AFTER years of planning and preparation the 2014 Ryder Cup tees off at 7.35 on Friday morning at Gleneagles.
It promises to be a fascinating contest between Europe and the USA and I've listed and Ace Venturer's tips on the end.
Here are the fourball pairing after captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson revealed their picks.
7.35am: JUSTIN ROSE & HENRIK STENSON v BUBBA WATSON & WEBB SIMPSON
7.50am: THOMAS BJORN & MARTIN KAYMER v RICKIE FOWLER & JIMMY WALKER
8.05am STEPHEN GALLACHER & IAN POULTER v JORDAN SPIETH & PATRICK REED
8.20am RORY McILROY & SERGIO GARCIA v PHIL MICKELSON & KEEGAN BRADLEY
The biggest surprise is Watson partnering rookies Spieth and Reed and he's putting out a third rookie in Jimmy Walker.
Spieth and Walker face talisman Ian Poulter and home hero Stephen Gallacher and you have to fancy the Europeans at a best 6-5 with Coral.
I expect Rose and Stenson to see off Watson and Simpson in the opener and they are 11-10 at Stan James.
Everyone will be on European heavyweights McIlroy and Garcia, ranked 1 and 3 in the world, against a strong US partnership and they are generally available at 10-11.
That's me giving Europe three points which would be an incredible start. Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker is tough to call and I'll have to give this one the US as a whitewash is so unlikely. The Americans are 21-20 at Stan James.
Those were of course early tips and Rose and Stenson easily won 5 and 4. Paul McGinley has not surprisingly kept them together for the afternoon fourballs and I'm also standing by them.
So Super Single 2 is Rose and Stenson at 5-6 with Stan James to beat Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson (1.30pm).
Next best would be Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar to beat Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood at 1-1 with William Hill (1.15pm).
Mr Fixit's Day 1 tips
Poulter/Gallacher (8.05am)
(6-5, Coral) LOST
Rose/Stenson (7.35am)
(11-10, Stan James) WON
McIlroy/Garcia (8.05am)
(10-11, various) PENDING
Rose/Stenson (1.30pm)
(5-6, Stan James)
Furyk/Kuchar (1.15pm)
(1-1, William Hill)
Mr Fixit's anteposts
McIlroy top European (4-1, McBookie)
Fowler top American (11-2, Betfred)
Correct Score: Europe 15, USA 13 (9-1, Paddy Power)
Ace Venturer's anteposts
Garcia top scorer (11-1, Betfred)
Garcia top European scorer (13-2, Betfred)
Fowler top American scorer (11-2, Betfred)
Stephen Gallacher top GB & Irish scorer (16-1, Betfred, McBookie)
Correct Score: Draw (11-1, Paddy Power)
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Spot on mr f with four balls. Fowler for the states in the other.
What do you reckon about the correct score for the first day anyone?
On current form and home crowd the 10/11 for Mcilroy / Garcia is as good an investment I’ve seen for months.
Done your tips as a treble mate. Reckon it has a chance. Have you got a ticket for any of the days?
Graham, nope. Didn’t apply because there was every chance I’d have been working but it’s fallen on my weekend off.
There seems to be a feeling in the air that Europe are going to walk this. I think Watson will have the US team organized and ready for this. The wild cards will swing it for the US. OF the three of them only Bradley did not make the Tour championship final finishing in 33rd place. (and only Mickleson in 68th was worse)
The European wild cards are much weaker. Poulter is there from past results, which we know how good they were but he has fallen 26 places in the world rankings and is in poor form with only 1 top ten this year from 16 starts.In 2012 his form was much better (1 win, 2 thirds had made every cut that year)
Westwood has fallen 19 places in the rankings with 2 top tens this year. (though they WERE in the Masters and Players Championship)
Only Gallagher has good form but he will be under pressure being the only Scot there.
I’ll be delighted if Europe can do it and will be supporting them all the way but at the prices my money is on the US.
Bradley top overall points scorer 18/1
US to win 7/4 (have also cover on Europe for this, got them at evens with PP special. Praying its not a draw as I haven’t dutched that result yet)
US to win 15-13 @ 12/1
US to win 15.5- 12.5 @14/1
Treble on
Bradley top US wild card 6/5
Speith top US rookie 6/4
Dubuisson top European rookie 2/1
Opening fourballs
1st 3 matches to tie
Match 4 US win.
Cant wait for it to start. Down to the early house to watch it.
Mr F those four balls look like a great Trixie bet, thanks in advance.
Might have to go for the fourfold with Folwer/Watson @ 13/1.
Europe to win Day 1 @ 2.05
Europe win -1.5pts @ 2.2
McIlroy top European (e/w) @ 5.0
Furyk tp American (e/w) @ 10.0
Ian Poulter Top Engish man @ 2.66
Hi gents
might be a daft question, can anyone tell me the difference between match winner and match result on the individual matches on bet365
Thanks
Not a follower of golf how many holes do they play in the 1 day four holes?
Iv followed your bets MR F in faith but not sure how it works.
Liam
Liam L, it’s a normal round of 18 but of course matches can finish early if one team has won enough holes.
Aww cheers mr f for clearing that I’ll shamefully not ask a stupid question again haha
Liam L, no problem – there will be loads watching golf or betting on it that don’t normally do so. It’s looking like it will end 3-1 to Europe this morning with Poulter/Gallacher being the big disappointment.
What you fancy for the foursomes mr fix it ?
JB, just walked the dug – I’ll have a look shortly.
JB, after the way Rose and Stenson played I’ll take them again at 5-6 with Stan James to beat Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson (1.30pm)
Next best would be Furyk and Kuchar to beat Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood at evens with William Hill (1.15pm).
Others look tough to call so these will be my two bets.
Im liking the look of rose/stenson and garcia mcilroy
No fatigue with them boys being up & out early day?
John, fatigue can play a part but Rose/Stenson only played 14 holes and weren’t mentally tortured. I’d worry more about players going to the 18th then back out.
Cheers mr fix it gonna go stenson rose defo
Leading all the way and done on 18 for a half. Pffff there goes my Rose/Iceman and Kaymer/Bjorn double!
cobramint, that’s unlucky. Thing about Ryder Cup it’s about 24 great players and the prices on each match reflect how virtually any could go either way.