Ryder Cup Predictions

[scottishgolfer121]

I Am Sorry whats ur Hanicap 17.7 wow great looked at mine i am just sick of Loud Mouthed Big Headed USA so called superstars!

[scottishgolfer121]

  Jeepthrills said:

Wow. You are a sad and angry little man. It's a good thing that I have Scottish blood or I would remind you that we are the reason little pukes like you can have the freedom to take shots at us. In fact, if not for us, you would be speaking German and goose stepping arround the Old Course. Remember, Most Americans are just decendants of Europeans that were smart enough to leave.

scottish blood dont mean a thing, u play off 17.7 and ur trying 2 start with me , look i am sick of loud mouthed Americans thinking there great was just getting a point across that we will walk all over u!

[iacas]

  scottishgolfer121 said:

scottish blood dont mean a thing, u play off 17.7 and ur trying 2 start with me , look i am sick of loud mouthed Americans thinking there great was just getting a point across that we will walk all over u!

You're in the penalty box now. Nice apology. Read your private messages.

[Jeepthrills]

  scottishgolfer121 said:

I Am Sorry whats ur Hanicap 17.7 wow great looked at mine i am just sick of Loud Mouthed Big Headed USA so called superstars!

Here. Now I'm a +1. Does that make me a better person? Can we debate things now that we are on equal ground? Behind a keyboard you can be whatever you want. Apparently you have chosen to be pathetic.

  scottishgolfer121 said:

scottish blood dont mean a thing, u play off 17.7 and ur trying 2 start with me , look i am sick of loud mouthed Americans thinking there great was just getting a point across that we will walk all over u!

Again with the handicap thing. You are a better golfer than I am. It doesn't mean that you know more about the game or that you are right all of the time. If you go back to you first post, it was my message that you quoted when you said ***k you. So if it seems as if I'm starting with you, It would be like saying the US started WWII.

I actually do agree that Europe has a better team. Unlike you, I don't automatically hate the opposition because of where they were born. In fact, I like several of the European players and under most other circumstances would want them to do well. I was pulling for Monty at the US Open. I was actually glad to see Phil fall apart. However, if they face each other this weekend I will put that aside and cheer for Phil.

[Puttin4Bird]

How much of a factor to you expect the weather to play in the eventual outcome this week? I know that everyone has to play in the same conditions but do you expect the poor weather to favor either side? I would have to assume the Euro's might benefit from adverse weather because they are subjected to it more often. It could be interesting.

Also check out some of the pics from the Ryder Cup practices etc, it looks like the US team was all playing in 1 huge group during practice, just having a ball playing some golf. This is definitely a different look for a US Ryder team, I like it A LOT!!! Linkage: http://www.pgatour.com/photos

[Jeepthrills]

  Puttin4Bird said:

How much of a factor to you expect the weather to play in the eventual outcome this week? I know that everyone has to play in the same conditions but do you expect the poor weather to favor either side? I would have to assume the Euro's might benefit from adverse weather because they are subjected to it more often. It could be interesting.

I think poor weather will aid the Euro's more. Great picture of Tiger leading the team like the Pied Pipper. Did anyone notice that Tiger's bag has the Buick strap while all the others had stars on them?

[Thrash13]

Tiger didn't seem to think the weather would give an advantage to either side, but the other 11 Americans aren't Tiger. It may not affect Tiger because nothing really does on the golf course, but it will give the overall advantage to the Europeans.

Americans might play in bad weather from time to time each year, but Europeans play in it often. And it's a different kind of bad weather because of the lower temperature.

It won't be a huge advantage, but it will be an advantage nonetheless.

[chan]

Accounting for time difference to follow progress of matches

If you're looking for real-time results of the matches via
Internet or radio news updates, here are times to be aware of.

4-Ball
Tee Times - Approximate End of Match
4:00 am EST 8:30 am EST
4:15 am EST 8:45 am EST
4:30 am EST 9:00 am EST
4:45 am EST 9:15 am EST

4-Ball matches take about as long as a round of stroke play (4.5 hours)
2 hr 15 min is about halfway point of round (front 9 completed)
So halfway point of final match would be about 7:00 am.
In other words by 7:00 am EST:
Match 1 on Hole 12, Match 2 on Hole 11, Match 3 on Hole 10, Match 4 on Hole 9
Then from 8:00 am - 9:15 am would be closing holes of the matches.


