AFTER last year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ryder Cup takes place this week under a swell of anticipation and excitement at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
To look ahead to the biennial Europe v USA contest, Adam McKendry has picked out his five talking points with the latest odds from William Hill…
Match play McIlroy
Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy during the 2014 Ryder Cup. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
It hasn’t been the best of years for Rory, who has slipped to 15th in the world rankings after a season in which he only picked up seven top-10s in 21 starts, although one of those was a victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.
But the Northern Irishman is always a strong player at the Ryder Cup regardless of his form leading into the event, picking up 11 wins and four halves in 24 matches, and who could forget that dramatic duel with Patrick Reed at Hazeltine?
Whistling Straits should be a course that suits McIlroy’s power game and his likely foursomes and fourballs pairing with Viktor Hovland has the potential to be a dynamite combination for Europe if both play at the top of their games.
The only worry is with so many inexperienced faces in his team, Padraig Harrington is going to lean heavily on McIlroy, more so than any other captain has. Will the Holywood man be able to shoulder the load?
Bryson DeChambeau (left) and Brooks Koepka. AP / PA Images
AP / PA Images / PA Images
We had to mention it, right? While both players have said they want to put their petty feud behind them, you have to wonder how it will affect morale in the US team room if Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau can’t see eye to eye for a week.
The pair have been at each other’s throats following a falling out at Liberty National in 2019, which doesn’t exactly bode well for team chemistry – which the USA isn’t great at generating to begin with – but, given they are two of his best players, captain Steve Stricker can’t put them in background roles either.
Sadly for golf fans worldwide, it seems highly unlikely we will see Koepka and DeChambeau paired together – Stricker has already admitted as much – but if poor performances add salt to already open wounds, we could see some fireworks behind the scenes.
Shane Lowry. SIPA USA / PA Images
SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images
While a captain can’t control how many rookies will automatically qualify for his team, he can decide how many he selects with his picks, and Harrington and Stricker have gone for very different approaches with their selections.
Harrington has opted for just the one, Shane Lowry, to go with Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland who automatically qualified, deciding that experience will trump youthful exuberance in Wisconsin.
On the other hand, Stricker has selected four rookies – Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler – to go with automatic selections Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay.
While there is the argument that professional golfers should be used to the pressure of big events given they play in them week in, week out throughout the year, is there anything that can simulate the pressure of standing on the first tee at the Ryder Cup for the first time? How well the American debutants adjust could be crucial.
The Miracle at Medinah in 2012. SIPA USA / PA Images
SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images
Of the last seven Ryder Cups, six of them have been won by the home team, and the only outlier is the 2012 Miracle at Medinah, which you could easily argue should have been won by the home team.
Home advantage is a massive thing in the Ryder Cup. Not only do you have a large and vociferous crowd at your back, but the home team also decides how to set up the course, which means Stricker can have Whistling Straits playing right into the hands of his American bombers.
Due to Covid-19, even less European fans than usual will be travelling over to Sheboygan and the US crowd should be more up for it than ever given the wait they’ve endured due to the pandemic, so the visitors will be up against it.
But, then again, Europe are 4-4 in Ryder Cups held in the US since 1987, and have won seven of the last nine, so will they even be daunted?
Captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington. Morry Gash
Morry Gash
It’s important to lead after Day 1. It’s even more important to lead after Day 2. But, statistically, the team that wins the singles on Sunday generally wins the Ryder Cup.
That makes sense, obviously, as there are 12 singles matches compared to four fourballs/foursomes per session, and a run of blue or red on the board late on a Sunday afternoon can completely change the landscape of the tournament in a matter of moments. But consider this: only one team in Ryder Cup history has won the singles session and not finished as overall winners – the 2010 USA team at Celtic Manor (7-5).
So, while neither team will be disappointed to be leading on Saturday night, they’ll know it’s likely not over until that final putt drops on Sunday afternoon.
