Ryder Cup 2008 - A rout?

[hawkeye]

the u.s. will kill em.

Care to elaborate?

Actually last time the US was NOT the favorite on paper if my memory serves me correctly. I remember hearing how the Americans were finally the underdogs, and perhaps this would motivate them (of course it didn't seem to work).

Even when they're not favourite on paper - they had the lowest average WGR. That's the beauty of matchplay/Ryder Cup. World Golf Rankings don't count for a whole lot - it's not tennis. Tiger doesn't win the matchplay WGC every year.

The Europeans are currently favourites according to most of the British bookmakers. But it's so marginal that it's impossible to say (or win a whole lot of money!). The Americans are on home soil. That counts for a lot. The crowds won't be hostile - we've come a long way since The War on the Shore but the local fans will be cheering a little louder when an American putt drops. The Europeans are well used to that - most of them play/have played on US soil. So it makes for a close match in my opinion. Unless Faldo does something stupid....

[BASHERBAKER69]

The War on the Shore?- was that the battle in 1991 at Kiawah Island?- there was a lot of post war bravado with the wearing of camouflage hats and so on by the US team following Desert Storm. In those days, the US team showed passion and a real desire to win- a bit of gamesmanship and aggressive patriotism is what is required to liven up the event- we saw it again at Brookline in 1999. These days, the RC seems like too much of a chore for so many of the American players with very little emotion shown, which is sad. There are too many non- team players in the US team..im thinking of Phil M and TW and i tend to think that if they arent put on a pedestal they are not interested. The event just seems like another pay check to the players in another tournament and im not so sure that the RC means as much to the players as the media would have us believe.

All in all, the RC has been a let down in recent years. I would like to see it made more interesting with the first leg played in the US and the second leg played in Europe, all in one week. They could fly in on Concorde to a rowdy reception. More razmataz is required definitely.

[hawkeye]

....

Sounds interesting! Would you ever get the Tours/players to agree to it? I think the biennial event, home, away, home, away is a great way to play it but that might jazz it up! Be a good reason to bring the concorde out of retirement!