2012 Ryder Cup

First topic message reminder :

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

So ... watching the FedEx finals, who do we (I mean "we" as mostly Europe fans) fear on the US team?

Woods is coming into some form but IMO he's still not the force he used to be. Dufner and Sneds could be the ones to worry about. Bradley blows hot and cold and if he hits a hot streak could cause us some problems

ZJ, Phat Phil, Furyk, DJ and Stricker don't really put the fear of God in me - and Watson is a law unto himself.

So who should we be worried about?

From the point of view of Europe, Lee is stinking the place out this week but you'd never bet against him in RC week - Luke is putting in his usual strong finish whilst out of contention. Colsaerts needs a good week and find some form in the face of some terrific pressure. Poults will be Poults.

The whole thing from Team Europe perspective could well depend on Kaymer finding a little steel and GMac coming good when the pressure is on

The whole result could well depend on how well the likes of Kaymer and Coulsaerts stand up to the pressure - and for USA, I'd say the same about ZJ and Watson

I fear Tiger in the singles - if he's on one of his better days he will still be an intimidating opponent.

Anybody else getting a wee tingle of excitment now?

Yes Mary - getting excited about it now!

Got Friday booked off work and a morning tee time for a game myself before settling down to watch the afternoon and evening coverage!

I am rather dreading it, to be honest. I've a feeling we're going to be soundly beaten and I'm wondering if I can stand listening to chants of "Yoooo-Ess-Ay", "Inthehole", "Mashedpotato" and other such innane comments for three days.

Rumour has it that the European team will pay tribute to Seve by wearing his trademark navy trousers, navy sweater and white shirt for the singles. Can't think of a more fitting tribute to such a legend. This will be the first time Seve has not been involved in some way or other since he was first picked - last time he sent a video message to the team which, I seem to remember, inspired them to great things.

Got a horrible feeling things are going to "kick off" over there with over zealous crowds

DLIII has already talked about "hostile" reactions from the crowd (such a choice of word!) and has said how noisy it will be. I don't mind "noisy" but using words like "hostile" without even a plea to the fans to behave makes me uneasy

Suggestions also that now Tiger is hitting a bit of form, the US fans will be pulling for him (and previous transgressions will be forgiven) while Rory is expected to get a lot of flak from the home fans!

Davie wrote:Got a horrible feeling things are going to "kick off" over there with over zealous crowds

DLIII has already talked about "hostile" reactions from the crowd (such a choice of word!) and has said how noisy it will be. I don't mind "noisy" but using words like "hostile" without even a plea to the fans to behave makes me uneasy

Suggestions also that now Tiger is hitting a bit of form, the US fans will be pulling for him (and previous transgressions will be forgiven) while Rory is expected to get a lot of flak from the home fans!

Not really, strictly average at the weekend.

Oh now c'mon s_r - I'm no Tiger fan either but I did say "a bit of form". He's certainly better now than at any other time in the last two years. And considering that I was talking in terms of how the US fans will react, that is good enough for them (if not for you and I)

Think he was better earlier on in the year than he has been lately. He wasn't great at the weekend, with two very average rounds in there. Anyway, considering how even when he was at his peak he still stunk the place out in Ryder Cup, so lets' hope the worlds most lothesome sportsman does it again this week.

Super, I used to comment on here a few months back, came over with you lot when the split first happened from the other board and at first really enjoyed the debates on here. I went away after a a few months because I found you and macs constant sniping at each other started to get tedious. Dipping back in now and again just lately and I find now that you find it hard to see eye to eye with almost anyone.Its a shame because you are capable of posting some really worthwhile comments about golf at times. As for your loathing of Woods, yes , we all get it, however you are doing yourself no favours whatever lately and frankly becoming a bit of a laughing stock. Seriously, grow up, go back to being constructive and a good contributor to this board. A friend

Kinda agree with you Matelot - though Mac has never been on this board. He was too busy sucking up to the admins on the other place to ever come here

Sorry Davie, yes , my mistake about the Mac line. That's still occurring on the other board. Looks like being a long, wet, dark winter. Hopefully come early next year this forum will spring back into life with some good old debates going where you can disagree with someone but not keep banging the same old drum over and over and over again. Super= woods = dislike =ZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

Fair enough. Duly noted.

