Ryder Cup Query

[mikeb4]

I have a question and hopefully i explain it ok. I understand that both Captains put a name in an envelope of a player that will drop out if an opposition player is injured.

So when Hovland pulled out on the Sunday morning, was it coincidental that English was his opponent ? (H English was the name in the envelope for USA)

What would have happened when the singles pairings were announced if hypothetically English was drawn to play Rory and De Chambeu was drawn to play Hovland, would Dechambu then play Rory ?

Or what would happen ? I'm intrigued !

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I believe they put Hovland in the last pair with the envelope name with the potential that he wouldn’t be playing

 

[irip]

I think it was just a coincidence that English was drawn against Hovland.

I think the players move up to the next slot to replace the player in the envelope.

So if the player withdrawn was out 6th everyone behind him moves up 1 place.

 

[Wilson]

I believe they put Hovland in the last pair with the envelope name with the potential that he wouldn’t be playing

I reckon they knew he wasn’t going to play, there was a brief shot of someone asking him about it after the Saturday afternoon matches, and you could see from his body language it didn’t look good.

 

[Orikoru]

I reckon they knew he wasn’t going to play, there was a brief shot of someone asking him about it after the Saturday afternoon matches, and you could see from his body language it didn’t look good.

Yeah. Funnily enough I wondered the same as OP. Maybe that since they knew Hovland was injured the day before, the US figured he may not play and put their 'envelope' player at the bottom as well.

I mean, it's a bit harsh, but surely the name you put in the envelope is the player you think is your worst player, so you'd probably stick him last in the singles anyway.

 

[chico]

I couldn't understand why Keegan Bradley was moaning about it. It allowed him to guarantee a 1/2 point from the player he obviously reckoned was his weakest.

 

[Burnsey]

I couldn't understand why Keegan Bradley was moaning about it. It allowed him to guarantee a 1/2 point from the player he obviously reckoned was his weakest.

Agreed, but they needed a point to moan about.

The WORST thing was when the head of the USPGA congratulated the team on retaining the trophy - no mate, we WON it.

 

[harpo_72]

I would have said 6 of my players were injured retained the cup and then asked if they wanted to bother with the other singles … but I have a sense of humour.

 

[ADB]

I heard Keegan knew the night before there was a good chance that vic wouldn’t be playing and that he would be placed in the last spot, so he defo chose Harris as the man in the envelope

 

[brendy]

Id say Keegan had an idea and knew if anything Hovland would be number 12 so whoever he was putting out last, thats who was going to be withdrawn. Didnt stop him bellyaching about the process though.

 

[sjw]

Do they just pick numbers 1-12 and whoever happens to be number 5, for example, plays the other number 5?

Surely there must have been some collusion to put Scottie up against Rory? What's the thinking behind putting the number 1 and 2 in the world in the 4th slot, both teams doing the same thing?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Do they just pick numbers 1-12 and whoever happens to be number 5, for example, plays the other number 5?

Surely there must have been some collusion to put Scottie up against Rory? What's the thinking behind putting the number 1 and 2 in the world in the 4th slot, both teams doing the same thing?

I think some players have a feeling who will go when

For example in 2012 Rose knew Mickleson always went 3 and so wanted to go up against him

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

Do they just pick numbers 1-12 and whoever happens to be number 5, for example, plays the other number 5?

Surely there must have been some collusion to put Scottie up against Rory? What's the thinking behind putting the number 1 and 2 in the world in the 4th slot, both teams doing the same thing?

I was also thinking how interesting it was that both teams did almost identical things and also wondered if there is some kind of conversation had to make that happen.

Like it’d be interesting to see one team front load and the other team do the opposite. Arguably you might want your best players at the back to handle the pressure if it ends up that way, like what teams do in a penalty shoot-out, but they don’t seem to view it that way.

 

[Yorkhacker]

Agreed, but they needed a point to moan about.

The WORST thing was when the head of the USPGA congratulated the team on retaining the trophy - no mate, we WON it.

Actually we retained it by winning, the same as if we retained it by drawing. Its just more satisfying to have won

 

[Burnsey]

Actually we retained it by winning, the same as if we retained it by drawing. Its just more satisfying to have won

Understood, but he purposely excluded the three letter word - won - bad form and he knew it.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

Do they just pick numbers 1-12 and whoever happens to be number 5, for example, plays the other number 5?

Surely there must have been some collusion to put Scottie up against Rory? What's the thinking behind putting the number 1 and 2 in the world in the 4th slot, both teams doing the same thing?

I have always understood that the home team put up their list of players and then the away team choose who to pit against them.
Have I got that wrong?
As for the envelope thingy…..the names put in the envelope are never ever revealed, except in the following circumstance. The names are put in the envelope prior to the competition, I believe. Whether the complete competition, or prior to the singles choosings, I’m not sure.
The name is only revealed when the emergency withdrawal occurs, as in this case with Hovland.
Which does suggest that the Captain, choosing the name to go in the envelope, does believe that that is the player he can afford to be without.

 

[timd77]

Understood, but he purposely excluded the three letter word - won - bad form and he knew it.

Yeh, you could tell from the look on his face he knew exactly what he was doing.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I have always understood that the home team put up their list of players and then the away team choose who to pit against them.
Have I got that wrong?
As for the envelope thingy…..the names put in the envelope are never ever revealed, except in the following circumstance. The names are put in the envelope prior to the competition, I believe. Whether the complete competition, or prior to the singles choosings, I’m not sure.
The name is only revealed when the emergency withdrawal occurs, as in this case with Hovland.
Which does suggest that the Captain, choosing the name to go in the envelope, does believe that that is the player he can afford to be without.

Both the singles list are submitted together

It’s random who they play against

 

[Orikoru]

Do they just pick numbers 1-12 and whoever happens to be number 5, for example, plays the other number 5?

Surely there must have been some collusion to put Scottie up against Rory? What's the thinking behind putting the number 1 and 2 in the world in the 4th slot, both teams doing the same thing?

I'm pretty sure the lists are genuinely submitted blind, but of course it's a bit of rock, paper, scissors and trying to predict what your opponent will do. As they were so far behind, we knew they would 'front load' with some of their best players out early, so you either do the same thing and go man-for-man, or send a sacrificial lamb or two out early and then your best players can beat their second-string. On this occasion it looks like both teams went with their form players first - Young & Thomas were playing quite well for them, and Rose, Fleetwood & Fitz were in form for us. Then US followed that up with their best players 'on paper' in Bryson, Scottie, Xander, Cantlay, and we effectively did the same with Rory, Rahm & Aberg. So with the thinking being pretty similar on both sides, we coincidentally ended up with the best-ranked player going out 4th for both.

 

[wjemather]

I think some players have a feeling who will go when

For example in 2012 Rose knew Mickleson always went 3 and so wanted to go up against him

That'd be a nice story, but of course it's not true.
They were match 4.
Also, Mickelson was number 10, 4, 10, 2, 11, 3, 4, 12 in previous Ryder Cup singles. His position in the lineup for President's Cup singles was equally erratic.