Ryder Cup 2016

First Up

Ormus wrote:

I think it was a brave pick by Darren. If Europe lose he'll be criticised for it.

I don't think it was especially "brave". A decent balance of experience, track record and talent in full flow.

I would worry about some of the "automatics" more than any of the picks.

First Up

AGC wrote:

No it's not. If he had registered as a ET member earlier and not mid season he would have been in automatically. If it was his intention or any players intention to play he should have registered in plenty of time.

Agree. If you want to represent Europe, it would help if you showed some commitment to it. Europe's stronger bonding has always been the X factor at the RC and I can understand why Darren would have concerns about how Knox would gel with the likes of Sergio, Westwood and the team room chemistry.

AGC

First Up wrote: »

Agree. If you want to represent Europe, it would help if you showed some commitment to it. Europe's stronger bonding has always been the X factor at the RC and I can understand why Darren would have concerns about how Knox would gel with the likes of Sergio, Westwood and the team room chemistry.

In saying that I do think he would have been picked if it was not for Pieters winning at the weekend.

First Up

AGC wrote:

In saying that I do think he would have been picked if it was not for Pieters winning at the weekend.

Maybe, but it could have been Donald too.

First Up

AGC wrote:

In saying that I do think he would have been picked if it was not for Pieters winning at the weekend.

Maybe, but it could have been Donald too.

HighLine

Why is it that Europe are confined to selecting their team today whilst the US can wait until the 25th September? Could you imagine if knox goes and wins the next 3 events and the FedEx Cup!

First Up

HighLine wrote:

Why is it that Europe are confined to selecting their team today whilst the US can wait until the 25th September? Could you imagine if knox goes and wins the next 3 events and the FedEx Cup!

Its their own choice how they do it.

AGC

And the Americans changed it after Horschel went on and won and the team had already been selected 2 years ago

3 of the 4 US wildcards are being selected on September 10th

Ormus

First Up wrote: »

I don't think it was especially "brave". A decent balance of experience, track record and talent in full flow.

I would worry about some of the "automatics" more than any of the picks.

I think it was brave to pick Pieters (young, European Tour player who made the effort to qualify), instead of Knox (more experienced, higher ranked, US based, but didn't make much effort to qualify).

valoren

Flawed System?

Since 1995, Europe have won 8 of the 10 matches and arguably should have won in 1999.

Nothing wrong with that system.

Benicetomonty

Absolutely I dont think Pieters wouldve been picked had he not won in Denmark. He stepped up and forced Clarke to pick him, just as Molinari did in 2010. Hes playing the golf of his life and doesnt seem to be too excitable. Actually reminds me a bit of Stenson, v dry sense of humour. I dont think hel let anyone down.

Agree that Knox shouldve played more. Hel be disappointed but fact of the matter is you cant blame anyone but yourself if youre not in an automatic spot.

First Up

Benicetomonty wrote:

Absolutely I dont think Pieters wouldve been picked had he not won in Denmark. He stepped up and forced Clarke to pick him, just as Molinari did in 2010. Hes playing the golf of his life and doesnt seem to be too excitable. Actually reminds me a bit of Stenson, v dry sense of humour. I dont think hel let anyone down.

Clarke pretty well said as much. Said Pieters play over the past few weeks made it impossible to leave him out. He was raving about his talent - called him a future World #1.

Speak Now

valoren wrote: »

Flawed System?

Since 1995, Europe have won 8 of the 10 matches and arguably should have won in 1999.

Nothing wrong with that system.

System is always changing, only the second this it's been like this.

Seve OB

Speak Now wrote: »

System is always changing, only the second this it's been like this.

Only the second?

It's been pretty much the same for years and years now. The only recent change that I can recall is the 3 picks for the captain instead of 2 and that was probably at least 4 Ryder Cups ago by now

LuckyGent88

Harrington really bigging up Pieters on off the ball right now.

Once again saying potential world number 1 and everyone is wanting to play with him already.