Well I for one find Supers derogatory comments about Woods rather amusing and usually with some justification. At least it creates some activity and this board needs more of that not less!

Nice to see diggers give us a mention over on the other place - even if it was to take a pop at s-r - not sure I like the description "renegades" though!

What was the DLIII presser all about yesterday? Getting all emotional and crying just at the thought of what a great guy Lefty (FIGJAM) is!

S_R does seem to have undergone something of a transformation, and on here more so. Glad to see it, personally, I always thought he was trying too hard.

Have I pressed something on my keyboard by accident or is the font bigger on here all of a sudden?

Think you must have pressed something SJ. Have a look in the corner of your screen; there's a zoom feature there, might have been changed accidentally.

No changes we've made SJ - though I've just tried switching browsers so it all looks a little different to me

So the morning foursomes are announced.

Match 1: Furyk and Snedeker vs. McIlroy and McDowell

Match 2: Mickelson and Bradley vs. Donald and Garcia

Match 3: Z Johnson and Dufner vs. Westwood and Molinari

Match 4: Woods and Stricker vs. Poulter and Rose

Some tasty match ups there.

Didn't realise they had decided to make Medina into a tame track. I wish I could play a course with no rough and easy to reach targets. I know DLIII can set the course up anyway he wants, but doing this so that Phil doesn't need to bother with fairways will become a bit boring by Sunday. Yes maybe a birdie fest, but is it top championship golf?

I'm particularly looking forward to match no. 4.

Hope that the course set-up doesn't spoil the event. For me, one of the things I really enjoy is seeing how the pros sometimes manage to execute a seemingly impossible shot to get themselves out of trouble.

Only 3 hours to wait now!

I think the course has been set up to try and make it a birdie fest and get the crowd roaring for great shots. It's always going to come down to who holes the most putts and in that respect I fear for Europe in match 3.

First session prediction Europe 2.5 US 1.5

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:It's always going to come down to who holes the most putts and in that respect I fear for Europe in match 3.

That was my immediate reaction as soon as the pairings were announced! Why pick 2 players who can't hole a putt from 6ft to play together?

Maybe their plan is to hit it inside 2 feet on every hole so they don't even have to get the putter out.

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:Maybe their plan is to hit it inside 2 feet on every hole so they don't even have to get the putter out.

Oh great a gimmee fest

Do the Yanks know what gimmees are? I seem to remember last time Blubba insisting on his opponent (can't remember who) putting out from about 18 inches, to the player's consternation. At least he made it!

We certainly won at the opening ceremony on style! Do any of the Yanks know how to tie a tie? Top marks go to Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood for their excellent Windsor knots!

And well done to Olly for managing to keep his composure - just - when talking about Seve. It must have been very difficult for him.

I'm actually starting to get that frisson of excitement. Think I might have to go home from work early!

Frisson in abundance here!

I'll go for 3-1 to Europe by the end of the morning session.

Enjoyed the opening ceremony. Well apart from the at times embarrassing 'entertainment' and dodgy music!

Nervous starts for both Furyk and McDowell. We're off!

LadyPutt wrote:



Think I might have to go home from work early!

Women can get away with period pains, it does my head in ....

Not at my age, you can't!!

First hole halves in 4s.

Not a good start and live text is about as useful as a chocolate tea pot. Time for Westwood and Molinari to show what they can really do.

Nice drive Tiger!

Have they found his ball yet?

So the afternoon fourballs are:

Match 1: Watson and Simpson vs. Lawrie and Hanson

3 rookies in this one, US with outside help on this one...

Match 2: Mickelson and Bradley vs. McIlroy and McDowell

Tasty, too close to call

Match 3: D Johnson and Kuchar vs. Rose and Kaymer

Kaymer gets his start but Rose/Poulter broken up??

Match 4: Woods and Stricker vs. Westwood and Colsaerts

Westwood gets another chance despite losing, this one might not finish if Woods keeps his standard of play the same.