Alt Shot
Tee Times - Approximate End of Match
9:30 am EST 1:30 pm EST
9:45 am EST 1:45 pm EST
10:00 am EST 2:00 pm EST
10:15 am EST 2:15 pm EST

Alternate shot plays quickly, 4 hours at most.
2 hr mark is about halfway point of round (front 9 completed)
Halfway point of final match would be about 12:15 pm EST
In other words by 12:15 pm EST:
Match 1 on Hole 12, Match 2 on Hole 11, Match 3 on Hole 10, Match 4 on Hole 9.
Then from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm EST would be closing holes of the match.


NBC starts live singles coverage at 8:00 am EST.
Initial singles match tee-time at 11:15 GMT.
In other words, when NBC begins coverage, 4 matches will already
be on the course.

[Thrash13]

My goal is to completely stay off the internet at work on Friday. I will have the TiVo up and running, and I don't want to be spoiled before watching the first-day action. As for Saturday and Sunday, I'll be watching every minute as it happens on NBC (once again without looking on ESPNEWS or anything).

Thanks chan for posting all the times.

[chan]

"Nae wind, nae gowf

Wind is a constant factor on any golf course, but especially on Par 3s, Par 5s (and drivable Par 4)
Club selection critical on 1-shotters (Think 12th Hole Augusta)

On a Par 5, (or drivable Par 4), wind at these speeds will make all but longest hitters for each side (Woods, Henry, Clarke, Garcia) think twice before going for green in 2 (or driving the green) This may mean less exciting tries for eagle, but plenty of birdies still to be had.

Players who handle wind best are those who can adjust their ball flight to present
conditions. Low boring approach shots will hold the soft greens, bump & run shots as opposed to flop shots around greens may be the order of the day.

Without being familiar with each player’s ball flight, I’d agree because the European team plays in high winds consistently, it gives them a slight edge. But it’s all part of the game; everyone will have to deal with the conditions. The hope here is no more rain so the course can dry out some.

If I had to guess 3 players for each side who handle the wind best they would be:

US
Toms: From windy Louisiana, if his iron game is on, he can stick approach shots with anybody.
Woods: Best player in the world can handle any conditions except Par 70 US Open setup.
Verplank: Native Texan, land of hard fairways and the TX wedge. Good short game,
knows how to run shots in.

EU
Montgomerie: From Scotland, home of links golf. Straight ball flight leaves him in good stead.

Olazabal: Well-known reputation as one of the best iron players in the world.

Westwood: Medium-length hitter who relies putting ball in the fairway (staying out of trouble). An EU tour regular, from England, used to taking more club to reach green in windy conditions.

[chan]

Drive for show, putt for dough- golf saying

300-yard drives wow crowd.
Making putts from 5 - 15 feet win tournaments.

But there’s an important bridge between driving and putting.
It's the approach shot.

Magic distances are 150 yards, 130 yards, 115 yards left to hole.

In 4-ball it’ll generally mean a green light to go for the flag.
Using Shot Trak, one can see which team's players are consistently
putting the ball in these sweet spots.
Then you can see is how well each team's players are taking advantage
of the opportunities they create. In other words, putting ball within 5 - 6 ft
of the hole to set up those birdies necessary in 4-ball.

Once you have tracked the results of Better Ball, it can help to develop
pairings for Alternate Shot.
Each captain can see which players are driving the ball to the sweet spots in the
Fairway most often and pair them with players who are sticking their approach shots.

[J.P.]

Great Posts Chan!

Don't leave out Jim Furyk - a terrific wind player as evidenced by his multiple wins here in windy Las Vegas.

Also, Monty plays a fade almost exclusivley. On a hole that calls for a draw, he'll just aim farther left & cut it to the middle!

[Jeepthrills]

  Thrash13 said:

My goal is to completely stay off the internet at work on Friday. I will have the TiVo up and running, and I don't want to be spoiled before watching the first-day action. As for Saturday and Sunday, I'll be watching every minute as it happens on NBC (once again without looking on ESPNEWS or anything).

I want to try and catch it on TV as well. It's going to be tough since I am online all day and when I'm in the car I usually listen to sports radio. I run two gyms, so at least I will have a TV on all day.

[Wood]

  chan said:

"Nae wind, nae gowf

Don't forget about Chad Campbell- he can play in any wind.

