Proper Ryder Cup chat thread

[LadyPutt]

Having been admonished for hijacking the "other" thread, here's a starting point!

[BlueCoverman]

The big question is will it live up to anywhere near the excitement of the golf-chat ryder cup event held earlier in the summer?  

[BlueCoverman]

Anyone planning on making the trip to Gleneagles or been to a ryder cup event before?

[Davie]

We would never dare admonish the good lady judge - I was just as guilty as you!

BCM is right though, this little thing as Gleneagles is nowhere near as important as our own GC Ryder cup ;-)

As low volume as we are on here though I'm sure this thread will have plenty of talking points! I'll start with the VC picks .. Happy that MAJ is there but Ollie and Paddy? Not sure about either of them - don't like a past captain as a VP and Pod is too (potentially) disruptive

[1GrumpyGolfer]

I wonder if there will be a touch of 2008 about this one. So much expected of the team, potential tiredness and fatigue, that some of the big guns don't perform. Think we might have a case of too many cooks with the number of vice captains appointed. Hopefully the weather plays ball and we don't get a mud fest like Celtic Manor.

[BlueCoverman]

Good to see you in such an optimistic mood Grumps, would hate to catch you when you were feeling pessimistic!

[Mary_S]

Anyone planning on making the trip to Gleneagles or been to a ryder cup event before?

One of the practice days at Celtic Manor is the closest I've got. My nephew is heading up to Gleneagles, not sure which day though.

[smithersjones]

I went to Valderrama in '97, brilliant 3 days. My strongest memory, though, is the storms on the way to the course. Still dark at 7am and lightning like I've never seen. Course did so well to recover.

Also went to CM on the Saturday (or was it the Sunday, can't remember, though it was the day they squeezed as much in as possible), great day despite the mud. The portable tv screens that you can (or could then at least) rent for about a fiver make a massive difference.

[Davie]

there is a SuperBru predictions pool at http://www.superbru.com/rydercup/ - search for the pool using pool code "vierhold" (without quotes)

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Tomorrow's opening fourballs, starting at 7:35:

Match One: Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson against Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson

God squad against some of the quiet men of Europe.  God squad have had big wins when paired together so a win for Europe would be great news.

Match Two: Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer

Not sure about this one; could go either way for me.

Match Three: Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed against Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter

Interesting to see two rookies going up against Poults who has been partnered with Gallacher; could be a bit raucous watching that one.

Match four: Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley against Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy

The last match is the big guns against the big guns.  If Sergio and Rory can take down the unbeaten pairing of Big Fat Phil and Mad-eye Bradley that will be a big blow to the Yanks.

[Davie]

Some great opening ties there. Surprised to see Bjorn in the first matches but maybe McGinley is holding back his A team for the 4-somes

Interesting to make some predictions for the games even though it will get harder to pick as the later matches go out at short notice but I'll have a stab anyway ...

1: Rose and Stenson to beat the God squad narrowly
2: Rickie and Jimmy to beat Bjorn/Kaymer
3: Spieth/Top 5 and Poults/Gallagher - narrow win for USA or a half
4: Phat Phil and Keegs to lose narrowly to Coco/Sergio

couple of close ones that could be halved or go either way - 2.5/1.5 to team Europe

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Well that's not going to plan. But fear not, Poulter always loses his opening fourballs and then wins the rest.

[BlueCoverman]

Not sure about that Grumps, he'll do well to win the rest after a hiding like that

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Just stating the facts there Blue. All of his losses have come from the opening four ball matches in 2008, 2010, and 2012. He's won the rest of them, he doesn't do halves...

Granted he was on a bit a hiding today but I think he'll want to put that right tomorrow.

Good afternoon session from the boys, could be a 3.5-0.5 result in the session.

[Davie]

Poults with Coco tomorrow - Coco has the talent and Poults has the desire - could be a good pairing

[Mary_S]

Some fantastic golf played this morning!

Don't know why Faldo felt it necessary to make those remarks about Sergio. Maybe he just has to try and be the centre of attention? I've not heard, or read, of anybody backing up his opinion.

Fingers crossed for Glory at Gleneagles!

[Davie]

Actually I think Faldo had a point Mary - but he never should have made it at that moment.

I'm an unashamed Faldo fan - I think he is often misunderstood - a sense of humour so dry that it passes over the heads of many - but he should have kept his mouth shut this time

[Mary_S]

Actually I think Faldo had a point Mary - but he never should have made it at that moment.

I'm an unashamed Faldo fan - I think he is often misunderstood - a sense of humour so dry that it passes over the heads of many - but he should have kept his mouth shut this time

Up until now I've always been a Faldo fan and "defender" too. He's obviously an intelligent guy, so why he felt the need to rock the boat in the middle of a Ryder Cup, goodness knows?

The World Number One tag doesn't seem to be weighing too heavily on Rory's shoulders at the moment!

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