2012 Ryder Cup

Looks like Ozzy is going for some stability as he's picked 3 of the VC's that Monty had. Darren Clarke, Paul McGinlay and Thomas are in, with another to be announced when he does his wild cards. Seems a positive step to me

Agree Doc - it's going to be a hard task to retain the Cup this time so stability in the "back office" is essential. A good move here!

Agreed - good choices so far. I would assume Jimenez will be the last vice captain.

Great to see Jose is sticking to the tried and trusted format rather than the Faldo "I'll do it my way" ego trip of 4 years ago.

If Westwood and Donald can find some form we have a great team, but saying that the US team also looks strong. Should be a great spectacle as usual. The only downside is Monty on Sky, but I can always turn the sound down when he is on.

I loved Monty as a player and when he was interviewed as a player but as a presenter he's starting to annoy me.

Faldo's still class, mind - could listen to him all day.

LadyPutt wrote:Agree Doc - it's going to be a hard task to retain the Cup this time so stability in the "back office" is essential. A good move here!

Olazabal loves it in the back office.

VG, LJ

Not too happy about Nick Dougherty being given a captains pick

Who will be the fourth vice captain?? Monty???

Doc - I've taken the liberty (hope you don't mind) of changing the thread title and making it sticky so that this can be the place for all discussions about this years Ryder Cup

It's only weeks away now and with the teams starting to be finalized, plus VC choices and captain's wild cards, it seems only reasonable to have one place to talk about it all!

oldparwin wrote:Who will be the fourth vice captain?? Monty???

Don't think that would be a wise move really, and Ozzy needs to do his own thing, not listen to a hole by hole rendition of how I ruled the world. Monty was great, he did a great job, but his time has passed, the king is dead, long live the king. Monty will be on our screens I believe.

I have a theory that if Sergio fails to make the team, then he fills the remaining VC position. Sergio could actually make the team automatically believe it or not, as he's leading the delayed Wyndham, and would only need another top 5 to get in. I for one hope he makes it because he's a fighter, and believe we will need some fighters for this one.

I don't think there's ever been any suggestion that Monty would be one of the VCs - and I don't think he'd want to do it anyway. I hope it's Miguel. I'm pretty sure Sergio will be a pick (if not make the team on his own merit) and I'd like to see Nicolas Colsaerts rewarded for a good season.

Colsaerts can actually hit the ball a mile, which I think we need. The yanks have a few bombers in their squad so far, and besides Belgian Nic who have we got in the long hitting stakes? Westy is longish and usually straight, Rory can get it out there ....

Looks like Sergio back ino the automatic place.

He's just about to win in Greensboro.

So who will Ollie pick now ?

Sergio wins despite bogeying the last hole. I think that means he deposes Ian Poulter and surely Ollie would be a poor judge of RC ability to leave Poults out. Still, we have next week at Gleneagles to go yet. Let's wait and see.

If Sergio has "stolen" Pouler's spot then IJP will surely get in anyway. That only leaves one pick. I'd have liked IJP to get his spot by right then let Ollie decide if Sergio deserves the play rather than be an automatic choice.

Would a good finish by Siem at Gleneagles get him noticed? I'd be quite interested to see him play in the RC - not the greatest of temperaments but if he lost at least we might see some fireworks

To me the picks as things stand would have to be Poulter and Colsaerts.

If Colsaerts has a good one at Gleneagles and gets in automatically then it's Poulter + another as the picks. The A.N. Other has a lot of possibilities depending on Olly's thinking

Spanish? Gonzo
Experience? Harrington
PGA Tour hardened? Laird
Not an exhaustive list by any means

Olly would have to be smoking crack to pick Harrington.

Davie wrote:If Sergio has "stolen" Pouler's spot then IJP will surely get in anyway. That only leaves one pick. I'd have liked IJP to get his spot by right then let Ollie decide if Sergio deserves the play rather than be an automatic choice.

