Ryder Cup 2016

[Jimmy Floyd]

It’s the Ryder Cup, and it’s back in America, and a primetime slot on Sky Sports, at Hazeltine National, in Minnesota. Europe come in as the holders and indeed have won the last three editions on the bounce, and eight of the last ten. Every two years the Americans decide that this time they’re going to win, and never has this been more true than 2016. On paper, world rankings, and any statistical measure you want to use, America are the favourites, and should win. They would certainly like to think so, as you can tell from the way they have decked the course out:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtTJrQeW8AA9aAp.jpg

We start Friday with 8 points up for grabs in foursomes/fourballs, then the same again on Saturday, before the final 12 points are contested in the Sunday singles in which everyone plays and it’s 14.5 points for the win – or 14 points for Europe to retain the Cup.

So a quick, or not so quick preview of your two teams, for those who might not normally watch golf:

USA
America hates not winning, to the extent that if it doesn’t win, it basically pretends that the thing it hasn’t won doesn’t exist. The Ryder Cup is a classic example of this phenomenon. Having failed so much in recent years, America famously set up a ‘Ryder Cup Task Force’ after the last one, which came up with all sorts of nonsensical gimmicks. Nonetheless, they have a number of their top players in excellent form and at home, they should be the favourites. There is also the added emotional factor of Arnold Palmer having just died. Here are their runners and riders.

Davis Love III, non-playing captain, led them to defeat in the historic ‘Miracle at Medinah’ collapse in 2012, but made a lot of friends in the team by being a suave Georgian patriarch and apparently that’s what counts, so he returns after Tom Watson’s disastrous stint last time out.

Phil Mickelson, veteran magic-hands lefty and darling of the nation. He actually has a dismal record in the Ryder Cup, having been 16-19 in his own matches over the years and having lost the Cup on a record eight occasions, in spite of which ‘FIGJAM’ still believes he can go around telling everyone what to do and flashing his wanky teeth.

Dustin Johnson, big-hitting, cocaine-snorting, Wayne Gretzky’s daughter-dating southerner, US Open champion, and the sport’s in-form player. Everything he touches turns to gold at the moment which is just as well after his powder-induced absence from 2014 left the Americans short of a star. That said, he absolutely loves a choke, as he showed on Sunday at the Tour Championship when well placed to win the ten million.

Jordan Spieth, who hasn’t really recovered from his lolworthy collapse at the Masters, and is still the best putter in golf but the rest of his game has taken a year off. Still a fearsome player and will come again.

Patrick Reed, fat, obnoxious Texan who loves any opportunity to shout/talk utter bullshit and what better weekend to do so than the Ryder Cup. Likely to pair up with Spieth.

Jimmy Walker, late developer and everyman hero, now PGA champion, and that rare American golfer who you don’t wish pain on.

Brooks Koepka, tall, awkward looking man with a monstrous drive who looks like he was chucked out of college basketball for being too much of a nerd. Debutant.

Brandt Snedeker, someone I’ve never really got to grips with, good player who wins all the monies and has shit hair but I can’t remember him even contending at a major, let alone winning one.

Zach Johnson, twice a major champion, barely hits it past his own feet but a wizard with the wedges and a great putter, ideal to partner big hitters in the foursomes.

J.B. Holmes, captain’s pick, redneck long hitter who looks like an extra from Justified.

Rickie Fowler, captain’s pick, irritating munchkin of a player who has the frat boy thing going on but hasn’t really delivered on his talent or media persona yet despite some better wins in the last two years. Has had a very poor 2016, though, hence needing a captain’s pick, and has also not won any of his previous 8 Ryder Cup matches.

Matt Kuchar, captain’s pick, perhaps the world’s most vanilla golfer, always producing that toothy grin and having people bellow KUUUUUCH and coming 8th and never winning anything important. Won a bronze medal in Rio, which is the most Matt Kuchar thing ever.

Ryan Moore, captain's pick, they backed themselves into a corner with this one, Moore is a good player and in form but they have tied themselves in knots about the need for a late pick and as a result Gerry Lester ‘Bubba’ Watson has missed out despite being ranked 7 in the world. The reason doing the rounds for the Bubbster’s omission is that he is a colossal prick who is bad for team atmosphere, but he has since been made a vice captain, so frankly it’s anyone’s guess.

