The Golf Thread

[southlondonyiddo]

Minjee looks the nuts

Great player

 

[dagraham]

So European Ryder Cup wildcard picks have been announced :

Garcia, Stenson, Casey and Poulter.

Bjorn has obviously gone for experience over form and whilst it's understandable in a way, it's also a bit of a risk as Garcia in particular has been in woeful form for ages. Ever since winning the Masters in 2017 in fact. Stenson's not in great form either actually.

I think Cabrera-Bello can consider himself very hard done by not to be included.

 

[tototoner]

So European Ryder Cup wildcard picks have been announced :

Garcia, Stenson, Casey and Poulter.

Bjorn has obviously gone for experience over form and whilst it's understandable in a way, it's also a bit of a risk as Garcia in particular has been in woeful form for ages. Ever since winning the Masters in 2017 in fact. Stenson's not in great form either actually.

I think Cabrera-Bello can consider himself very hard done by not to be included.

I wouldn't have picked Casey.

Regardless of wildcards I think USA will win easy

 

[dagraham]

I wouldn't have picked Casey.

Regardless of wildcards I think USA will win easy

Not sure it will be easy, but yeah I think they will win. Their team is scary on paper. Although they’ve had the better individuals plenty of times and yet we’ve still beaten them, so there is hope.

 

[Chris Finch]

I'd have gone Poulter, Stenson, Pieters, Wallace.
Dont like the Garcia and Casey picks at all

 

[dagraham]

I'd have gone Poulter, Stenson, Pieters, Wallace.
Dont like the Garcia and Casey picks at all

Pieters was great last time out, but hasn’t really done anything of note this season.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

You have to wonder why Garcia even Stenson is in there - said from a Dane.

Wallace must be pissed. He has won 3 times this season, and still not included. What do you have to do then?

USA looks scaring, but the always do. And we will always somehow have a good match!

 

[spurs mental]

Michelson is a dreadful pick for the Americans though. Hasn't had little good form, and his record is awful in these matches.

I can see why Garcia and Stenson have been picked. The European team has a lot of rookies, another one or two would have made it dreadfully difficult to sort pairings and playing time.

Still think Europe will win though. America look strong on paper and seem to have learned how to play as a team but we will see.

Hope Patrick Reed falls in the water and can't swim though

 

[dagraham]

Hope Patrick Reed falls in the water and can't swim though

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Last time out he played as If he can Walk on Water!!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Suggested pairings from Golfweek.com. The US look frighteningly strong.

U.S.​

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Jordan Spieth-Patrick Reed: This is probably the easiest decision that Furyk has to make. This duo is 4-1-2 in the past two Ryder Cups, so even though Spieth might want to switch things up and partner with, say, Justin Thomas or Rickie Fowler, it’s best if he keeps his partnership with Reed. They are just too good together.​

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Tiger Woods-Bryson DeChambeau: While everyone on the U.S. team would love to pair with Woods, it seems as if DeChambeau, a three-time winner this season, will get the honor. The two have developed some chemistry this year through practice rounds and such. If there is anyone on the team as competitive as Woods, it’s DeChambeau, who had an excellent match-play record as an amateur, winning the 2015 U.S. Amateur and playing well for his country at the Walker Cup, Palmer Cup and World Amateur Team Championship.​

​

Dustin Johnson-Brooks Koepka: The two gym buddies didn’t pair up until the final team session at Hazeltine. They lost to Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters in four-ball, 3 and 1, but showed some promise as a pairing. Johnson hasn’t played particularly well in Ryder Cups. Maybe competing alongside Koepka will spark something.​

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Phil Mickelson-Tony Finau: This will be Mickelson’s 12th straight Ryder Cup and at 48 years old, he doesn’t appear to have many more left as a player. He’s never won overseas, so he’ll be as motivated as ever to finally check that box off. Pairing him with the young and powerful Finau makes a lot of sense. The two played together at the Northern Trust a few weeks ago and Mickelson raved about Finau’s potential. Mickelson is also coming off a strong performance two years ago at Hazeltine, where he went 2-1-1.​

