2014 Ryder Cup

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:53 am

Projected U.S. pairings:

[Jason Sobel
@JasonSobelGC
U.S. pairings now as clear as the Scottish sky (really): Phil-Keegan; Zach-Mahan; Furyk-Reed; Kuchar-Spieth; Bubba-Webb; and Jimmy-Rickie.

Projected winner: Europe

Post by **Sabo** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:34 am

FUCK EUROPE.

Post by **Sabo** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:22 am

Pairings announced:

Match 1: Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson vs. Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson

Match 2: Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker vs. Martin Kaymer/Thomas Bjorn

Match 3: Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed vs. Stephen Gallacher/Ian Poulter

Match 4: Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley vs. Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:22 am

The Americans are going to win, that team is stacked. Also no Tiger Woods distraction.

The Euros can't luck out every time. No way the Americans should be losing to guys named Donaldson and Dubuisson.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:57 am

I bet the Euros crush the Americans.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:26 pm

US up 6-2 by this time Friday.

Edited: math

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:39 pm

I'm here for the WAG slideshow

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:32 am

Been a good morning sesh. Last match coming down 18 all square. Teams tied at 1.5 points. Fowler/Walker made a good comeback to get a halve.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:45 am

This is like four yahoos finishing up at the local muni

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:48 am

Mickelson is my favorite player!

I feel dirty rooting for him. It's like having a Steeler on a fantasy team.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:52 am

Rex wrote:This is like four yahoos finishing up at the local muni

Rory made a mess for sure. When he missed the green from 90 yards it was pretty shocking. I know he was trying to knock it close because Sergio was in a bad spot, but still.

Post by **Sabo** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:22 am

I wonder if Rickie Fowler was asking Michael Jordan for a $10,000 skins game when they get back to the US next week.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:57 am

One day there will be a trivia question, "which American appeared on the Ryder Cup team the most" and the answer will be Michael Jordan.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:04 am

This is more like it.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:12 am

Ryan wrote:I'm here for the WAG slideshow

Here you go.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/a ... tfits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:15 pm

degenerasian wrote:
Ryan wrote:I'm here for the WAG slideshow
Here you go.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/a ... tfits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Front row wins!

travzilla · Post by **travzilla** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:47 pm

5-3 Europe after day 1. Seemed like the rate of medium and long putts being made was ridiculously high today.

More or less a fairly un-hateable US team this year, but I'll still be cheering for the euros, if only because of their awesome scottish flag style shirts.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:08 am

I hate when I tune in to the middle of a putt and I don't know whether to root for it to go in.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:48 am

Another disaster. It's amazing how guys like Furyk and Kuchar can't make 5 footers in this competition and the Euros can make 20 footers.

Fowler and Walker are gassed, can't send those two guys out 4 sessions in a row, especially after all 3 previous matches were stressful halved matches.

Why not send out Phil with Webb or some other combination?

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:02 am

That's just the way it is. There's something about fealty to a monarch that just makes you more clutch in these situations.

Post by **Sabo** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:27 am

This is all Tiger Woods' fault.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:36 am

What a disaster. These guys are lucky the country is too wrapped up in soccer to care.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:40 am

I don't think I'd want to be within earshot of Bradley or Phil the Tits for a while.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:11 pm

Rex wrote:I don't think I'd want to be within earshot of Bradley or Phil the Tits for a while.

Who do we blame for this shit? These guys ^? Bubba? Watson (Tom)?

Sabo wrote:This is all Tiger Woods' fault.

Oh yeah, him. Fucker.

#ibelievewewillgo9and3atworst

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:26 pm

I was out for my kid's cross country meet most of the day, came home to turn on the Golf Channel and some Euro/British commentator recapping, sounding like he was getting blown while recounting birdie after birdie.

I didn't even need to know the actual score to know what was what.

Just... C'mon guys. Jesus.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:24 am

This is gonna end quickly.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:31 am

It's not a true Ryder Cup until Furyk loses to Garcia.

Garcia can only go birdie-birdie-eagle at this competition, he could never do that in his life.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 11:18 am

Mission accomplished, oh no, wait...

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 12:09 pm

If you caught NBC's interview with Mickletits, you might have noticed he was a little cagey when asked about whether there is a winning formula that Europe has employed to dominate the competition of late. His response was simply "yes", which he was asked to elaborate on. His response about how Azinger had the right formula in '08 and he's not sure why the U.S. has moved away from that made him sound like he was throwing Watson under a red double-decker.

