After one of the most spectacular days of golf in recent memory on Saturday, it is time for the Ryder Cup to be settled with 12 singles matches on Sunday. USA take a three point lead into the final day with them so Europe will be drawing on Medinah four years ago for plenty of inspiration.
After trailing 4-0 after the first session of the match, Europe had it back to 6.5-5.5 heading into the Saturday fourballs but some questionable pairings from captain Clarke has allowed their grip on the cup to significantly weaken and the visitors need to summon all their mite to get this one done.
The singles draw is out with some really juicy matches on the list not least the one between Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy to get things underway and so we should be in form a superb Sunday.
First Six Matches
Reed and McIlroy have been the talismans for their side so far and they meet in a great first match. Jordan Spieth takes on The Open champion Henrik Stenson in game two before it will be bombs away between JB Holmes and Thomas Pieters.
Rickie Fowler hasn’t done too much in the competition so far but he’ll look to make up for that when he faces Justin Rose before the USPGA champion Jimmy Walker meets Rafael Cabrera Bello. The crucial opening half of matches finish with Phil Mickelson against Sergio Garcia is a battle of experience.
Last Six Matches
If Europe have got off to a fast start then these matches will increase in significance and they begin with Ryan Moore going up against Lee Westwood. Brandt Snedeker then plays Andy Sullivan and the US Open champion Dustin Johnson takes on the BMW PGA winner Chris Wood.
The final three matches could yet be decisive and they see Brooks Koepka taking on The Masters champion Danny Willett before the USA go with experience in the form of Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson. They will take on Martin Kaymer and the rookie Matt Fitzpatrick respectively.
Betting
I’m hitting the singles card hard and I’m doing so with the superior putters in the individual matches. We’ve seen all week that this course is set up for making birdies and to do that you’ve got to hole some putts so that is my angle in.
First off I’m going with the man I’ve been very vocal about on twitter this weekend and that is Thomas Pieters. He is a really good all-round player, one I’m absolutely convinced nobody in Europe seems to appreciate just how good he is. He hits it long but he has a wonderful short game and he could be all wrong for JB Holmes who doesn’t convince me at all with the short game when it really matters. I’m expecting a European point there.
Justin Rose came into the tournament with an Olympic gold medal but if holing putts was an Olympic sport this week he would have false started because he’s holed precious little and Europe have suffered as a result. Rickie Fowler’s Ryder Cup has been a quiet one so far but he’s just the man to ride this boisterous crowd and with his short game he is a huge price to beat the misfiring Rose.
This Ryder Cup turned on the moment that Lee Westwood missed two putts inside five feet on the final two holes on Saturday and those moments are hard to forget for player or punter alike. On the face of it Westwood might like his draw against Ryan Moore but the American is a gritty little so and so and if he gets into this one early he won’t go away as he showed in the Tour Championship a week ago. With Westwood holing nothing Moore has to be favoured there.
Usually I don’t like betting on matches at the end but we’ve seen games played out how they should be in recent Ryder Cups so with that I have to take Matt Kuchar to beat a Martin Kaymer who has shown little and offered even less in this competition. Kaymer is holing absolutely nothing and doesn’t look at it at all. Kuchar will most likely be riding an amped up crowd by this point and he can further add to the atmosphere with a shutout of the German.
Finally, Davis Love III has saved a solid option for last just in case things have gone tits up earlier in the day when Zach Johnson faces Matt Fitzpatrick and I can’t help but feel the veteran will have too much for the rookie. I like Matt Fitzpatrick, in fact I’m a huge fan but putting was a concern coming into the tournament and he hasn’t been treated all that well by his captain this weekend – he is yet to play his own ball at any point. So much is against the European and in a hostile environment Johnson can capitalise on that to round off what is highly likely to be an American win with one last point.
Tips
WON – Back T.Pieters to beat JB Holmes for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfair
WON – Back R.Moore to beat L.Westwood for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfair
Back them here:
WON – Back R.Fowler to beat J.Rose for a 4/10 stake at 2.75 with William Hill
Back him here:
Back M.Kuchar to beat M.Kaymer for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Betfred
Back him here:
WON – Back Z.Johnson to beat M.Fitzpatrick for a 4/10 stake at 1.88 with 888sport
Back him here:
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