[chan]

Game within the game: match play strategy

4-Ball
Who tees off first?
Par 3s < 210 yards: Longer hitter of pair goes first.
Shorter hitter often more reliable with irons, because
they have to hit more different irons in the bag to score.
So shorter hitter hits second as the backup.
Par 3s > 210 yards: Shorter hitter goes first.
Longer hitters are better able to carry to distance or
1-shotter that requires a long-iron.
So longer hitter hits second as a backup.

Par 4s
Longer hitter goes first.
Shooter hitter who is
a fairway and greens person shoots second.
More accurate hitter acts as backup to the more
powerful but wilder driver of the two.
Exception: drivable Par 4. If the green can be reached,
an eagle opportunity is needed to get back in the match
then the shorter hitter positions himself first.
Then the longer hitter can try for the green.

Par 5s
Longer hitter goes first. A long drive that would
allow a chance to reach the green in 2 is part
of the 1-on-1 nature of match play.
The shorter hitter goes second, because the
best he can do is lay-up and hit a short-iron to
set up birdie, when an eagle try could win the
hole outright.

With all that, 4-ball is basically playing your ball like in
stroke play.

The strategy comes on the greens.
In stroke play, the player who is furthest away from
the hole putts first.

In 4-ball, between two pairings, the ball that is closest
to the hole is first to putt in the order of play.

Then to quote the rules of golf, "balls belonging to the same
side may be played in the order side considers best."

The decision can be tricky.
If the putt is for birdie to score first on the hole or halve the
hole, the distance of the putt is 5-6 feet, try sinking
the closer ball right away. It's playing the percentages.

If the putt is for par to establish the score on the hole again
try sinking the closer ball. Again it's just playing the percentages.

If the putt for par is to halve the hole, let the player who
is further from the hole try to sink the ball first. If the
more unlikely putt goes in, it give a confidence boost to
the putter and pairing. If not, the second putt to halve
the hole is closer with greater chance for going in.

These are generalities however. Occasionally there will
be times when a pairing has balls along the same line.
The player who further away should putt first revealing the
line/speed.

Alternate Shot Strategy
Looking at the scorecard and having the longer hitter
tee off on the par 5s is often mentioned.

Maybe the player who is the better putter of a pairing
should be placed in sequence (if possible) where he is
putting 16 and 18.
Most matches end on the closing 3 holes
Why not give the better putter 2 chances to win or halve a match?

[chan]

It's only 5 hours till the opening tee shots of the
Ryder Cup is launched.

I've been excited and couldn't wait till Friday arrived.

Now that it’s here, there’s a sense of dread creeping in.

Hopefully actual matches will exceed the pre-game hype.

But my magic 8-ball says EU 3 US 1 after opening 4-ball matches.
Then uphill struggle for Team USA through the last alternate short match
on Saturday. Will team matches leave any meaning and stage for potential
drama in singles?

Cest la vie. Game on!

[chan]

Weather Conditions as of this post

24 kph = 14 mph
14 C = 57 F

Typical Scotland, England, Ireland weather.
Seems like it will affect play throughout the match.

[chan]

My apologies to all on the timings of the matches...
There is a 5-hour time difference between Ireland and the US.
Here is a corrected schedule (EST)

Friday 4-Ball Match will be on
3:00 - 7:30 am 12th hole: 5:15 am
3:15 - 7:45 am 11th hole: 5:30 am
3:30 - 8:00 am 10th hole: 5:45 am
3:45 - 8:15 am 9th hole: 6:00 am

8:30 - 12:30 pm 12th hole: 10:30 am
8:45 - 12:45 pm 11th hole: 10:45 am
9:00 - 1:00 pm 10th hole: 11:00 am
9:15 - 1:15 pm 9th hole: 11:15 am

Translated the all the pairings for 4-ball will have completed the
front 9 by 6:00 am .
The close of the 4-ball matches will be during morning commute
7:30 - 8:15 am .

All the pairings for alternate shot will have completed the front
9 by 11:15 am .
The close of the alternate shot matches will be between
Noon - 1:15 pm .

If somebody could tell me, will the Ryder Cup singles be broadcast
live? If so the telecast begins at 8:00 EST.
Which would mean that the initial singles match begins at 11:15 am
in Ireland, 6:15 am on the East coast.

Translated that means as the telecast begins with the tee shots
of the 8th match , 7 matches will already be on the course .

Enjoy the Ryder Cup all.