Match 1: Furyk and Snedeker vs. McIlroy and McDowell

Topsy-turvy match that Europe sneak on the last hole after blowing a 3 hole lead

Match 2: Mickelson and Bradley vs. Donald and Garcia

Team USA find their feet and earn the first point of the day in a 4&3 beating handed out to Europe

Match 3: Z Johnson and Dufner vs. Westwood and Molinari

No surprise here as Can't Putt / Can't Chip lose out 3&2 to Team USA

Match 4: Woods and Stricker vs. Poulter and Rose

Poulter & Rose finished off a wayward Woods and a solitary Stricker


Session halved and onto the fourballs that are already underway

Great first session! I played 18 holes myself this morning then sat in the clubhouse for a while watching the opening matches followed by dumping my car at home and watching the rest down the pub

Excellent finish by Gmac and WeeMac after nearly letting it slip - Gmac was the definite star of that pair though! Didn't see an awful lot from #1

Disappointed in Garcia and Donald to lose their unbeaten record in foursomes though Lefty and particularly Bradley were very fired up. Even though he's on the opposing team I'm warming to Bradley a little

Westwood and Molinari were dire - 'nuff said. Surprised Lee is getting another shot for the afternoon pairs

Super performance from Poults and Rose though - Woods may have been dire but Poults and Rose really showed the mettle when it mattered. Was someone in the crowd bugging Poults? He gave some real Paddington-hard-stare at times but never let us down. Surprised he isn't out again this afternoon

Not a great start to round #2 of matches though for Europe - they need to show some grit here!

Well played Nicolas Colsaerts. The only reason we are not 4 points down tonight and that perhaps would have been game over already.

A bit of stick to come for JMO for leaving Poults and Donald out maybe?

Saturday morning foursomes:

Match 1: Simpson and Watson vs. Poulter and Rose

Match 2: Mickelson and Bradley vs. Westwood and Donald

Match 3: Z Johnson and Dufner vs. Colsaerts and Garcia

Match 4: Furyk and Snedeker vs. McIlroy and McDowell

So Donald and Garcia have been divorced after their first defeat yesterday. Interesting call by JMO...

Fancy our chances to even things up again in this morning's session. Lee and Luke look to be the weakest pair (never thought I'd say that!) but can Lefty and Bradley keep up with yesterday's performance

Poults and Rosie against the God-squad could be a good matchup but I fancy 3-1 to Europe in the foursomes

Have to admit that I almost chose Keegan Bradley as my "choker" for the Fantasy League.

Agree with Davie that we will pull some points back in the morning session. Poults is certainly up for it.

Most importantly - I think that the Team Europe outfits are much better today!

Shame Poulter couldn't of thought of something of his own to whip up the crowd rather than trying to do the same thing as Bubba. On the plus side Bruce ' the traditionalist ' Critchley is spluttering in his cornflakes and will be muttering that The old codgers at the R AND A must stamp it out!! Ha ha

Disagree MG - I think that first hole spectacle was amazing!

Much as I dislike Blubba I thought that was brilliant yesterday when he whipped the crowd up on the first tee and it must've given them a real psychlogical edge. Poults, although he couldn't think of anything differend obviously thought that he didn't want them to get the edge again and (being off first) beat Blubba to the punch. Enormous cojones to try it and even though he found a bunker, it minimized the effect when Blubba repeated. And boy, was he pumped for that birdie putt! Pure theatre already

What about that skywriting too? Brilliant!

Davie wrote:What about that skywriting too? Brilliant!

You can always rely on Paddy Power!

Great bunkier shot by Rose on the first. I think Poults did the right thing by "stealing" Bubba's thunder a little bit.

Davie. What I like most about it is that is is helping to shake off the stuffy image that golf is sometimes portrayed as. The ramblings you hear from Critchley on Sky is from a guy stuck way to far in the past. Golf has moved on and I'm afraid the likes of Critchley's commentary style does not help engage with people and kids looking to come into the game.

Yep I'm with you there MG