EUROPE
The Europeans arrive with many victories behind them, but many new and unproven names on the team sheet which should have the yankee doodle dandies SMELLING BLOOD. Half the team are debutants, with established names like Poulter, McDowell and Bjorn not having made it as players this time, but there is a better crop of European youngsters than there has been for some time. It will be a tough schooling though in the Americans' back yard and they will go in thinking they are underdogs.

Darren Clarke, non-playing captain, everyone loves Darren (with a couple of curious exceptions) and remembers his emotional playing triumph in Ireland in 2006. He has a tough task here but he should be well equipped for it.

Rory McIlroy, who has only flirted with his best form this year but remains a devastating player who probably drives it better than anyone in the game – and he came from more or less nowhere to scoop up the Tour Championship and associated $10 million on Sunday, so he is hitting form at the right time.

Danny Willett, Masters champion and south Yorkshire boy made good, it’s been a rapid rise for young Danny but he shows no signs of not being able to handle it and despite being a rookie is one of the bankers for Europe. The first of 6 European debutants.

Henrik Stenson, Open champion and ultra-cool Swede who at the age of 40 is playing the best golf of an already very impressive career.

Chris Wood, tall Bristolian without much top level pedigree except for a good win at Wentworth this year. Will probably find himself sitting out a few sessions.

Sergio Garcia, mercurial favourite and in no way racist Spaniard, still flatters to deceive if truth be told but has had a decent year and his Ryder Cup record is outstanding.

Rafael Cabrera Bello, the obligatory second Spaniard in a competition where they always seem to own the zeitgeist. This has been his breakthrough year after being a bottling bastard for some time, has still won naff all in fact but had a great World Matchplay earlier in the year which went a long way to qualifying him for this. Physique like a greyhound.

Justin Rose, sponsor’s dream and Olympic gold medallist. He also has the best Ryder Cup record of anyone, with a 71% win ratio from 14 matches which really is strong.

Andy Sullivan, likeable Brummie, another debutant.

Matt Fitzpatrick, youngster who has qualified I’m not quite sure how but comes in looking like most of the other players could be his father. A great talent but this might be early for him.

Lee Westwood (captain’s pick), ah, Westy, playing his tenth Ryder Cup (only Phil has played more), and still appearing at the top of leaderboards in big tournaments before disappearing on Sunday in a sea of missed short putts. His experience will be vital, you’d imagine.

Martin Kaymer (captain’s pick), Kaymer is a weird golfer who is twice a major champion but also goes through spells of doing absolutely naff all. There’s no doubting his ability though which is why he was always nailed on for a captain’s pick here.

Thomas Pieters (captain’s pick), now this is a wildcard, many fancied Luke Donald for the nod but he was deemed too short/shit and so we have Pieters, the big hitting, lavishly talented young Belgian who is the sixth European rookie. Few will have seen him in the States, so could be the surprise package.

My verdict is that America have every golfing advantage you could want going into this – home advantage, experience, talent, world rankings, tour wins, major wins, money, status, facilities, coaches, infrastructure, equipment even – and that’s why Europe are going to win the Ryder Cup. Again.

Either way, should be a good weekend of golf.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Glad that 'beef' didn't get in.

[Giggles]

Haven't seen this in years so I've been looking forward to it. The McIlroy factor means I dearly hope the Muricans absolutely horse them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh and I forgot the vice captains, whose purpose remains unclear but each team has a healthy selection and they roll about chucking buggy shapes enough to warrant camera time.

USA: Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods - for it is he - and Bubba Watson.

Europe: Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter and Sam Torrance.

[ItalAussie]

I didn't realise Fowler had dropped off so badly. His 2014 was one of the best years anyone has had in recent memory.

I do remember being convinced that Snedeker would bore his way to a major back in about 2012 when he was good. But then he dropped totally off the map, so good for him in getting it back together. It's sad to see people fall away that dramatically.

I'm almost inclined to think there's one or two too many nobodies in the European team this time around? Like, a few mid-range players with the capacity to lift is a good thing, but there are multiple players there that I've literally never heard of before. I mean, I'm not a dedicated European Tour follower, but I'd worry if none of them (bar Willett, obviously) have even made a dent in a major championship before.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Speaking of Fowler, he's done this for the Ryder Cup:

http://www.independent.ie/incoming/article30606414.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/fow.jpg

I bet he's voting Trump, the mong.