Dero123

Good luck to anyone trying to predict any pairings with all the rookies, Westwood & Willet, Sergio & Cabrera Bello, Rory & Kaymer, Stenson & Rose would be my guess for the Friday morning but where you involve the other four is anyone's guess.

Rikand

With how Kaymer was bigging up Pieters they seem like a ready made partnership. For fourballs at least. Pieters distance of the tee should be perfect for that format.

Andy sullivan has to be odds on for a foursomes slot. Straight but not long off the tee. Could even stick him with mcilroy. Sullivan would be stitching them from mcilroys drives. And Sullivan would be far enough back that mcilroy would be hitting longer irons in.

Can see Westwood and wood as a pairing. It feels right.

Either way, all 12 Europeans should be blooded on Friday and then decide on Saturday based on friday

sky88

AGC wrote: »

No it's not. If he had registered as a ET member earlier and not mid season he would have been in automatically. If it was his intention or any players intention to play he should have registered in plenty of time.

I honestly think they should do away with having to be a ET member cost the team having casey and Knox in the team.

It's supposed to be Europe vs USA not European tour vs pga tour.

Letree

I think the american fans are going to be super loud this year. Its gonna be tough for the Europeans to play in that sort of noise. Watching them in Bethpage at the weekend its worse they are getting.

Benicetomonty

Letree wrote: »

I think the american fans are going to be super loud this year. Its gonna be tough for the Europeans to play in that sort of noise. Watching them in Bethpage at the weekend its worse they are getting.

Must say I was worried before the event in Medinah but felt fans were ok in the end, so would have some hope for the Hazeltine crowds. Bethpage might be a different story, hard to believe just how obnoxious New York fans can be. Serious baptism of fire awaits any Euro rookie who makes that team!

CalamariFritti

Bethpage is New York and there and in Boston they're probably the rowdiest all year. I don't think its getting worse but they will be fired up for the Ryder Cup I'm sure.

First Up

sky88 wrote:

I honestly think they should do away with having to be a ET member cost the team having casey and Knox in the team.

It's supposed to be Europe vs USA not European tour vs pga tour.

Maybe Davis Love will pick him.

abff

sky88 wrote: »

I honestly think they should do away with having to be a ET member cost the team having casey and Knox in the team.

It's supposed to be Europe vs USA not European tour vs pga tour.

I think they brought this in as a requirement a few years back, because some senior players were not maintaining European Tour membership. Any way, it is a golf tournament, not a political contest.

LuckyGent88

Matt Fitzpatrick 6 over thru 12 holes in Switzerland at the moment. Not very good news for Europe.

First Up

LuckyGent88 wrote:

Matt Fitzpatrick 6 over thru 12 holes in Switzerland at the moment. Not very good news for Europe.

He's the one I worry about most on the team. Well him and Chris Woods putting under pressure.

Quintis

First Up wrote: »

He's the one I worry about most on the team. Well him and Chris Woods putting under pressure.

Saw Matthew at the Irish Open and he was brutal,some of his driving and approach play was atrocious

LuckyGent88

First Up wrote: »

He's the one I worry about most on the team. Well him and Chris Woods putting under pressure.

Andy Sullivan 3 over as well. He hadn't had much form at all this season. Very worrying.

AGC

Even on form there are 5/6 of the European Players not in the same league as the US.

Plenty of years America have had a far stronger team on paper but this year I feel they will follow through and hammer Europe.

First Up

AGC wrote:

Plenty of years America have had a far stronger team on paper but this year I feel they will follow through and hammer Europe.

I think that's where my money would go too.

LuckyGent88

Just read that Stenson has re injured his knee he had surgery on last year. Another meniscus tear but he is going to play through it for now and will rest after Ryder cup.
Could be a huge blow for Europe.

Mantis Toboggan

Wonder who first reserve is. I'd say it's luke ahead of knox and mcdowell

Speak Now

Tyson Fury wrote: »

Wonder who first reserve is. I'd say it's luke ahead of knox and mcdowell

If Stenson pulled out injured the fairest thing would be the next on the qualifying list. I wouldnt agree with another wildcard myself.

