Ryder Cup 2025 - All matters

[WorldHandicapSystem]

8 singles matches — 4 wins, 2 halves and 2 losses is Tiger’s record….even that isn’t great let’s be honest

I’m not saying Poulter is anything like the golfer Tiger was….not even Poults or anybody else with the ability to speak, would say that

I am saying if the Ryder Cup is to be given lots of credence in the golf ecosystem, then surely a 39% record - and 50% win rate in Singles, isn’t world-leading by any stretch. And also should be taken into account when all is said and done

Does anyone really care all that much about it outside of Europe for a couple of weeks every year? Tiger was focused on winning majors. I doubt the RC was at the top of his list of priorities. He probably saw it as more of a distraction, as I’m sure many of the very top players do if they are honest.

His overall match play record is pretty good. The link below doesn’t show his record as an amateur either.

Tiger Woods’ Match Play Record

Career Singles Record: 54-20-2 *Wins highlighted in blue* Event Course Match Result 2019 Presidents Cup Royal Melbourne Tiger Woods def. Abraham Ancer 3 and 2 2019 WGC-Match Play Austin Country Clu…

adamsarson.com

 

[AussieKB]

Ryder Cup is right at the top for me alongside that other great event the Presidents......

 

[sunshine]

His overall match play record is pretty good. The link below doesn’t show his record as an amateur either.

His singles match play record is very strong. The win against Stephen Ames is legendary. There is some analysis that indicates that players scored around 1 shot higher higher when competing against Tiger. Was that down to being intimidated by Tiger, added pressure of the galleries and media, or being in contention?

Regardless, it's amazing that this thread is now focused on someone who won't be on the team this year and hasn't played since 2018

 

[sunshine]

Ryder Cup is right at the top for me alongside that other great event the Presidents......

If you're a fan of team golf there is a Saudi team tournament and of course TGL...

 

[Bazz]

He never struck me as much of a team player. He was so singularly focused on his individual achievements in the game. I'd almost imagine that you pair him up with someone in the RC foursomes and he'd still barely talk to them. And resent the fact that somebody else was hitting half of his shots.

I reckon he hated playing in it, so focussed on destroying his team mates the rest of the year he couldn't get up for playing alongside them.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

So as we entering into the last weeks of qualifying what changes do we see ?

Think for Europe 11 and 12 will change


Rahm will get one spot

And the last one maybe Fitzpatrick if he keeps his form

For the US I’m not sure who else for them ? Maybe Burns or Gotterup

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

View attachment 59009

So as we entering into the last weeks of qualifying what changes do we see ?

Think for Europe 11 and 12 will change


Rahm will get one spot

And the last one maybe Fitzpatrick if he keeps his form

For the US I’m not sure who else for them ? Maybe Burns or Gotterup

I think Burns, Gotterup and potentially Cantlay to get picks. Burna and Gotterup have had decent seasons and Cantlay has the experience. I think he takes JT, Morikawa as definites though.

As for Europe, Rahm gets in as he’s been in decent form in the majors, Fitzpatrick is trending the right way but realistically our picks look a lot more limited and think Europe are gonna struggle.

 

[Slab]

View attachment 59009

So as we entering into the last weeks of qualifying what changes do we see ?

Think for Europe 11 and 12 will change


Rahm will get one spot

And the last one maybe Fitzpatrick if he keeps his form

For the US I’m not sure who else for them ? Maybe Burns or Gotterup

That US team is (I think) their weakest for some time. I dunno if that's a good thing or a bad thing for Europe

 

[The Squirrel]

The US team does look to have a couple of big (so maybe awkward - see Tiger) personalities to pair. Who do you send out with BDC for example? Other than someone able to put up with Hatton losing his cool (pair with super-chilled Aberg?), Europe, as ever, seems to have more players who are not too ego driven and would pair well with anyone.

 

[Orikoru]

The US team does look to have a couple of big (so maybe awkward - see Tiger) personalities to pair. Who do you send out with BDC for example? Other than someone able to put up with Hatton losing his cool (pair with super-chilled Aberg?), Europe, as ever, seems to have more players who are not too ego driven and would pair well with anyone.

Seems obvious but I'd probably pair Hatton with Rahm given that they play in a team together all year round.