[ItalAussie]

Also, Davis Love noting that if the US doesn't start winning again occasionally, Americans will stop caring about the Ryder Cup. :D

Given that the Ryder Cup falls somewhere just under the Iditarod Sled Race in terms of US national consciousness, I don't think they have that much to fear.

[niko_cee]

A bit as with the Ashes this is one of those things I grew up with us never winning (or feeling that way) so the domination of recent years has somewhat taken the edge off it for me. I'll still watch it where I can, and want Europe to shit all over them, but I probably won't be able to dedicate the sort of focused hatred players like Patrick Reed clearly warrant. The sinking feeling of the singles is something I can barely remember (although in my mind I still expect Europe to lose at least 8 singles matches). If the yanks lose this time there's probably a case for them raising the white flag and asking the rest of the world to help them out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, Davis Love noting that if the US doesn't start winning again occasionally, Americans will stop caring about the Ryder Cup. :D

Given that the Ryder Cup falls somewhere just under the Iditarod Sled Race in terms of US national consciousness, I don't think they have that much to fear.

The fact that they don't care is why they lose. Aside from the very top players, all US golfers tend to care about is money. It's so easy for average American players to get onto the PGA Tour and just cruise on what is probably the most overpaid circuit in all of sport, so there's very little desire out there.

Europeans by contrast (and Aussies, Saffas, Asians etc) have to win some proper tournaments and climb up by their bootstraps to make that kind of money, so they tend to have a bit more perspective about the sport they play and what it means to be a leading player.

[ItalAussie]

I think he was talking about supporters rather than players, but I do take your point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's the same thing. US golf fans are only interested in one thing, which is Tiger Woods winning. They don't really watch anything else. European sports fans are more atuned to the thick or thin aspect.

[niko_cee]

Danny Willett's brother's interjection is fairly lol, as is the po-faced reaction it seems to be generating.

Serious business.

Should probably finish reading it before getting all indignant, mind.

[Giggles]

What's gone on with Willets brother? Is he a journo?

[niko_cee]

He's written a fairly amusing, not-at-all serious, article for some golf publication, which everyone has completely missed the point of.

He's a teacher by day.

http://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/2016/09/27/pete-willett-i-aint-partisan-hes-my-brother/

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's properly lol. Medal of Honour (1st class) for winding up dumb Americans. 'Dentists' Big Game Hunt Society' made me properly lol.

[Giggles]

Was just reading the quotes on BBC Sport there. In fairness he's fairly on the money.

Lego hair :D

[Giggles]

What the fuck sort of accent is Tony Jacklin putting on?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Opening foursomes:

Spieth/Reed v Rose/Stenson
Mickelson/Fowler v McIlroy/Sullivan
Walker/Zach v Garcia/Kaymer
Dustbin/Kuchar v Pieters/Westwood

3-1 to Europe for me. Septics to win only the bottom game. Mickelson/Fowler is a nonsense pairing.

[ItalAussie]

Rose/Stenson is a bit "eggs in one basket".

Third one could go either way. And who knows what Sullivan is going to do.

[Lofty]

The heckler sinking that putt :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rose/Stenson is a bit "eggs in one basket".

Third one could go either way. And who knows what Sullivan is going to do.

Sullivan's a good player and his temperament will really suit these matches, he'll get right into it.

I'm a bit surprised they've benched Willett, that Pieters/Westwood partnership looks a bit vulnerable, but Mickelson/Fowler in foursomes is mental (they'll now probably win 8&7).

[ItalAussie]

I was expecting to see Willett rather than Sullivan, but I'm assuming they know something that I don't. Assuming that he plays relatively consistently, the real question is whether the Americans implode. Against a solid pairing, I'd be reluctant to back the Europeans in that one. Now though, who knows?

Pieters/Westwood really seems like accepting the loss and getting Pieters experience for singles. But we'll see. I know nothing at all about Pieters, so he could surprise me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is also the thing that you have to play two matches a day under intense pressure, so giving people the odd rest isn't the worst idea if you can help it. Some players on both sides are too good for that though.

[niko_cee]

The first three names out of the hat have to play every match for the Europeans. I'd expect Stenson and Rose to be split for the fourballs to chaperone a n00b. You probably have to stick the Spaniards together for one unless Sergio looks dreadful this morning. Give Westy the afternoon off, but I guess it depends on how people play/feel.

