2014 Ryder Cup Discussion Thread

[skydog]

[chan]

Obvious statement: Fowler/Walker match for the U.S. side is a must hold and win in Alt. Shot to salvage Day 1.

[David in FL]

Mickelson and Bradley not out if it, despite abysmal play....

[Dave2512]

Rickie!

[Elemeno P]

Photobombed! DiCaprio and some guy. :-)

This made my morning btw!

[David in FL]

That was an afternoon ass whuppin'! :-(

[skydog]

Well that was a terrible afternoon

[DeadMan]

Why are we so consistently bad at alternate shot?

[Dave2512]

I guess they enjoy moping around and being sad-sacks. They had a chance to seize the momentum but gave it away. I didn't like the Mahan/Webb picks and I really don't like them now. Bubba can't carry Webb and Hunter really hasn't played well in two seasons. Keegan is only there because everyone assumed he and Phil need to be together. I don't get it. If Bubba and Phil need the "perfect" partners to step up they should ride the pine, especially when their crutches aren't in form. For all the crap Reed has gotten he played well.

[teeitup22]

Bad afternoon. Johnny Miller said he didn't agree with Phil/Keegan going out again in the afternoon, based on the way they played in the morning. He said Phil was going to be tired. He also said he was suprised the rookies were not out again. Turns out he was right.

Any predictions for the pairings in the morning?

I would go:

1) Reed & Spieth

2) Johnson & Kuchar

3) Bubba & Furyk

4) Walker & Fowler

[Dave2512]

Bad afternoon. Johnny Miller said he didn't agree with Phil/Keegan going out again in the afternoon, based on the way they played in the morning. He said Phil is going to be tired. He also said he was suprised the rookies were not out again. Turns out he was right.

Any predictions for the pairings in the morning?

I would go:

1) Reed & Spieth

2) Johnson & Kuchar

3) Bubba & Furyk

4) Walker & Fowler

I see you changed your picks a bit. I agree, no Keegan and yes Zach.

[chan]

Fowler/Walker losing the 2-up lead ending in a half is a direct punch to the solar plexus for the American side on Day 1. What started out promisingly for the U.S. ends up a 5 - 3 lead for the EUROS with Rose/Stenson leading the charge. Psychologically the EUROS can play free and easy tomorrow,  w/U.S. having to constantly push uphill on Saturday. Hoping the score will be close enough so that Sunday singles will matter, but...

Except for 2008, it always seems the EUROS have the answers. Usually they dominate in 4-bal if not, they comeback in alt. shot. Often the EUROS dominate the team matches, if not  they roar back in singles.

As a U.S. partisan, I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the ball with Lucy as the holder.

Good grief!

[teeitup22]

I see you changed your picks a bit. I agree, no Keegan and yes Zach.

Haha! Yeah I couldn't decide for the middle pairings. I think Johnson and Kuchar could be a good pairing for us. I also feel like Bubba needs to be out there too, but who do you put him with?

[teeitup22]

Just released that Phil will not play in the morning.

[mvmac]

[RandallT]

Anyone else feel like Captain Watson is not showing much spark?

Maybe this year, we needed a change of the guard- guys like Spieth and Reed. We've all given Reed a hard time, but he's the exact guy we want out there right now. Young, brash, bold, confident.

The team could've been young and fearless, rather than older and experienced. His picks were Webb, Hunter, and Keegan. All those guys that were "safe" in a sense. Maybe someone people say is abrasive like Matt Every. Ryan Moore also seems a fierce competitor. But Watson will be measured by his picks to some degree, and it sure isn't looking good yet.

And after the morning results, he could've set an aggressive tone by playing his youngsters, Spieth and Reed, who cleaned up on our nemesis, Poulter, in just 14 holes. By going with Mickelson/Bradley, he again chose the safer route- protective of the younger guys, not showing them the trust that maybe they could've handled.

Captain sets the tone, and to me, his tone is not aggressive and risky. Maybe it'll be fine and Tom's conservative wisdom will win the day, but the results need to start showing. Has he made any tough calls yet that have worked out? My gut tells me that to win this thing back, we need to go young, bold, brash, fearless.

[CarlSpackler]

Yup.

[Dave2512]

Anyone else feel like Captain Watson is not showing much spark?

Yep he looks stuck in the mud. He's taking a beating on social media. It won't hurt the team to knock him down a bit, unless he decides to continue to be stubborn tomorrow. He looked gobsmacked towards the end.