Why the Ryder Cup is Money
1. It's an even competetion, when you split up the talent from all of the European countries and the United States, the teams are very similar in talent level from top to bottom.
2. The Ryder Cup always brings out different traits in the golfers as opposed to normal tournament play. For instance Monty is almost unbeatable during Ryder Cup matches, but during any Major he fades and makes incompetent mistakes just like this years US Open.
3. The US doesn't dominate. Admit it after Dream Team one you were completely uninterested in National Team Basketball, and now you're pissed off that they don't dominate. In Ryder Cup you think it's 50/50 that they are going to win which makes you rout that much harder.
4. Match play, 4 ball are all things you play with your buddies on the course on the weekends. So instead of looking up and seeing a guy go -8 under which you know you could never do, you get to watch people go head to head and see scores like 4&3 which don't make you feel like such a miserable golfer.
5. It gives you something to watch if your football team is one of the 11 that stand at 0-2. And something to watch in a weak college football scheduled saturday.
The Squads
Team USA
They have the superstars at the top but the relaitve unknowns of Wetterich, Johnson, Henry and Taylor will need to prove that receiving the automatic qualification to the Ryder Cup was not solely the result of constantly playing, racking up points with the occasional win in a tournament with a weak field.
Tiger Woods - A major key to the US Ryder Cup chance, in past Ryder Cups, especially the last one where he was paired with Mickelson (What a dumbass Hal Sutton was), he's been beaten and puts the Americans behind the 8-ball, Tiger is the best player on the planet and is playing well, he needs to win.
Phil Mickelson - Mickeltits is better than any European player, similarly to Tiger, hopefully he gets paired with a Consistant and non-risk taking player to compliment his aggresiveness.
Jim Furyk - Gets along with Tiger, which is essential for a partnership, and thankfully Tom Lehman understands this.
Chad Campbell - Brings free Soup.
David Toms - He seems about as boring as a human being can be.
Chris Dimarco - He's a gamer, could be the US most valuable weapon.
Vaughn Taylor - Flowing blond locks are a necessity for any golfing squad.
J.J. Henry - Local boy, plays everyweek and was an accumulator, has Walker Cup experience, I hope he performs well, and I especially hope he gets paired with someone with experience like a Verplank someone who can compliment his lengthy hitting.
Zach Johnson - Anybody other than me wonder what goes through parents heads when deciding how to spell their childs name? Why the h and not a k? I kind of like the h better as well, but why? That was certainly off topic.
Brett Wetterich - Honestly, I can't say I've ever seen Brett play or what he looks like, thats kind of unfortunate.
Stewart Cink - A Solid Vet captain's pick by Lehman, brings Ryder Cup experience and will help one of the rooks get through the opening days.
Scott Verplank - Put him with JJ Tommy, it will work out.
Team Europe
Europe has more big name players a stronger overal squad and possibly more chemistry but despite this they have only Olazabal as a Major Tournament winner. The Europeans come in as the favorite for the first time in years, and that could be the reason why it seems logical they will go down.
Henrik Stenson - The young Sweed is one of my favorite picks on the Best Ball Challenge team as he is always a solid under the radar performer at big events.
Luke Donald - He could wind up being the Hero when its all said and done.
Sergio Garcia - I really realy hope Sergio was in charge of team fashion. All pink monotone would bring out European pride.
David Howell - Can I make a captains pick and drop David Howell and bring in Ian Poultier so I can get some hilarious pants in the mix? Probably not, but it makes sense.
Colin Montgomerie - The old vet has been on these Ryder Cup teams for over a decade, and don't be surprised if his pairing lines up against Tigger on opening day.
Paul Casey - Fresh off a match play tourny victory, can he remain hot.
Robert Karlsson - A mainstay on the European tour, doesn't venture to the states very often and therefore I have little familiarity.
Padraig Harrington - Paddy has been very inconsistant this season on the tour and really hasn't threatened on any of the majors.
Paul McGinley - Not sure I've seen him play much.
Jose Maria Olazábal - An old vet with tons of Ryder Cup experience, you have to like his chances to pick up a couple of points this weekend.
Darren Clarke - After the loss of his wife to cancer Clarke was excellent selection by the Captain Woosnam not only will he be fired up to play but he will inspire the remainder of his teammates.
Lee Westwood - I like this selection from Woosnam as well, he could have chosen Daniel Chopra instead, but Westwood has Ryder Cup experience and will show British pride and will be a tough defeat.