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
Embed this post
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
McIlroy to shine, Brooks v Bryson and home advantage: The biggest 2021 Ryder Cup talking points
AFTER last year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ryder Cup takes place this week under a swell of anticipation and excitement at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
To look ahead to the biennial Europe v USA contest, Adam McKendry has picked out his five talking points with the latest odds from William Hill…
Match play McIlroy
It hasn’t been the best of years for Rory, who has slipped to 15th in the world rankings after a season in which he only picked up seven top-10s in 21 starts, although one of those was a victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.
But the Northern Irishman is always a strong player at the Ryder Cup regardless of his form leading into the event, picking up 11 wins and four halves in 24 matches, and who could forget that dramatic duel with Patrick Reed at Hazeltine?
Whistling Straits should be a course that suits McIlroy’s power game and his likely foursomes and fourballs pairing with Viktor Hovland has the potential to be a dynamite combination for Europe if both play at the top of their games.
The only worry is with so many inexperienced faces in his team, Padraig Harrington is going to lean heavily on McIlroy, more so than any other captain has. Will the Holywood man be able to shoulder the load?
William Hill odds: Rory McIlroy to be top GB & Ireland player @ 7/2
Brooks v Bryson
We had to mention it, right? While both players have said they want to put their petty feud behind them, you have to wonder how it will affect morale in the US team room if Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau can’t see eye to eye for a week.
The pair have been at each other’s throats following a falling out at Liberty National in 2019, which doesn’t exactly bode well for team chemistry – which the USA isn’t great at generating to begin with – but, given they are two of his best players, captain Steve Stricker can’t put them in background roles either.
Sadly for golf fans worldwide, it seems highly unlikely we will see Koepka and DeChambeau paired together – Stricker has already admitted as much – but if poor performances add salt to already open wounds, we could see some fireworks behind the scenes.
William Hill odds: Bryson DeChambeau to be top US player @ 9/1
Rookie mistakes
While a captain can’t control how many rookies will automatically qualify for his team, he can decide how many he selects with his picks, and Harrington and Stricker have gone for very different approaches with their selections.
On the other hand, Stricker has selected four rookies – Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler – to go with automatic selections Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay.
While there is the argument that professional golfers should be used to the pressure of big events given they play in them week in, week out throughout the year, is there anything that can simulate the pressure of standing on the first tee at the Ryder Cup for the first time? How well the American debutants adjust could be crucial.
William Hill odds: Collin Morikawa to be top rookie @ 11/2
Home and hosed?
Of the last seven Ryder Cups, six of them have been won by the home team, and the only outlier is the 2012 Miracle at Medinah, which you could easily argue should have been won by the home team.
Home advantage is a massive thing in the Ryder Cup. Not only do you have a large and vociferous crowd at your back, but the home team also decides how to set up the course, which means Stricker can have Whistling Straits playing right into the hands of his American bombers.
Due to Covid-19, even less European fans than usual will be travelling over to Sheboygan and the US crowd should be more up for it than ever given the wait they’ve endured due to the pandemic, so the visitors will be up against it.
But, then again, Europe are 4-4 in Ryder Cups held in the US since 1987, and have won seven of the last nine, so will they even be daunted?
William Hill odds: Europe to win by 1 to 3 points @ 4/1
Singles night
It’s important to lead after Day 1. It’s even more important to lead after Day 2. But, statistically, the team that wins the singles on Sunday generally wins the Ryder Cup.
That makes sense, obviously, as there are 12 singles matches compared to four fourballs/foursomes per session, and a run of blue or red on the board late on a Sunday afternoon can completely change the landscape of the tournament in a matter of moments. But consider this: only one team in Ryder Cup history has won the singles session and not finished as overall winners – the 2010 USA team at Celtic Manor (7-5).
So, while neither team will be disappointed to be leading on Saturday night, they’ll know it’s likely not over until that final putt drops on Sunday afternoon.
William Hill odds: USA to win Sunday’s singles session @ 7/10
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
brooks koepka Bryson DeChambeau Rory McIlroy Ryder Cup Sponsored By William Hill Talking Points Whistling Straits William Hill