Sergio has jumped up to 8th so is safely in the squad, no matter what happens at Gleneagles.

The man now in danger is Kaymer.

super_realist wrote:Olly would have to be smoking crack to pick Harrington.

I'm with you on that one.

LadyPutt wrote:

super_realist wrote:Olly would have to be smoking crack to pick Harrington.

I'm with you on that one.

Golf is a funny game.

Paddy -6 & in the lead @ The Barclay's

indeed!

Paddy may still win the Barclays this week but I still wouldn't have him in my team. Ollie may however think differently even if the two of them don't see eye to eye (allegedly)

I would't have him in my team either. We wasn't much use last time apart from reading Ross Fisher's putts for him which was a bit weird.

He's certainly threatening to put the cat amongst the pigeons though if he continues the way he started! I stick by my opinion that I wouldn't pick him but he could surely make Ollie's task much harder

Can you remember the hoohar on the old BBC 606 about Paddy's inclusion in the last RC team?

I remember being a vociferous supporter of Paddy's inclusion

Looks like Paddy has once again ruled himself out of contention (Thank Goodness)

And Woods is doing his best Drogba impersonation, looking like he has been shot by a sniper from Row Z on every swing. I hope he doesn't have to withdraw from the RC though - I'd even bet on Pods against him

So as I understand it, tomorrow sees Ollie make two picks and DLIII make four picks.

Anything other than Poults and Coulaerts for Ollie will be a major shock but the US picks could still be a little up in the air

From a US point of view, the one who looks to be out of contention would be Sneds but from what I've seen this season he surely deserves a shot - seems to be the forgotten man though. If I were a US supporter in the RC I'd be sure to want him in there but as a Europe supporter I suppose I should be happy to see him as an outsider. I'd still rather see a strong team against Europe though

Can't see the Euro picks being anything other than Poulter & Colsaerts now.

With the Yanks...so to take Sneds, who would you leave out then Davie? Stricker, Furyk, Mahan or Fowler...or Johnson for that matter. Tough call really.

Yes it's a tough call JAS ... I just think Sneds has done enough this year to get a shout. As I understand it, DJ has pretty much ruled himself out; Fowler has has a quiet few months though I think he's worth a place, Stricker has also be quieter than normal (he must've spent too long auditioning for a Zombie part in the remake of the Thriller video)

Of the names you mention I'd say Sneds was at least as worthy as Furyk or Mahan ... if I were in DLIII's position I'd choose Sneds, Rickie, Stricker and Mahan, but either it's a close thing between Mahan and Furyk IMO.

I actually EXPECT him to choose both Furyk and Mahan and Sneds to missout

I would say that Dustin Johnson, must have a good chance of one of the picks, then maybe Furyk or Stricker, the wild card being Nick Watney.

So no real surprises for the European team. Poulter and Colsaerts are the wildcard picks.

Kaymer has now decided he is delighted to be in the team and is looking forward to playing at Medinah.

Anyone else think team USA are going to hump team Europe this year? They have players in better form, a bit more depth... and home advantage.

I think we will get beaten this year, none of our team apart from Rory are playing all that well, our so called American boys (Westwood, Donald and Poulter) are having a lean time.

We are also playing against, partisan's fans, and I dont think many in our team have had that experienced, so all in all it does not look good for team Europe.

Obviously I'd like Europe to win but I think it's going to be tight this year. I'm going to sit on the fence as my fantasy league record suggests I know nothing about pro golf.

Last time in the US the big guns (Garcia, Westwood, Harrington) did not deliver and if that happens again we will be in a whole heap of trouble. We'll have a number of players that have played once in a European venue and one rookie but as long as the crowds are not like Brookline I don't think that will be too bad. If you weren't aware there was open heckling, balls being moved and marshalls directing players to look in the wrong place at Brookline.