I'm not sure why there's negativity, I feel pretty confident and make Europe the favourites. Several of the big US players have fallen away (Spieth, Homa, Koepka, Fowler... Cantlay and Clark a little too), whereas the European team is going to be very similar to the winning side from two years ago, and our big guns are still in decent form. In terms of team cohesion that's a huge bonus for us. Are we really worried by the likes of Spaun and English? Journeymen on a little purple patch?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Can never discount the US team on US soil even when Europe appear to be strong

 

[The Squirrel]

Seems obvious but I'd probably pair Hatton with Rahm given that they play in a team together all year round.

I'm not sure why there's negativity, I feel pretty confident and make Europe the favourites. Several of the big US players have fallen away (Spieth, Homa, Koepka, Fowler... Cantlay and Clark a little too), whereas the European team is going to be very similar to the winning side from two years ago, and our big guns are still in decent form. In terms of team cohesion that's a huge bonus for us. Are we really worried by the likes of Spaun and English? Journeymen on a little purple patch?

Ah fair enough. No idea who is on what team on LIV so didn’t know that but that certainly does make things simpler - although maybe not as they’re both potentially combustible .

Thing I’d really like to see is Hovland back to his best form over next few weeks; he’s sneaked in the team with some promising displays but very hard to argue that he’s the same player as 2 yrs ago at this moment. Hope this changes - he’s the one I think a decent FedEx cup run would really help.

 

[Orikoru]

Ah fair enough. No idea who is on what team on LIV so didn’t know that but that certainly does make things simpler - although maybe not as they’re both potentially combustible .

Thing I’d really like to see is Hovland back to his best form over next few weeks; he’s sneaked in the team with some promising displays but very hard to argue that he’s the same player as 2 yrs ago at this moment. Hope this changes - he’s the one I think a decent FedEx cup run would really help.

Hovland is an odd one, he was poor in 2024, but I think this year he's improved again. He's one of those that can just turn up one week and be world class again. His ceiling is pretty high.

 

[AussieKB]

Cannot see Rahm getting a spot, he plays mainly Exhibition golf these days, no pressure what so ever,
or are Forum Members changing their mind ?

 

[Golfmmad]

Can never discount the US team on US soil even when Europe appear to be strong

Agreed, I think the Ryder Cup is a different animal. If the Americans get momentum and being on home soil with the baying crowds they will be hard to beat.

 

[Orikoru]

Agreed, I think the Ryder Cup is a different animal. If the Americans get momentum and being on home soil with the baying crowds they will be hard to beat.

Of course, home advantage is massive in the RC. But I just think we have cause to be optimistic looking at the two likely teams. I think it will be close either way. I can't see them giving us a pumping like they did in 2021.

 

[evemccc]

The US team does look to have a couple of big (so maybe awkward - see Tiger) personalities to pair. Who do you send out with BDC for example? Other than someone able to put up with Hatton losing his cool (pair with super-chilled Aberg?), Europe, as ever, seems to have more players who are not too ego driven and would pair well with anyone.

Scottie was paired with Bryson in ‘21 at Whistling Straits, and I think they did well

The best second-shot golfer in the world, and the best or v close to the best, off the tee

 

[Orikoru]

Scottie was paired with Bryson in ‘21 at Whistling Straits, and I think they did well

The best second-shot golfer in the world, and the best or v close to the best, off the tee

Arguably two of their three best players there though, would they pair them up for a super-team, or look to pair them with other slightly weaker players?

 

[The Squirrel]

Scottie was paired with Bryson in ‘21 at Whistling Straits, and I think they did well

The best second-shot golfer in the world, and the best or v close to the best, off the tee

Does make sense. Not like Scottie needs to feel overawed by literally anyone on earth, and BDC possibly shoud but won't by playing with Scottie
Scottie is also the best 3rd shot golfer (he's phenomenal chipping etc) in the world right now - no wonder he wins a lot
You definitely wouldn't want BDC together with someone going through a flaky phase (Morikawa right now for example)

 

[sunshine]

Of course, home advantage is massive in the RC. But I just think we have cause to be optimistic looking at the two likely teams. I think it will be close either way. I can't see them giving us a pumping like they did in 2021.

I genuinely can see it going either way. The US team is not stacked with super stars and doesn't look intimidating, but there's a bunch of very consistent players who always seem high up the leaderboard in big events.

Europe looks a bit more streaky, some of those guys fall out of form and go months without contending. They could turn up on form and batter the US, or find themselves edged out by a hole in every match.