The Ryder Cup

[bazza76]

I see we are doing well this morning
This competition has a Europe win all over it.

[kurtangle01]

I see we are doing well this morning
This competition has a Europe win all over it.

We're up in 3 but 2 of the games are tight. I don't think you could ever write off Woods and Furyk and Karlsson & Casey are not taking their chances to pull aea from Cink and Henry. All being well it'll stay the same and we get 3.5 points on the board this morning.

[johnp]

4 point lead going into the singles. Hopefully that should be enough of a lead

[rnm]

i'm eating my words about woosnam, he's done a cracking job - and not just because anybody could with this team; he really has

[kurtangle01]

The single pairing for tommorrow are as follows.

1115 Colin Montgomerie v David Toms
1127 Sergio Garcia v Stewart Cink
1139 Paul Casey v Jim Furyk
1151 Robert Karlsson v Tiger Woods
1203 Luke Donald v Chad Campbell
1215 Paul McGinley v JJ Henry
1227 Darren Clarke v Zach Johnson
1239 Henrik Stenson v Vaughn Taylor
1251 David Howell v Brett Wetterich
1303 Jose Maria Olazabal v Phil Mickelson
1315 Lee Westwood v Chris DiMarco
1327 Padraig Harrington v Scott Verplank

So what do yo think, Are there enough winnable matches to get the 14.5 points? I think there are but you know that the Yanks will try and take a few early points so that the doubt sets in.

We obviously expected Woods and Furyk out first hence the reason Monty and Garcia are first out for us.

[lfc4ever]

I'll be happy with the 4 points needed first off, then let the half point follow.

So yes, 1st two, middle two and last two should do it for us, and I'd be happy with 6 all on the final day.

Job done, go home.

[Bob]

i'm eating my words about woosnam, he's done a cracking job - and not just because anybody could with this team; he really has

Don't quite understand why the captains get so much attention. They just pick the teams don't they and add a few words of encouragement.

Try in get the little ball in the hole in as less strokes as the opposition. Job done.

[rnm]

Don't quite understand why the captains get so much attention. They just pick the teams don't they and add a few words of encouragement.

Try in get the little ball in the hole in as less strokes as the opposition. Job done.

as long as the americans share your attitude, we shall continue to do well

[kurtangle01]

Don't quite understand why the captains get so much attention. They just pick the teams don't they and add a few words of encouragement.

You make that sound so insignificant but I think that those 2 tasks you mentioned are huge. To be able to pick players to play in pairs so that you give your team the best chance of success can't be easy. You also have to pick your players to play in the right order and often have to try and second guess the oppositions captain which can't be easy.

The words of encouragement the players receive from the captains probably helps the players alot and it will be reassuring for them. Being told things like the previous 2 groups hit 4 irons into the green and came up short must be a help as well. All of these things are what a captain does and I'm sure that's only half of it.

[lfc4ever]

as long as the americans share your attitude, we shall continue to do well

hehe, succinct as ever!

[Bob]

You make that sound so insignificant but I think that those 2 tasks you mentioned are huge. To be able to pick players to play in pairs so that you give your team the best chance of success can't be easy. You also have to pick your players to play in the right order and often have to try and second guess the oppositions captain which can't be easy.

The words of encouragement the players receive from the captains probably helps the players alot and it will be reassuring for them. Being told things like the previous 2 groups hit 4 irons into the green and came up short must be a help as well. All of these things are what a captain does and I'm sure that's only half of it.

Yeah that's the long and short of it. Media Hype / back slapping!

The likes of Clarke and Westwood pick themselves etc, etc.

[kurtangle01]

The likes of Clarke and Westwood pick themselves etc, etc.

They were both captains picks.

[Bob]

They were both captains picks.

And that picked itself on previous form. And Clarke's ranking was a false lie for obvious reasons

[kurtangle01]

And that picked itself on previous form. And Clarke's ranking was a false lie for obvious reasons

Of course it was and Clarke deserves to be in the team and would have been but for the tragic loss of his wife. Westwood could easily have been left out in favour of Blorn, Poulter, Jiminez etc...etc...

I think you're slightly underestimating Woosnam but I'm not going to try and change your mind.

[kurtangle01]

May I also add that I'm delighted to see Darren Clarke back and playing well at the Ryder Cup. If anyone in the world of golf deserves success it's him. He's a top guy and a top player. It can't have been easy for him to deal with what he's had to in recent years.