BigChap1759

Speak Now wrote: »

If Stenson pulled out injured the fairest thing would be the next on the qualifying list. I wouldnt agree with another wildcard myself.

How would you decide which list though??

BigChap1759

Speak Now wrote: »

If Stenson pulled out injured the fairest thing would be the next on the qualifying list. I wouldnt agree with another wildcard myself.

How would you decide which list though??

AGC

BigChap1759 wrote: »

How would you decide which list though??

The next player on the points list has probably already qualified through world list or vice versa so just pick the first player not qualified off either list.

EDIT: Just had a look, it's a valid point which list. Knox is next on World list in a position of 10th where Kjeldsen is next on European list in 8th

charlieIRL

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Just read that Stenson has re injured his knee he had surgery on last year. Another meniscus tear but he is going to play through it for now and will rest after Ryder cup.
Could be a huge blow for Europe.

That's the exact same thing I've done to my knee :mad::mad:

Seve OB

AGC wrote: »

The next player on the points list has probably already qualified through world list or vice versa so just pick the first player not qualified off either list.

EDIT: Just had a look, it's a valid point which list. Knox is next on World list in a position of 10th where Kjeldsen is next on European list in 8th

yea, but qualification is as follows
first 4 on European list
then leading 5 on world points list not already qualified

so henrick qualified on the European list, take him out of that, and next on the European list is andy sullivan. the knock on there when it comes to choosing the team, andy becomes the last European qualifier and we move over to the world points list and take andy out of that. (as he has already qualified), so it goes to next on the world points list, Russell knox

HighLine

Lads I wouldn't be too worried about Stenson's injury. He is playing right now at the Deutsche Bank. If the injury was that severe, he would be skipping this week because he is high enough in the FedEx ranking to be able to do so and still advance to the next round in 2 weeks.

Tom.D.BJJ

Playing through a minor meniscus tear is fine. Different story if it was on either side of the knee, acl/mcl would rule him out for alot longer.

First Up

Tom.D.BJJ wrote:

Playing through a minor meniscus tear is fine. Different story if it was on either side of the knee, acl/mcl would rule him out for alot longer.

Lets see how he goes this week. He would be a loss but if he has to pull out, having Knox in reserve wouldn't be the worst thing.

abff

I think Knox was very unlucky not to make the team. If there were not so many rookies already in the team, it would be hard to justify picking either Westwood or Kaymer ahead of him. And I think he would have got the nod ahead of Pieters if he hadn't won in such spectacular fashion last weekend.

Mantis Toboggan

Knox has done a few interviews since the picks were announced that won't exactly entice Clarke to pick him should a sub be needed.

As Harrington said the other night it's not about picking the 12 best players.

First Up

Tyson Fury wrote:

Knox has done a few interviews since the picks were announced that won't exactly entice Clarke to pick him should a sub be needed.

I'm working off the understanding that he would qualify by right as next in line.

If not, there may indeed by reservations about how he would fit in. He is as qualified for the US team as the European and his connections with Europe are more historic than current.

spacecoyote

Big Phil showing off:

http://www.golfpunkhq.com/news/article/usa-ryder-cup-team-building-goes-badly

Mantis Toboggan

Phil: "hitting a wedge has always been easy lefty or righty"

Well I'd beg to differ after seeing his wedge into 6 at the deutsche bank.

HighLine

I'm fairly sure that whole quote from Phil was said with a big grim on his face. Just a bit of banter with "the lads".

Speak Now

Seve OB wrote: »

Only the second?

It's been pretty much the same for years and years now. The only recent change that I can recall is the 3 picks for the captain instead of 2 and that was probably at least 4 Ryder Cups ago by now

2012 was only 2 picks.

AGC

First Up wrote: »

He's the one I worry about most on the team. Well him and Chris Woods putting under pressure.

Doing well now, I would have a bigger fear for Wood and Willet

vienne86

So the American wild cards will be announced on Monday. Any guesses?

Ben1977

I like JB Holmes, kucher. If fowler and Bubba make the top 30 for next week as well