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Ryder Cup 2018 - Paris

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Rory-Fleetwood in Foursomes would be very good. Rory and Molinari would work nicely in Fourballs too. Molinari's not going to make many mistakes and that will allow Rors to unleash and go for broke.
 
There's been a few threads over qualification and wild cards etc. but lets have everything in one place now that the action is only a couple of days away and we will get pairings announced tomorrow!

In terms of European pairings, I think there are a lot of options.

I reckon Molinari and Noren work well together in both formats. Both low key guys, but absolute beasts on the golf course and especially at this venue. It could be difficult for the American's to really get themselves up for playing a very understated pairing like this.

I personally would love to see Rory and Rahm play fourball together. They are both super aggressive and could have 2 dozen birdie putts between them over 18 holes. I don't think they will be picked together, but it would be great to see.
I reckon Rory will play with Poulter in the fourball and Fleetwood in foursomes.

A bit obvious, but Stenson and Rose for foursomes. I wouldn't expect Stenson to play more than twice in the 1st 2 days, albeit it would probably end up being one foursomes and one fourball.
I think Garcia will only play foursomes. He has a much much better record in this format and could be used as a specialist foursomes player and really could be paired with anyone, Olesson may work well. Steady Eddie for foursomes and you feel would suit Garcia's personality.

Casey is the problem child. I feel he is more suited to foursomes than fourball, but this is just an inkling and I don't know who he would particularly play with. Maybe they will put him and Hatton out together, who is another one that may be tricky to pair with. Possibly these guys may only play twice in the 1st 2 days.

Also think it's essential to not have too many guys going 5 matches. Maybe Rory, Fleetwood and Rose might go 5 and possibly Molinari or Noren as they are both so well suited to the course - and even then, only 3 of these guys and only if they are playing so well they are basically undroppable. There are 12 singles points up for grabs on Sunday, so in my opinion, makes a lot of sense to hold guys back and get everyone 2 or 3 games on the course.

Would be good to hear thoughts, and with a bit of logic to back up what your pairings are.
 
I don't think the American's have too many problems with pairings. Thomas, Johnson, Simpson, Finau, Koepka, Spieth, Fowler all seem like great guys for this event who could play with anyone. Simpson has been a concern in the past, but is in good form and is a few years older and wiser now than when he topped it off the 1st tee at Gleneagles.

Maybe Reed and Bubba are the guys who aren't naturally suited to team events, albeit Reed has a phenomenal record in the last two cups.

And historically guys have been over awed playing with Tiger, but i don't think that will happen as the other guys will feel they are on a much more even footing with him now and Tiger himself has clearly embraced his peers much more than he did in the early part of his career.

There's been a lot of talk of Bryson and Tiger in the foursomes, as they both play the same ball. That could be as good as reason as any as they are both great players and could be a formidable partnership.

Not sure we will see Tiger & Phil play more than once per day. Likewise Spieth who seems to be the one guy whose form is a worry. Reed may also not be in the best of nick, so possibly the once unbeatable pairing could be split up and / or not effective.
 
Looking like a Tiger, Paddy Reed pairing if practice sessions are anything to go with. Paddy also using the Bridgestone ball in practice which would suggest that this is a pairing.
 
Listening to the BBC Golf Podcast, the Cut and seems to be a bit of momentum behind Rory and Rahm... could be a big 1st pairing to send out tomorrow morning.
 
Listening to the BBC Golf Podcast, the Cut and seems to be a bit of momentum behind Rory and Rahm... could be a big 1st pairing to send out tomorrow morning.

I thought I read that Rory and Garcia had been playing together a lot in practice.
 
Is there not way too much analysis of who should pair up with who and course set up supposedly to favour one team? How does that work as most of the Europeans play in the States most of the time anyway? They're all good pros. You put someone who's brilliant but streaky out with a steady Eddie in fourball to cover the likely birdie/bogey-maker with a back up pars machine. Foursomes probably better with 2 steady eddies than erratic/streaky players generally as you have to be considerate to your partner more in foursomes, play a little within yourself so you're not leaving partner in bad spots hacking out etc.

The Ryder Cup normally comes down to putting, whichever team is putting best will win.
 
fourball:
Rose / Stenson
Garcia / Rahm
Casey / Hatton
McIlroy / Molinari

foursomes:
Fleetwood / Poulter
Rahm / Rose
McIlroy / Oleson
Noren / Stenson
 
Is there not way too much analysis of who should pair up with who and course set up supposedly to favour one team? How does that work as most of the Europeans play in the States most of the time anyway? They're all good pros. You put someone who's brilliant but streaky out with a steady Eddie in fourball to cover the likely birdie/bogey-maker with a back up pars machine. Foursomes probably better with 2 steady eddies than erratic/streaky players generally as you have to be considerate to your partner more in foursomes, play a little within yourself so you're not leaving partner in bad spots hacking out etc.

The Ryder Cup normally comes down to putting, whichever team is putting best will win.

In Paris driving accuracy will come into play so Thorbjorn Olesen will be our weak link there so I expect him to only play a fourball and singles match.
 
Is Stenson fit to play twice in a day?

I think he'll play 3 games, hopefully Bjorn doesn't make the same mistakes at Clarke and play his favourites despite form. Although I'm far from convinced about Bjorn.
 
Question: On Sunday my footy team has a game at 12:30 (which is annoying as they are normally 10:30 which would have been better). I'm not sure whether to play or not as I'm not sure how much of the singles I'll miss. They tee off at 11:05 our time don't they? So if I'm back home by 14:30 nobody would have finished by then would they?? Or maybe the first group or two out might have done?
 
Interesting to read Tony Jacklin today saying he would have taken Matt Wallace. He didn't say who he would have left out but his reasoning made sense.
 
Question: On Sunday my footy team has a game at 12:30 (which is annoying as they are normally 10:30 which would have been better). I'm not sure whether to play or not as I'm not sure how much of the singles I'll miss. They tee off at 11:05 our time don't they? So if I'm back home by 14:30 nobody would have finished by then would they?? Or maybe the first group or two out might have done?

You'll miss half of it. Couple of games might have finished, last game will have played 6 or so holes
 
Been watching some of the re-runs on TV from last 16 years and noticed some things
  • The standard of short game/putting hasn’t improved much since the turn of the century
  • Some of the ‘uniforms' were absolute howlers! (& that's without going back to the 90's)
  • Plenty one-hit wonders (i.e JJ Henry) I wonder who’ll not make another RC team from those involved in the last couple of RC’s? (i.e Gallagher)
  • The gulf in team spirit between Europe & US was even evident in a highlight show (I think that gap has almost closed now & no longer an advantage)
  • Some of the Europeans have not aged well!
 
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