Rose/Willett
Stenson/Fitzpatrick
McIlroy/Wood
Garcia/RCB

Everyone gets a game on day 1.

[Boydy]

I don't really understand how this works.

[ItalAussie]

The first three names out of the hat have to play every match for the Europeans. I'd expect Stenson and Rose to be split for the fourballs to chaperone a n00b. You probably have to stick the Spaniards together for one unless Sergio looks dreadful this morning. Give Westy the afternoon off, but I guess it depends on how people play/feel.

Rose/Willett
Stenson/Fitzpatrick
McIlroy/Wood
Garcia/RCB

Everyone gets a game on day 1.

Fair enough. I didn't know there were that many factors in play.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't really understand how this works.

Matchplay. Two teams, 12 players on each side. 28 games of golf, with each game counting for 1 point. You pick your players and order, and then it gets matched up blind against that of the other team to create the matchups.

Foursomes: pairs, players take alternate shots on the same ball
Fourballs: pairs, players use their own ball and the best score on the hole counts
Singles: obv

8 points available in each of the first two, and 12 in the Sunday singles which tends to contain the DRAMA.

[ItalAussie]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Reed does. He really took to the Ryder Cup last time, and he seems like just the kind of character who can play the Poulter role, given time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He took to it apart from the bit when he missed a crucial putt shorter than his own collar size. But we'll forgive him that. I was going to say he'll be a pantomime villain next time it's in Europe, but then it's in France, and the French boo their own shadows.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh, Lee Westwood. Three, maybe four feet for par and a half. Round the back and out the other side, a horrible miss and a real gift for the US.

:D

Never change.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they can get out of this with 1.5 points or better it won't have been a bad effort from Europe, the yanks are always on fire in these first games. Sullivan seems to be carrying McIlroy.

Yanks need to go back to Fowler/Walker and Phil/Zach in the next lot, these pairings are a nonsense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That second round of European pairings are also dreadful.

[bruhnaldo]

"That’s only the fourth clean sweep in a foursomes series, following American efforts in 1947, 1975 and 1981."

Looks like I'll be giving all sorts of fucks about the Ryder Cup this time around boys :drool:

[niko_cee]

Only dipped in and out of it, but Garcia and Kaymer should have been about 4 up before they totally lost it, and how McIlroy and Sullivan lost to a pairing who hit every drive into the crowd (the second best place to hit it) is beyond logic.

[Giggles]

That went well.

[Giggles]

Though this shower of cunt fans would swing anyone towards Europe. Loudmouth fucks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When I left work it was looking set fair for 2.5-1.5, so fuck knows what happened at the end. Sounds like Reed absolutely carried Spieth as well. which makes it all the more galling.

Trump/Pence in the foursomes tomorrow by the looks of it.

[bruhnaldo]

i fucking loathe those people

GET IN THE HOLE

Fuck off, you just want to hear yourself on the replay later.

And how much of a dickhead do you look:

"Guys, listen.. wait for it... HA THAT WAS ME!!!"

Are your other dickhead friends impressed?

So annoying.

[bruhnaldo]

Team Europe "need to silence the pudgy, basement-dwelling, irritants, stuffed on cookie dough and pissy beer, pausing between mouthfuls of hotdog so they can scream 'Baba booey' until their jelly faces turn red," Peter Willett wrote.

"They need to stun the angry, unwashed, Make America Great Again swarm, desperately gripping their concealed-carry compensators and belting out a mini-erection inducing 'mashed potato,' hoping to impress their cousin.

"They need to smash the obnoxious dads, with their shiny teeth, Lego man hair, medicated ex-wives, and resentful children. Squeezed into their cargo shorts and boating shoes, they'll bellow 'get in the hole' whilst high-fiving all the other members of the Dentists' Big Game Hunt Society."

I realize i kinda just said this but holy fuck am I triggered.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at them all booing Danny Willett. Just lol.

[bruhnaldo]

self-awareness has never been our strong suit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Colin Montgomerie may be a humongous shitstain for the rest of the two year cycle, but he really comes into his own for this weekend.

*America is 4-0 up*

'Good afternoon Colin.'

'Yes, good afternoon. The Americans are far too over-confident here.'

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yank balloon somewhat deflated in the afternoon. Spieth has been awful. Hopefully Darren Clarke will work out that Kaymer is useless and get Wood/Sullivan involved tomorrow. The Spanish duo looks a winner though.