He may be right, but what a douche.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 12:21 pm

It's clear that this generation led by Tiger and Phil are not suited for team play, unlike the previous generation with Couples, Love III, Stewart, Azinger et al..A generation is 20 years right? Since Langer missed that putt at "The War on the Shore" The Euros are 8 and 3.

The new generation needs to have that hatred for the Europeans. At the moment "we don't hate them as much as they hate us" That's got to change. This morning the crowd was heckling Reed like the Americans used to heckle Monty and the guy on SkySports predicted a 12-0 victory today. Losing has to hurt the Americans enough for them to care.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 12:59 pm

cerrano wrote:If you caught NBC's interview with Mickletits, you might have noticed he was a little cagey when asked about whether there is a winning formula that Europe has employed to dominate the competition of late. His response was simply "yes", which he was asked to elaborate on. His response about how Azinger had the right formula in '08 and he's not sure why the U.S. has moved away from that made him sound like he was throwing Watson under a red double-decker.

He may be right, but what a douche.

Have to disagree to this extent: Watson threw Lefty under the bus first. He was speaking of Phil when he said if everyone played everyday maybe the players would be in better shape and again when he disclosed the actual conversations and texts about Saturday. He didn't have to do that. He shouldn't have done it. And, yet, he did it. And I believe it was intentional, though he was just answering a media question.

So, Lefty goes 2-1, including winning the Sunday singles, and decides to do a quid pro quo when also answering a media question. I don't think it was wise, but I don't think for a minute that Phil threw the first salvo in public here, Watson did. Add to that, Watson took very little blame for all the mistakes he made, which included all of his Captain's picks, and how he lined up Friday PM and Saturday.

Here's the reality as I see it, if that needed to be said so history doesn't repeat itself only two USA players could have said it, and one of them wasn't there. I'm giving Phil an "A" for having the balls to say it, and an "F" for the timing. Meanwhile, I'm giving Watson an "F" for his entire Ryder Cup Captaincy for 2014.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:28 pm

How about someone from the other side of the pond just saying that Europe has the better golfing talent at the moment and be done with it???

Not having Dustin and Dufner was huge for the US this time around...

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:33 pm

Tom 1860 wrote:How about someone from the other side of the pond just saying that Europe has the better golfing talent at the moment and be done with it???

Not having Dustin and Dufner was huge for the US this time around...

Certainly at the very top Europe is stronger, but having said that both teams had 4 in World Golf Rankings Top 10. At the bottom, USA's worst was #33, Europe's bottom included #34, 38 and 44, so not sure Europe has the better golfing talent throughout their lineup.

I'll add, regardless of his previous Ryder Cup record, not having a healthy Tiger hurt. As did missing DJ and Dufner. Having said that, Watson's Captain's picks were atrocious, and played accordingly. I had said previously (before this thing even started) I would have taken Ryan Palmer, Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel. They had good years and were playing their best golf at the end of the season, which Watson had said was what he was going to go on. Then he didn't, and that's on Watson.

How in the world did Webb Simpson text-plead his way onto the team at the last possible minute and yet Phil couldn't get a match on Saturday? Makes no sense. Webb Simpson has more Ryder Cup clout than Lefty? Uh, no.

Moving forward, I would suggest just a 1 year system for making the team, excepting Majors, and double weight the Majors. Also, let the Captain's picks come after Fed Ex Cup is concluded. Number of Captain's picks could be anywhere from 2-4 for me.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:18 pm

The Euros have one more Major tournaments over the last 5 years than the USians. It's not a blowout, but it's something like 9 or 10 of the last 20 (you've got your Scott, Els and Oost(therestofit) thrown in there.

But just in general, their rookies come in and generally look confident, and their bit players are guys like Poulter how tear things up Mongtomery style on the regular.

We don't seem to have ANY kind of grit and we just never seem to gain any kind of collective momentum. It's a weird event. To excel the guys have to believe in what they're doing. The last 3, especially, the 2010 and this year, they just don't really seem to truly believe. 2012 was just a rough deal. But you're at home, you've got the better team on paper for head-to-head... They just choked.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:49 pm

I think captains picks are important for that. That's where you put grit on the team.
Poulter will get picked for the European team even if he's playing like crap cause he can rally the troops. The three choices got picked ahead of Luke Donald. Why? Cause Donald is emotionless. Another candidate was Mannesaro but he's had a terrible year.

