Ryder Cup

Captain Tom Lehman made his picks, Stuart Cink and Scott Verplank. I cannot say I blame him for staying away from Davis, I just thought he was going to pick him.

The team now looks like this:

Tiger Woods
Phil Mickelson
Jim Furyk
Chad Campbell
David Toms
Chris DiMarco
Vaughn Taylor
J.J. Henry
Zach Johnson
Brett Wetterich
Stuart Cink
Scott Verplank

This is a very different team than what we had at last year's Presidents Cup but I think we can do well with these guys. Tiger and Furyk should pull us in at least 3 points, if not 4. Phil and Toms will be a solid pairing again as well.

Let's hear some chatter, what are some pairings you'd like to see? Who will be the hero of the US team?

I believe Phil will be paired with DiMarco like at last year's Presidents Cup. They were dominant, along with Tiger and Furyk. That being said, the camaraderie between the International players can't even compare to the camaderie of the European team. It will be a tough task for the U.S. to take back the Ryder Cup. I still don't think they can get it done.

Tom Lehman made the right picks. Like I commented on the website already, it was quite obvious to me he was picking Verplank and Cink after listening to him last week on The Golf Channel (Live From the PGA Championship). He said he wanted bulldogs who would put the ball in play and could play well from around the greens. DL3 and Freddie were both eliminated when he said put the ball in play. And when he said he wanted guys with great short games, Verplank instantly came to mind. Cink has struggled a little with his short game, but it's starting to return to form from a couple years ago. Good picks by the captain. I'm just not sure about JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich. :/

I believe in it 110%. The International team didn't have any team chemistry last year compared to the European teams of the past. The United States team didn't have very much team chemistry last year either. The pairings worked out very nicely though.

I haven't seen much team chemistry from the United States teams in the past 10 years. Even in 1999, the camaraderie wasn't there. They were WAY behind going into singles competition, and each individual pulled out their best stuff. That has nothing to do with the fourball and foursomes matches. That is where the team chemistry plays its role.

The European teams have always been strong as far as team chemistry goes, and that's why they compete and win a lot of team events. They usually aren't as talented as individuals (they may be this year, however), but they get along very well. Believe it or not, that plays into the team competition.

The U.S. team isn't facing reality.

I think the Americans are getting closer to that camraderie that the Euros have. I do agree with Cody here, you have to want to play well for your partner in order to really get the most out of yourself. It's one thing to want to play well for yourself or for your caddie or whoever else but when you're playing for your country and the guy you're teamed with that makes a huge difference.

I think we're getting closer and with Lehman saying that the American team is having some structured practice before even going to Ireland that will help, more time with those guys the better.

I don't have any idea what to expect out of the rookies, especially J.J. Henry and Brett Wetterich, but I guess that they qualified for the team they should be good players so let's roll with them boys!

You just never know what might happen. Right now, J.J. Henry and Brett Wetterich are just taking up space on the team. That being said, they may be heroes a month or so from now. This Ryder Cup could make or break them as players. I'll give em a chance I suppose because they have won events this year, so they have the ability to do good things.

I remember Faldo kept saying a while back that the secret to the European success was obvious if you just looked at how they set up the pairings. For the life of me, I still haven't been able to figure it out. Does anyone else have any clues?

Americans are by nature individual players and it seems they don't gell as a team like Euros do.

A few veteran performers are sidelined in favor of some green players who have trouble making the cut in regular events. The goofy new point system has brought Vaughn Taylor, J.J. Henry, Zach Johnson and Brett Wetterich into the mix. I hope they bring fire in their guts and a will to prove something.

do the Americans ever have the desire, the fire, the drive to win the Ryder Cup anymore. Most of the US top ten are multi bazillionaires or well sponsored. The euros don't have as many spoon fed, hand held players. Every Ryder Cup it seems that some euro unknown knocks off the best americans in heads up play. I see it as complaincancy..

I don't think anyone here could possibly doubt the fire and drive between Phil, Tiger, and Furyk. And I would think the rookies will want to do everything they can to prove themselves. Besides, if anyone didn't have the desire they would not play. As for already being zillionaires, then why would they play any tourney at all?

No, it all comes down to dynamics and perhaps crowd support. I mean, look how negative we are being regarding our chances and the rookies? And we are supposed to be the American fans cheering our boys on.

A "Euro's" perspective

Some interesting points here, and I'll put across some things that may help you understand the European team a little bit more.

Most of the US team, as pointed out have tons of money, from what I gather they stay very seperate from each other - ie seperate hotels/houses etc. This doesn't engender a team spirit - and why should it, week in week out these guys are playing for themselves and themselves only.

Now to the Europeans. The Euro tour is spread out over so many countries that the way they travel and where they stay is very different. The tour starts in November/December in Asia, goes down to Australia/New Zealand and stays in the SOuthern Hemisphere for a while before heading back to Europe sometime at the start of the year. All this means they travel a lot more, and what happens a lot is that players stay in the same hotels, eat at the same restaurants, get the same flights etc etc. A lot of the Europeans are actually friends in real life - a lot of them live in Surrey in and around Wentworth and so spend time with each other - this can't be said of a lot of the US team - Phil and Tiger together last time for instance??? The pure nature of the European Tour to the PGA Tour brings players closer together, and that is just something that seems natural to them. Just as playing for yourself seems natural to the US players.

Lastly, I really feel that it doesn't matter what they say, the Ryder Cup just doesn't mean as much to the US players - yes it means so much to the Europeans.

..I think you're right on with this when it comes to the regular tour. And I mean between the two of them. But when it comes to the Ryder Cup, I don't think Tiger has the same killer mentality, Don't know why, I just don't see it. as for Phil I've never seen seen it. I'll take ten Chris Dimarcos after that.....nobody jumps out when it comes to desire and killer instinct.

XtIncT....

I think you're right on. The European Tour doesn't have the purse money the PGA Tour does. American Pro's with the exception of a few play for money and not the win. They don't need to win, just keeping their tour card will ensure a fat paycheck and sponsor.

Very true, you also have a ocouple of really tight knit groups - the SPanish really stick together - Sergio (when he's over there), Miguel Angel Jiminez, Olazabal.

Then you have the likes of Clarke (ok he won't be playing this time) & Westwood (probably not playing either) who are great mates....these are just a couple of examples of actual friends on tour. And guys who've made decent money as well.

It's called reality. I will cheer like crazy for the United States in the Ryder Cup, just as I have for the last 10 years. That being said, I've watched four Ryder Cups religiously, and the U.S. has only won one of those. And that was a large come-from-behind victory on the last day of play. In other words, the Europeans have worn our butts out after being the underdogs time and time again.

The Europeans are the favorites this year. That's not me talking down about our team's chances. That's just the reality of the situation. I'm still a huge fan of the U.S. obviously, but it's ok to say the other team is better. I'm not going to sit here and lie.

It is really hard to sit here and say why the U.S. team has struggled lately, I do think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the European team does have more of a friendship among each other, not to mention the desire to beat the big bad U.S. in team event must be huge for these guys way back as a junior golfer growing up.

I don't know, I just love the Ryder Cup and I will root as hard as ever for the U.S. but I don't hate the Euros, in fact I'm really warming up to a few of them and find myself rooting for them in majors now and then. Sergio is fun to pull for, maybe just for his potential and hoping he'll get it together, Darren Clarke is right up on my top 10 list so it's getting harder to really despise the European team like I used to when it was Bernhard Langer or Monty of old.

All in all I think the U.S. team will be more united than ever and we'll show up in Ireland ready to roll!