getting into the European Team, he'd have joint the European Tour at the start of the qualifying period, not when he started playing well.
Wonder if he'll fulfill all his playing obligations on this side of the pond now 😉
mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
Don't think Clarke could have done anything else. I would have picked Knox right up until the last couple of weeks but Pieters is on fire - you can't ignore him. Plus, the Americans are likely to set the course up long, so having a(not her) guy who hits it a country mile may help.
I also wonder if matchplay will help Rory's putting. He can be more aggressive and maybe that'll shake him out of the tentative loop he seems to be stuck in.
I also wonder if matchplay will help Rory's putting. He can be more aggressive and maybe that'll shake him out of the tentative loop he seems to be stuck in.
mat100p
Assistant Pro
I think team looks good. Lot of rookies but it's how it goes over time all teams have transitions.
What baffles me is why do America have 4 picks (to our 3) and will name 3 in week or so and fourth pick just week before match starts. There 4th pick so close to match starting must give them opportunity to pick a player who is on fire just at right time. Surely same rules should apply to both sides.
What baffles me is why do America have 4 picks (to our 3) and will name 3 in week or so and fourth pick just week before match starts. There 4th pick so close to match starting must give them opportunity to pick a player who is on fire just at right time. Surely same rules should apply to both sides.
I expect not Dave, He's been there since College and his family are from there so, if he didn't bother trying this year can't see him bothering with no RC at stake.
its a shame he would have been an asset to the team, playing in the US his whole career.
No surprise ultimately in the wild cards and I still think it looks a weak side, especially playing in the US. I think the US will win, and with a decent margin.
BubbaP
Occasional Player of Golf
The PGA tour isn't struggling to keep USA players playing on it.
Plus with the recent record can't blame them for trying to find an edge.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Not unhappy with the wildcards - had a thought that maybe Knox would go over Westwood but happy with the picks.
Worried about Willet, Sullivan and Fitz...all seem to have gone off the boil.
Wood is an injury concern too...
Underdogs as usual but that's nothing new.
Should be close as a lot of the Yanks don't know what it's like to win the RC..
Worried about Willet, Sullivan and Fitz...all seem to have gone off the boil.
Wood is an injury concern too...
Underdogs as usual but that's nothing new.
Should be close as a lot of the Yanks don't know what it's like to win the RC..
mikejohnchapman
Challenge Tour Pro
If I were Davis Love i'd be very tempted to pick Russell Knox as a wild card. Don't think motivating him would be a problem.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I read that he said he started the season with two goals of fed-ex cup and Ryder cup so built the schedule based on giving himself a good chance of achieving both so couldn't just ignore PGA events (and it almost worked but for very recent form from Pieters)
I think we'd be calling for a straight jacket if any pro golfer at that level planned their season on RC qualification only and to hell with the day job
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Wouldn't it be fair to say that if RC qualification was achieved that the day job has been doing OK and you'd probably be in the FedEx/RTD anyway..?
With Majors and WGCs there were only another 5 events to play in a year's worth of qualification. Scottish, PGA and the Desert swing and you've done it. Plenty of opportunity to progress in the FedEx....
The fact that DC asked Knox to play at the Wyndham must have signalled there would be a battle for the last place.
He didn't play and therefore showed his preference to play FedEx to the RC.
With Majors and WGCs there were only another 5 events to play in a year's worth of qualification. Scottish, PGA and the Desert swing and you've done it. Plenty of opportunity to progress in the FedEx....
The fact that DC asked Knox to play at the Wyndham must have signalled there would be a battle for the last place.
He didn't play and therefore showed his preference to play FedEx to the RC.