[Boydy]

I can't find a decent British stream for this and I couldn't stand the American streams which worked - too many adverts (I hate their adverts) and the commentators were annoying.

[Boydy]

This one's bearable if anyone else needs one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGw5Uzdlzv0&feature=youtu.be

[Jimmy Floyd]

The only good thing about American golf coverage is Feherty, and he's not even American.

If you can find the Sky coverage it's very good and has many fewer ad breaks.

[Boydy]

Turns out that's actually the same channel I was watching earlier, I just hadn't seen an ad break in a bit. :moop:

I don't know why (decent) Sky Sports streams are so hard to come by.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because their product would be worthless if there were loads.

I have to say, I think these are the worst ever American crowds. I can't remember them routinely erupting for European misses/bad shots in the past and yelping things like 'Get in the water!', but then I can't really remember Brookline properly. It's so completely different over here, good American play/wins get (modestly) cheered.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rory giving it to them :drool:

Europe will win it from here. Yanks are trying too hard.

[Boydy]

Because their product would be worthless if there were loads.


Doesn't the same go for the American channels? I presume they're cable channels. They're much easier to find streams of than British ones.

But yeah, Rory's bows. :D

[Disco]

Boop

http://www.stream2watch.cc/live-television/united-kingdom/sky-sports-1-live-stream

[Boydy]

You always have good streams. Thank you.

[-james-]

Sportsmania is a fiver a month and their sky streams are generally spot on.

[Boydy]

We've had this conversation before.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Saturday morning foursomes:

Mickelson/Fowler v McIlroy/Pieters
Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick
Walker/Zach v Rose/Wood
Spieth/Reed v Garcia/Cabrera Bello

Dustbin sitting out, lol. Probably asked to sit out like the bottling twat he is, no way a captain would voluntarily bench him. At least Spieth/Reed are last out this time. Imagine they will wind up the amigos simply by being fucking slow.

[Adamski]

Turns out that's actually the same channel I was watching earlier, I just hadn't seen an ad break in a bit. :moop:

I don't know why (decent) Sky Sports streams are so hard to come by.

DC Sports on kodi has some excellent sky and BT streams at the moment.

[Adamski]

Saturday morning foursomes:

Mickelson/Fowler v McIlroy/Pieters
Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick
Walker/Zach v Rose/Wood
Spieth/Reed v Garcia/Cabrera Bello

Dustbin sitting out, lol. Probably asked to sit out like the bottling twat he is, no way a captain would voluntarily bench him. At least Spieth/Reed are last out this time. Imagine they will wind up the amigos simply by being fucking slow.

Predictions based on those pairings?

[Giggles]

Kodi :D

Just get Sky. Or even go to the pub, they're bound to be all over it.

[Adamski]

Are you now onto mocking Kodi after spending the better part of the last 6 months not being able to figure out how to work it?

[Giggles]

Are you now onto mocking Kodi after spending the better part of the last 6 months not being able to figure out how to work it?

I've done everything anyone has said and had it set up fully, but it's absolutely shite. Nothing any better quality on it than mobdro, which is far less faff.

[Adamski]

Then use Mobdro to watch the golf.

[Giggles]

Then use Mobdro to watch the golf.

Tell Boydy, I'm watching it on TV. If you're going to be a cock at least try to keep up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Predictions based on those pairings?

McIlroy/Pieters to win but the other three is anyone's guess. 2-2 the session.

[Giggles]

Just seen the Willet booing on SSN as I missed it last night. Twats.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That round of I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN has got my hankers up. Bloody animals.

Apparently one of them shouted 'If it wasn't for us you'd be speaking German!!!'... at Kaymer.

[Giggles]

Yeah fuck this. McIlroy or not, you'd have to want to see the yanks spanked because of these imbeciles. They ruin watching it.

[John Arne]

After a Spieth drive, one gobshite just shouted "daddy's home...". I mean... what?

[-james-]

I don't think I'm ever a more partisan follower of sport than during the Ryder cup. Please win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Phil and Rickie (particularly Rickie) have been so, so bad in this match. It's just utterly absurd to pair them together in foursomes. Or anything, actually.

For Europe I'd go with this in the afternoon:

McIlroy/Pieters
Rose/Stenson
Garcia/Rafa
Willett/Sullivan

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Spieth/Reed manage to lose this I'm getting on the booze.

