Ryder Cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rich76]

It's that time baby!!!!!!!! For me, this is right up there with the Masters and the Superbowl.

Team USA

Phil Mickelson (some good decisions would be nice Phil)
Stewart Cink (steady and dependable)
Kenny Perry (stoked as possible and I expect to do well)
Jim Furyk (another steady guy-playing better lately)
Anthony Kim (could EASILY be this teams hero-streaky)
Justin Leonard (He LOVES this event and has performed well)
Ben Curtis (another steady guy-rarely goes high)
Boo Weekly(good thing it's here in the USA-could be nervous)
Chad Campbell (steady-life is good-1st child recently born)
J.B. Holmes (our longest hitter-streaky-but GREAT when hot)
Hunter Mahan (has the ability to go real low-fingers crossed)
Steve Stricker (our best putter and when he's on..throws darts at greens)

Team Europe

Paul Casey (always good on these tourns)
Sergio Garcia (best player with the best record for the Euro's)
Soren Hansen (good player-not much publicity)
Paddy Harrington (won 2 majors this year...nuff said)
Miguel A. Jiminez (a rock-has all the shots)
Robert Karlsson (another streaky player that can go low)
Graeme McDowell (?????)
Ian Poulter (has no right to be on this team-D.Clark should be there instead)
Justin Rose (good player having a bad year)
Henrik Stenson (streaky with a TON of game)
Lee Westwood (this guy scares me...real good tough player)
Oliver Wilson (never heard of him)

I'm going out on a limb here and am picking the underdogs (USA) to win in a very close match. USA has 6 rookies while Europe has 4. IMHO I think that the alternate shot matches will be critical. I am hoping that Azinger puts together teams that play similarly. Put the "bangers" together and put the short-knockers together...they'll be playing shots that they are used to playing and that removes some added pressure. In 4 ball the key is to put the guys together that LOVE playing together. They each play out their own balls in their own way so who hits it farther is irrelevant.

The bottom line is, in these matches, putting-putting-putting is the real key. In recent history (9 years worth) the Euro's have putted better than we have and is the reson, again IMO, that they've won as often as they have.

The crowd will be a factor...Kentuckians are boistrous supportive and loyal sportsfans. I expect Sergio to elevate his game as he ALWAYS does for this event....he has an AMAZING record in the Ryder Cup. Phil is this teams leader and he NEEDS to accept and perform in that role. I expect Kim and Curtis and Holmes to be our best this time around and along with Garcia, Harrington, Westwood and Stenson to be the best of the Euro's.

Although he has already stated that he will watch from home, I am hoping that Tiger shows up on Sunday and revs these guys up to kick some euro azz in the singles matches.

For your viewing pleasure

[P562045]

Thank you rich.

Who is Azinger going to be pairing Phil with.

I seem to remember Phil being paired with Tiger at least a few times and it did not work out so well sometimes.

I could be thinking of something else though that is not even the Ryder Cup.

I did find it a little interesting that you compared the Ryder Cup to the Masters and the Super Bowl. As we all know those are two huge events that many people look forward to each year.

In fact out of all of the Majors I watch The Masters is the one I watch the most of usually and that is followed by the U.S. Open in terms of how much time I watch each event the Open always fascinates me by how hard the course is year in and year out no matter where the U.S. Open is played. I always have to see those greens at the U.S. Open.

[rich76]

WOW! For those of you watching you are being treated to some of the most exciting golf you'll ever see in your lives. BOTH teams hit an incredible amount of terrific shots....when the pressure was at it's highest.I cannot wait for tomorrow.
The score at the end of day 2 is USA - 9 Europe -7

Europe needs 14 pts to retain...we need 14 1/2 to win.

12 points available tomorrow.

edit: While I STILL believe that Clark should have been there instead of Poulter...I have to eat crow on this one. The captain's pick that everyone questioned has come up big for the Euro's...and he'll be the ONLY Euro to play all 5 matches!