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Rickie Fowler-Justin Thomas: This is Thomas’ first Ryder Cup, but he isn’t the typical rookie, ranked fourth in the world and the defending PGA Tour Player of the Year. It’s no secret that he and Fowler are close, and their chemistry should produce results, especially in foursomes. They are similar players, possessing all-around games and gaining the most shots with their irons and putter.​

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Bubba Watson-Webb Simpson: This pairing worked very well in 2012 at Medinah, where the two went 2-1. They lost their opening session in 2014 and Simpson didn’t play again until singles. But Simpson is having his best season since 2012 – by a mile – and Watson, who has won three times this season, has regained some momentum of late. They could surprise in Paris.​

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EUROPE​

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Henrik Stenson-Justin Rose: Played three of four sessions together in 2016 – each of them opposite Spieth and Reed – and went 1-2, though their 5-and-4 Friday afternoon four-ball victory was mighty impressive. Also, they went 3-0 together at Gleneagles. This pairing is as safe a bet as any.​

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Rory McIlroy-Jon Rahm: McIlroy has seemed to embrace the role of taking a rookie under his wing after going 3-0 with Thomas Pieters at Hazeltine. Rahm is similar to Pieters on the course and McIlroy could help Rahm channel that passion into points.​

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Paul Casey-Tommy Fleetwood: Both players had some fun with the story of Fleetwood wanting to buy Casey’s extra set of Nike irons. And while it doesn’t look like Casey will loan the set to Fleetwood in Paris like he had joked about doing, the two Englishmen would make a nice pairing. Both are great iron players and similar personality types.​

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Ian Poulter-Tyrrell Hatton: Poulter’s great 2012 Ryder Cup showing came when he paired with Rose and McIlroy. However, after an 0-1-1 team performance in 2014 and not qualifying in 2016, Poulter likely needs a fresh partner. How about the fiery Hatton? The two teamed up to break a world record in a European Tour social video last year, and I could see Poulter as a perfect Ryder Cup role model for the emotional Hatton.​

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Alex Noren-Thorbjorn Olesen: I initially had Noren and Molinari teaming up, but felt that Sergio Garcia needed Molinari the most. Noren is a guy who could play with anyone. You never have to question his work ethic and though he and Olesen are rookies, they aren’t strangers to big moments. They also have similar games – Noren is a better driver of the golf ball, but they are pretty equal in other facets. Both putt it well, too.​

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Sergio Garcia-Francesco Molinari: Many of Garcia’s recent partners – Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer and Rafa Cabrera Bello – did not qualify. And while he paired with McIlroy three times in 2014, it seems as if McIlroy will again be tasked with motivating a rookie. Assuming that, it makes most sense to pair the struggling Garcia with a consistent presence like Molinari, who is a strong tee-to-green guy and proven on the Ryder Cup stage.​

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But Poults & Hatton? Hold on tight, everyone!

 

[Deleted member 29446]

C-A-N-T------W-A-I-T

 

[dagraham]

C-A-N-T------W-A-I-T

Yeah, me too. I've booked the Friday off of work and told the missus I'm unavailable for 3 days.

 

[spurs mental]

Yeah, me too. I've booked the Friday off of work and told the missus I'm unavailable for 3 days.

Can you speak to my missus and ask her if it's ok for me to do that too?

 

[Spurs 1961]

Not sure these pairings are right from the European point of view. Would suggest they Garcia will play with Rahm plus Stenton with Noren. Playing nationals together often works well especially when One is a rookie.

Anyway really look forward to the greatest sporting event there is. Europe to win ... please!

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Yeah, me too. I've booked the Friday off of work and told the missus I'm unavailable for 3 days.

Exact same here!

 

[Mr.D]

Will be on holiday. Biggest of schoolboy errors. ?

 

[Spurs 1961]

Great round by Ollie Fisher today. The first player to break 60 on the European Tour with a 59 (twelve under par) in Portugal

 

[Mr.D]

Great round by Ollie Fisher today. The first player to break 60 on the European Tour with a 59 (twelve under par) in Portugal

Yeah, great round. Essex lad. Good work there.

 

[heelspurs]

Anyone watching the Tour Championship? Tiger is...warm.