[Adamski]

Set up nicely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It is:

Dustbin/Koepa v McIlroy/Pieters (Rory has them 1 up after 2)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood
Phil/Kuchar v Garcia/Kaymer
Spieth/Reed v Rose/Stenson

Both nonsense lineups again from the captains imo.

[Adamski]

In what way?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kaymer and Westwood have both shown no form whatsoever on the European side and he's just gone back to them because of 'experience' and they're his picks. On the yank side, Spieth/Reed look completely spent and Holmes/Moore aren't going to win you anything, meanwhile Snedeker is holing everything and sits out.

We'll see though.

[Giggles]

This is going to be close enough overnight that Europe should walk it with the singles tomorrow.

[Jimmy Floyd]

McIlroy is the best player in this event with a monstrous gap back to the next one.

[Dquincy]

Rory is going to burst a blood vessel at this rate. Good on him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just had someone shout at Stenson while he was standing over a putt, earlier on someone shouted something about McIlroy's father while he was lining up a shot and told him to 'suck a dick' at some other point, when he missed a putt they shouted 'that's why Wozniacki left your ass'.

Lovely people, the Americans.

[Adamski]

Just seen this :D

https://mobile.twitter.com/NatE_AndersoN22/status/782306423455686656

EDIT: just beaten by Jimmy.

[Giggles]

I could get on board with that only for it'll just make the little cunt play better.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I must have been watching Lee Westwood miss crucial three footers for almost 20 years now.

Think it'll end up 9-7 to the septics here. Hope I'm wrong.

[Adamski]

I'm going for WW to sneak it and Rose/Swenson to get a late half. 8-8.

[Giggles]

Has Speith been shit since that meltdown?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I must have been watching Lee Westwood miss crucial three footers for almost 20 years now.

:face:

Spieth has done nothing all day, the 'partnership' is a mirage. Reed must be 9 or 10 under on his ball.

Europe's main problem here has been the awful pairings by Clarke, Kaymer/Westwood both costing them dear while Rafa and others sit out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really, Lee? Really?

[Giggles]

Jesus.

[-james-]

Westwood. :|

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon 3 of the first fourball had longer cocks than that one. Fuck's sake.

Those last two holes were absolute peak Westwood. Will never be bettered.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think that's too many to be honest, America will do us in the singles. Clarke's faith in the useless Kaymer and Westwood have probably cost the Cup.

[ItalAussie]

Reed. Hopefully he can generate some Poulter-scale obnoxiousness.

[Jimmy Floyd]

McIlroy v Reed in the first game out :drool:


Reed v McIlroy
Spieth v Stenson
Holmes v Pieters
Fowler v Rose
Walker v Cabrera Bello
Mickelson v Garcia
Moore v Westwood
Snedeker v Sullivan
Dustbin v Wood
Koepka v Willett
Kuchar v Kaymer
Zach v Fitzpatrick

Can see Europe winning a fair few in the top half, but the bottom half looks grisly.

[Adamski]

Are the singles paired up in the same way? I.e you pick your running order blind and so does the other team?

[ItalAussie]

Reed v McIlroy
Spieth v Stenson
Holmes v Pieters
Fowler v Rose
Walker v Cabrera Bello
Mickelson v Garcia
Moore v Westwood
Snedeker v Sullivan
Dustbin v Wood
Koepka v Willett
Kuchar v Kaymer
Zach v Fitzpatrick

If it plays out anything like the way I've gone here, it'll shape up pretty exciting before the US crack it open to finish the day.

[niko_cee]

I gave up after I thought we'd hit peak Westwood when he missed that 3-footer to win a hole. Did he go on to out-peak himself later? It really is a wonder the career he's carved out for himself. Too much ground to make up considering half the team are playing like absolute shit. It'll all be Peter Willett's fault. I assume the Americans pronounce that 'willay'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They were A/S going into 17, he had a five footer for the half, missed it. Then he goes to 18 one down, stuffs it to I reckon inside two feet, proper gimme range, has it to halve the match and misses.

Rory is not losing to Fat Pat, but the bottom half just has too many probably nots.

[ItalAussie]

We'll see. By rights, almost nobody should have lost to Poulter, who isn't really very good. Yet it kept happening. I still think that Reed has that same pesty aura about him.

The last half looks brutal for Europe. The only one of those back end results that I hesitated to pick was Kuchar/Kaymer, where all three results are very possible.

