IT'S been a long time coming, well it seems like it, but now it’s time for the European Ryder Cup team to step up to the plate at Hazeltine and bring the trophy home.
Davis Love doesn’t seemed to have tricked up the Hazeltine course although the greens are small and will probably run around 13 on the stimpmeter. The rough isn’t going to be any worse than normal but it would be advisable for the players to keep the ball on the fairway.
With six rookies in Darren Clarke's team it looks a tough prospect for the Europeans while US captain Davis Love has two, naming Ryan Moore as his last pick after losing a play-off for the Tour Championship at East Lake.
I’m a bit worried about the newbies in the European team and think they will have to perform at the top of their game for Europe to retain the trophy.
Danny Willett has struggled a bit since winning The Masters but over the past few weeks has returned to some kind of form. Chris Wood, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan have all seen a glimmer of form in their recent outings but Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera Bello have both had good season.
Rory McIlroy certain came good at the right time last weekend, with Henrik Stenson rested up after a knee injury and Justin Rose missing out on the Tour Championship after his Olympics win. Hopefully they will all be ready.
In fact we need all the experienced guys, including Sergio Garcio, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood to lead by example and take a lot of the pressure off the new guys.
Of the two new guys on the US team Moore played superbly at the weekend while Brooks Koepka’s form has dipped over his last three outings.
The pressure will be on the Americans and they will have to play as a team if they are to win here. Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth were awesome at Gleneagles and will have to replicate that at Hazeltine. Phil Mickelson has represented the US in every team event since 1994 with a record of 39-35-18 and his team is going to need him to be at the top of his game.
One thing that could come into play is the sad death of Arnold Palmer. We all know how inspired the Europeans were over Seve’s death at Medinah in 2012 and the death of the King might just have the same effect on the Americans.
Having won six of the last seven biennial contest (including the last three) you would expect Europe to be favourites but the Americans are. I think it’s going to be tough going for the Europeans but I fancy a small bet on a draw that would retain the trophy for Clarke's side.
Recommended Bets
Draw 2pts (Bet365, 12-1)
Best European 2pts Henrik Stenson (William Hill, 13-2)
Best American: 2pts Patrick Reed (Betfred, 7-1)
We now the line-up for the morning foursomes.
Spieth/Reed v Rose/Stenson
Mickelson/Fowler v McIlroy/Sullivan
Walker/Z Johnson v Garcia/Kaymer
D Johnson/Kuchar v Westwood/Pieters
Anyone fancy 2-2?
Ace Venturer
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Hey Ace, it your main man Max here, been looking forward to this for a while now. I have had some success on the majors and landed some big priced each way placed guys on the Majors, however those are what I focus on, so congrats on all your tour win through out the season.
I like you feel some of our rookies may struggle, however one rookie I really like the look of is the young Belgian Thomas Pieters. He as played in America from a young age and I suspect he could be in for a big weekend. He as been selected in foursomes on opening day and looks like someone who wont be fazed by this intensity. Rory, Henrik, and JR all head the market for top European but Pieters is my E/W tip at 18/1 Hills. (3 places)
If Pieters is may E/W tip for Europe, I love the 8/11 various on Brooks Koepka to be top American Rookie. Moore was the last call up to team USA, while Brooks has been playing superbly most of the season, both have been left out of todays foursomes. Brooks has been tipped a couple of times in tournaments by me, and I by Ace. This looks at strong bet in what now becomes a best of 4 points available.
I like ACE draw tip but I am taking a patriotic punt on Europe to lift the Trophy at 6/4 Betstars . I think this could be close so in the correct score market I like the USA team 15-13 at 9/1 and 15.5 – 12.5 at 11/1. A 0.5pt fun bet on Europe to win it 15-13 is 14/1, all odds are at Hills.
Max’s Ryder Cup Tips
Koepka Top US Rookie 8/11
Pieters Top European 18/1 (E/W)
Europe to lift the Trophy 6/4
Max’s Correct score fun bets
USA to win 15-13pts at 9/1
USA to win 15.5 – 12.5pts at 11/1
Europe to win 15-13pts at 14/1
GL
Finally Ryder Cup time! I fancy the Yanks to take day 1 at evens (Bet365). They are usually quick out of the blocks and I expect it to be no different this time around. Also having a cheeky punt on there to be a hole in one this year at 4/1. Enjoy lads