USA will be favourites, but I don't see us getting "humped". Westwood and Donald will still deliver a reasonable return of points, and Garcia and Poulter will do the business. Rory could go either way. Coulsaerts is the only rookie I think and he'll do his bit.

Although the US team may be favourites, not all of them are on top form (Mickelson for example - he could come up with a blinder but would you honestly bet on Phat Phil in the singles against any of the EU team? I'm not sure I would)

On paper, to me, it looks like a narrow US win but we all know the EU team can pull together well - I expect a big performance from Poults and GMac, with the others keeping it tight and at the end of three days, who knows!

Really Ollie had a very easy picks once Harrington blew up. I don’t like picking a rookie especially away from home but it was the easiest choice for Ollie. However Harrington is showing signs of form, I would not be surprised if he did something big in one of the fedex playoff events...

The only surprise for me was that a few players we were expecting to see to come good haven't. When you look back to the post event press conferences after the last win, young Manasera, Chris Wood & Rhys Davies and a couple more kids were the next big thing. One of the Molinari's and Casey didn't make it because of injuries, so as Hogie says, it was easy for Ollie and he hasn't needed to do anything.

Agree that the picks practically, erm - picked themselves, so no controversey to be debated. Team looks pretty good to me.

I seem to remember Tom Lewis even being touted as playing his way into the team at one point. Amazing how quickly form can be lost.

More trickier is Davies Love's picks. I'm going for Snedeker,D Johnson, Stricker & Furyk. That means no Fowler,Mahan or Watney. Some quality players will be missing whatever happens.

faldo, do you think the USGA will speak to LoveIII and tell him to make sure Ricky gets a pick? I wonder, because he's a media darling .......

I know the head agrees with you, I just wonder if the yanks will forego steady, experienced players like Furyk and Stricker so that big hitters like Watney and Mahan step in. I think Fowler gets in instead of Furyk, and supect Watney may squeeze out Stricker. mahan has a lot of making up to do after last time, so he may get a chance to redeem himself

Strick, Sneds, Watney and Fowler for me but can't see it happening - I dont think DJ or Furyk have done enough (but then neither has Rickie)

I reckon he'll go with Strick, Sneds, DJ and Hunter

So it's DJ, Furyk, Sneds and Stricker

Really didn't think Furyk would (or should) get in there!

Shame Rickie didn't do enough to get it

Doc/Davie - For once my prediction was correct! Fowler seems to have gone off the boil a bit recently which hasn't helped his cause. Same with Mahan, but thought Watney should be in instead of Furyk. Thought it was a bit of an old pals act that one.

Yes I'm very surprised that Furyk got a place. Not had the greatest of years and doesn't have a great RC record. DLIII made mention of his 5-0 performance in the President's Cup last time out but with respect, there is a big difference between PC and RC

I still would have liked to see Rickie in there though - as a true "wild card". Not sure Sneds would have been in there either if he hadn't had such a strong finish last week - I think he SHOULD be in there but I'm not sure he WOULD be in there without that strong finish

As a Europe supporter I'm quite happy to see Furyk and DJ in there

Sorry that Fowler has not been picked - I think he has the right attitude to be a good team player. Agree with Davie though - probably better for Europe that he isn't in there.
.

Be interesting to see how its playing out in the States, maybe Venice and gg could give us some insight. Ollie's picks were straightforward, so no hard work there, but maybe a bit of contraversy over the pond?

Not really heard anything Doc, but then again I've not really been looking for it to tell the truth. I'll check it out and try to get US reaction for you guys.

Over in the states the main discussion was about whether Hunter Mahan should have been in the team but it really wasn’t a big deal. Personally I wouldn’t have picked Fowler either. Yes he won a tournament but what was he doing the rest of the time that he didn’t get the automatic pick? 2 years ago Fowler and Mcilroy were being talked about as being the players of the future really only Mcilroy has lived up to the billing so far.

Thanks Hogie for sparing my blushes