[niko_cee]

Poulter has always been much better at match play golf. It's daft to dismiss him on the basis that he's only ever been average at stroke play. It's a different discipline.

[ItalAussie]

Is there a "method" for choosing the order they go out in singles?

[ItalAussie]

Poulter has always been much better at match play golf. It's daft to dismiss him on the basis that he's only ever been average at stroke play. It's a different discipline.

Definitely much better. But also not that good (where that good is how he plays against the US). Except in Ryder Cups, when he becomes that good.

[niko_cee]

Is there a "method" for choosing the order they go out in singles?

Wisdom seems to have shifted in recent years to sticking all your big guns out early to get 'momentum'.

I'm sure they used to back load it so you had your best players in the (potentially) decisive matches.

[Giggles]

Wisdom seems to have shifted in recent years to sticking all your big guns out early to get 'momentum'.

I'm sure they used to back load it so you had your best players in the (potentially) decisive matches.

Didn't that bite the yanks really badly one year and change the thinking?

[Giggles]

Also, Monty is great on TV. Has he always sounded so English though?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Definitely much better. But also not that good (where that good is how he plays against the US). Except in Ryder Cups, when he becomes that good.

I'm not checking this but I think he won the WGC Matchplay as well. It just suits his confrontational nature. Same for Reed, but McIlroy is on a totally different level and I'd be immensely surprised if he allowed himself to lose to Patty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Reed v McIlroy
Spieth v Stenson
Holmes v Pieters
Fowler v Rose
Walker v Cabrera Bello
Mickelson v Garcia
Moore v Westwood
Snedeker v Sullivan
Dustbin v Wood
Koepka v Willett
Kuchar v Kaymer
Zach v Fitzpatrick

Game of two 'alves, mange tout mange tout.

[ItalAussie]

I'm not checking this but I think he won the WGC Matchplay as well. It just suits his confrontational nature. Same for Reed, but McIlroy is on a totally different level and I'd be immensely surprised if he allowed himself to lose to Patty.

He did win one, but he wasn't consistently reaching the back end, either. He was streaky.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No one consistently reaches the back end of that, apart from your old mucker Jason Day it seems and he's the world number 1 so he's allowed to.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jordan Spieth injured his hand doing a boisterous high five with Patrick Reed and may have to withdraw.

[Giggles]

That's been coming on both teams.

[GS]

Westwood is fucking useless, isn't he.

[-james-]

Wisdom seems to have shifted in recent years to sticking all your big guns out early to get 'momentum'.

I'm sure they used to back load it so you had your best players in the (potentially) decisive matches.

Your best players aren't much use if you've already lost the cup by half past eight, I suppose.

[niko_cee]

Has that ever happened though?

I like Bubba's patriotic socks. This one goes on the left foot . . .

[Jimmy Floyd]

McIlroy is going to absolutely destroy Reed here. 6&5 or something.

[Giggles]

I can't make out if Stenson has a ronnie or not.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I put that through urban dictionary and got this:


When an erect penis is put through the middle of a MacDonalds Breakfast Bagel and your partner eats it.

Sounds more like something in the Patrick Reed playbook.

[Giggles]

http://www.slang.ie/mobile/index.php?entryid=10745&county=Tipperary&letter=R

[Adamski]

Crazy Paddies

[Giggles]

Crazy Paddies

Yep. Only country with slang.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think one of Reed/McIlroy is going to have a swing at the other before this is over.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Right now as I type it's projected USA 13-15 Europe...

[Boydy]

http://i66.tinypic.com/v5bq13.jpg

Why is Europe winning more likely than a tie?

[-james-]

Because there are loads of results that mean a Europe win, but only one that means a tie.

[Boydy]

Ah right, yeah.

I was thinking of it like a football match.

[Giggles]

Europe have this wrapped up.

[niko_cee]

Not a chance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'mericans will piss it unless someone down the bottom has a meltdown.

[Giggles]

Couple of losses in the early ones will get the crowd on their backs and that meltdown will come.

[niko_cee]

The goose is cooked is McIlroy loses.

Just look at the bottom of the draw. :sick:

[Jimmy Floyd]

For all they may be wanking over the 'standard', this course is set up for 95 yard wedge shots into easy pins all the way round. It's a total target golf birdie fest.

Europe's universally dogshit short putting costing them.