The Prediction
I think this is going to be a close match but in the end I think that the Irish have ticked off Tiger enough for him to win atleast 4 points this weekend, and I think that the Americans finally have built a solid commrodery that will elevate them in front of the Europeans. 15 to 13 US Victory
1. It's an even competetion, when you split up the talent from all of the European countries and the United States, the teams are very similar in talent level from top to bottom.2. The Ryder Cup always brings out different traits in the golfers as opposed to normal tournament play. For instance Monty is almost unbeatable during Ryder Cup matches, but during any Major he fades and makes incompetent mistakes just like this years US Open.
3. The US doesn't dominate. Admit it after Dream Team one you were completely uninterested in National Team Basketball, and now you're pissed off that they don't dominate. In Ryder Cup you think it's 50/50 that they are going to win which makes you rout that much harder.
4. Match play, 4 ball are all things you play with your buddies on the course on the weekends. So instead of looking up and seeing a guy go -8 under which you know you could never do, you get to watch people go head to head and see scores like 4&3 which don't make you feel like such a miserable golfer.
5. It gives you something to watch if your football team is one of the 11 that stand at 0-2. And something to watch in a weak college football scheduled saturday.
The Squads
Team USA
They have the superstars at the top but the relaitve unknowns of Wetterich, Johnson, Henry and Taylor will need to prove that receiving the automatic qualification to the Ryder Cup was not solely the result of constantly playing, racking up points with the occasional win in a tournament with a weak field.
Tiger Woods - A major key to the US Ryder Cup chance, in past Ryder Cups, especially the last one where he was paired with Mickelson (What a dumbass Hal Sutton was), he's been beaten and puts the Americans behind the 8-ball, Tiger is the best player on the planet and is playing well, he needs to win.
Phil Mickelson - Mickeltits is better than any European player, similarly to Tiger, hopefully he gets paired with a Consistant and non-risk taking player to compliment his aggresiveness.
Jim Furyk - Gets along with Tiger, which is essential for a partnership, and thankfully Tom Lehman understands this.
Chad Campbell - Brings free Soup.
David Toms - He seems about as boring as a human being can be.
Chris Dimarco - He's a gamer, could be the US most valuable weapon.
Vaughn Taylor - Flowing blond locks are a necessity for any golfing squad.
J.J. Henry - Local boy, plays everyweek and was an accumulator, has Walker Cup experience, I hope he performs well, and I especially hope he gets paired with someone with experience like a Verplank someone who can compliment his lengthy hitting.
Zach Johnson - Anybody other than me wonder what goes through parents heads when deciding how to spell their childs name? Why the h and not a k? I kind of like the h better as well, but why? That was certainly off topic.
Brett Wetterich - Honestly, I can't say I've ever seen Brett play or what he looks like, thats kind of unfortunate.
Stewart Cink - A Solid Vet captain's pick by Lehman, brings Ryder Cup experience and will help one of the rooks get through the opening days.
Scott Verplank - Put him with JJ Tommy, it will work out.
Team Europe
Europe has more big name players a stronger overal squad and possibly more chemistry but despite this they have only Olazabal as a Major Tournament winner. The Europeans come in as the favorite for the first time in years, and that could be the reason why it seems logical they will go down.
Henrik Stenson - The young Sweed is one of my favorite picks on the Best Ball Challenge team as he is always a solid under the radar performer at big events.
Luke Donald - He could wind up being the Hero when its all said and done.
Sergio Garcia - I really realy hope Sergio was in charge of team fashion. All pink monotone would bring out European pride.
David Howell - Can I make a captains pick and drop David Howell and bring in Ian Poultier so I can get some hilarious pants in the mix? Probably not, but it makes sense.
Colin Montgomerie - The old vet has been on these Ryder Cup teams for over a decade, and don't be surprised if his pairing lines up against Tigger on opening day.
Paul Casey - Fresh off a match play tourny victory, can he remain hot.
Robert Karlsson - A mainstay on the European tour, doesn't venture to the states very often and therefore I have little familiarity.
Padraig Harrington - Paddy has been very inconsistant this season on the tour and really hasn't threatened on any of the majors.
Paul McGinley - Not sure I've seen him play much.
Jose Maria Olazábal - An old vet with tons of Ryder Cup experience, you have to like his chances to pick up a couple of points this weekend.
Darren Clarke - After the loss of his wife to cancer Clarke was excellent selection by the Captain Woosnam not only will he be fired up to play but he will inspire the remainder of his teammates.
Lee Westwood - I like this selection from Woosnam as well, he could have chosen Daniel Chopra instead, but Westwood has Ryder Cup experience and will show British pride and will be a tough defeat.
The Prediction
I think this is going to be a close match but in the end I think that the Irish have ticked off Tiger enough for him to win atleast 4 points this weekend, and I think that the Americans finally have built a solid commrodery that will elevate them in front of the Europeans. 15 to 13 US Victory
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