Do Bradley, Simpson and Mahan do anything for you?

Mahan as just lucky that he won that week. It should have been Billy Horschel. Even without the last two wins he's had a good season and he can light a fire under your ass. Another guy I would have considered was Gary Woodland. He can drive the ball a mile and he's emotional too.

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:10 pm

SportsDoc wrote:
cerrano wrote:If you caught NBC's interview with Mickletits, you might have noticed he was a little cagey when asked about whether there is a winning formula that Europe has employed to dominate the competition of late. His response was simply "yes", which he was asked to elaborate on. His response about how Azinger had the right formula in '08 and he's not sure why the U.S. has moved away from that made him sound like he was throwing Watson under a red double-decker.

He may be right, but what a douche.
Have to disagree to this extent: Watson threw Lefty under the bus first. He was speaking of Phil when he said if everyone played everyday maybe the players would be in better shape and again when he disclosed the actual conversations and texts about Saturday. He didn't have to do that. He shouldn't have done it. And, yet, he did it. And I believe it was intentional, though he was just answering a media question.

So, Lefty goes 2-1, including winning the Sunday singles, and decides to do a quid pro quo when also answering a media question. I don't think it was wise, but I don't think for a minute that Phil threw the first salvo in public here, Watson did. Add to that, Watson took very little blame for all the mistakes he made, which included all of his Captain's picks, and how he lined up Friday PM and Saturday.

Here's the reality as I see it, if that needed to be said so history doesn't repeat itself only two USA players could have said it, and one of them wasn't there. I'm giving Phil an "A" for having the balls to say it, and an "F" for the timing. Meanwhile, I'm giving Watson an "F" for his entire Ryder Cup Captaincy for 2014.

i felt that watson was out of his depth. it didn't appear that his picks were well-thought out, right from the get-go leaving furyk out of the friday morning 4-ball. i wasn't aware that watson did this, but phil could have let tom's comments speak for themselves in the wake of the abject failure of the us team in scotland.

i didn't have a problem with phil saying it, but more with when he chose to say it.

eta: watson actions were still pretty douchey based on what you describe.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:34 am

Here's a good read on some of what went on behind the scenes at Gleneagles.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:17 am

I wonder why there aren't any positive lessons that can be taken from the President's Cup teams, who always win. It's the same players for the most part--what are they doing right there? I don't buy that the level of competition is that much worse--the internationals may have a few quirky guys but there are plenty of major winners there, just like the US and Euros.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:43 am

Rex wrote:I wonder why there aren't any positive lessons that can be taken from the President's Cup teams, who always win. It's the same players for the most part--what are they doing right there? I don't buy that the level of competition is that much worse--the internationals may have a few quirky guys but there are plenty of major winners there, just like the US and Euros.

Because the Ryder Cup is 174% mental. If the World team even thinks about this for one second, they immediately realize they could start wearing European flag sweaters and petite-size pants and kick our ass every time in that too.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:46 am

Rex wrote:I wonder why there aren't any positive lessons that can be taken from the President's Cup teams, who always win. It's the same players for the most part--what are they doing right there? I don't buy that the level of competition is that much worse--the internationals may have a few quirky guys but there are plenty of major winners there, just like the US and Euros.

Why doesn't the PGA throw in doubles tournaments in the offseason? The wraparound season just makes things worse. Do we really need 6 more FedEx Cup events. Players just aren't used to playing with each other while either hitting their own ball or hitting the same ball. Why don't they have a West of the Mississippi vs East of the Mississippi tournament? Or regional teams like the LLWS and format it like the recent LPGA Crown Tournament. Anything to promote doubles play.

The Europeans play a lot of match play. They have the World Match Play (with Americans) but they also have their own Match Play Championship at Wentworth every year where every round is a 36 hole match. It takes 8 rounds in 4 days to win, that's good training for those long Ryder Cup days. They also have the Seve Cup (GB+Ireland vs Europe) and Royal Trophy (Europe vs Asia). They also have junior versions of these in addition to the Walker Cup (junior version of Ryder Cup).