[Boydy]

On a Canadian channel today. Their ads take the piss too.

[Giggles]

Someone just needs to push Speith in the twat.

[Boydy]

I really hope he falls in.

[Adamski]

What a putt.

[Giggles]

Good man Reed. That's huge with how well McIlroy has been playing.

[Boydy]

Holy shit, his forehead's so white compared to the rest of his face. :D

[Giggles]

Holy shit, his forehead's so white compared to the rest of his face. :D

Speith looked the same coming off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The unseen tops of golfers' heads are often a huge shock. Matt Kuchar is fully bald, something you never realise.

Euros gone here in the last five games. Oh well, in France we'll have some salty seadog like Thomas Bjorn in charge and we'll spank them again.

[Giggles]

Westwood has the putter working this round.

[Giggles]

If there was a match choice, that Mickelson Garcia one would have been some watching.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Mickelson/Garcia affair is one of the great matches, they must be halving it in about 8 under.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think they halved that in 63 each, absolutely ridiculous.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Westwood has the putter working this round.

2 up 3 to play, currently A/S 1 to play. He is ultimately a bottleless goon unfortunately.

[Giggles]

That'll do it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh spare me Bubba crying.

[Giggles]

Bubba Watson, what a wanker.

[niko_cee]

2 up 3 to play, currently A/S 1 to play. He is ultimately a bottleless goon unfortunately.

:D

Did this actually happen?

I was watching Louis Theroux soul-search about Jimmy Savile.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yep, he lost as well after going in two bunkers on 18 and par was good enough for Moore.

It's only just struck me that Clarke and Westwood are both part of the ISM/Michael Vaughan stable as well.

[niko_cee]

Hopefully Peter Willett's reaction to this is something along the lines of maybe you write the articles next time and I'll play the golf.

[GS]

Westwood throwing it away twice in two days is some fucking effort. That'll be his last appearance at a Ryder Cup, you'd expect.

Clarke was somewhat hamstrung by the 'rookies' in the automatic selections, but far from convinced that Westwood / Kaymer were the right picks. Still, the Americans were probably due a win to stop it all becoming extremely one-sided.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Westwood and Kaymer were probably the right picks, at the time people were moaning about Pieters being picked over Donald/Knox. His mistake was not benching them yesterday afternoon when it was clear Rafa and others were on better form.

Ultimately though the Americans were pretty immense, seemed to hole almost everything. Easy course setups suit them, I imagine we'll slow the greens right down in Paris.

[ItalAussie]

Reed v McIlroy
Spieth v Stenson
Holmes v Pieters
Fowler v Rose
Walker v Cabrera Bello
Mickelson v Garcia
Moore v Westwood
Snedeker v Sullivan
Dustbin v Wood
Koepka v Willett
Kuchar v Kaymer
Zach v Fitzpatrick

If it plays out anything like the way I've gone here, it'll shape up pretty exciting before the US crack it open to finish the day.

8/12. And I came so close to 10/12, but wavered on Kuchar/Kaymer and Walker/Cabrera Bello at the last moment. If Rose could just putt, that'd be another point.

Also, Reed's going to be a thorn in Europe's side for years to come.

[ItalAussie]

Pieters was a fantastic selection. Four points out of five. Didn't see that coming.

[ItalAussie]

Wins: Stenson, Pieters, Cabrera Bello, Kaymer
Draws: Garcia
Losses: McIlroy, Rose, Westwood, Sullivan, Wood, Willett, Fitzpatrick

Apparently the trick to winning the singles is to not select anyone from the UK.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As I said in the OP, it was too early for Fitzpatrick. There are all sorts of in form players who have done loads this season like Kjeldsen, Noren, Molinari, Knox etc but the qualifying system seemed to give Fitz's two wins a huge amount of points.

Willett had an absolute nightmare, Clarke under-used both Sullivan and Wood, which left them fairly cold for the singles (although Wood gave DJ a good run) and as for Westy, well.

[niko_cee]

Has Willett played well since he won the Masters?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes, albeit in Europe as he can't be fucked with the yanks, rightly so on this week's evidence.

[Giggles]

I thought this Trilby tour that Sky show was some sort of sponsorship name thing, but the players are all wearing trilbys. Is it some sort of a joke thing or what?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's some sort of tour/circuit for amateurs and it's sponsored by Trilby, hence they all wear the hats.