This is Not Even Remotely Like My Ryder Cup

Looking at the teams in a one versus one comparison this Ryder Cup now looks too close to call.  A few weeks ago I would have said Europe was poised to repeat the feat of the K Club but then a few things happened.  The first was Montgomerie was put in a tough position by the European rules of having to choose three of these four: Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, and Paul Casey.  Monty then did the Americans a favor by Choosing Paddy and Luke and then taking a gamble on Eduardo Molinari completing the set with his brother Francisco.  The second thing that happened was the finalization of the Tiger / Elin divorce which HAS to be a relief for Tiger.  Tiger is beginning to play well.  The third thing is that all the Americans look as if they are playing OK so as a group they might just have some personal momentum.

So let us look at the players one versus one and see how the teams stack up.  My match ups come in the form of who I want to see play each other in singles. From there I’ll break it down.

Phil Mickelson versus Lee Westwood:  Here is a story about two players who are giants on their respective teams.  Both Phil and Lee played well in each major.  Both are unbelievably streaky good.  Phil is a little more volatile.  The difference between the two is this year Phil won the Masters and Lee did not.  A side note, this is the first time for both of these guys to be the Lead Dog on their teams.  It will be interesting to see their leadership.  Could this be a Captain preview four years from now?  USA

Rickie Fowler versus Rory McIlroy:  I have already been asked the question why Corey Pavin would take a chance on Rickie Fowler?  The answer is really simple.  Rickie Fowler versus Rory McIlroy will bring in all the teen and tween girls from the entire universe to watch.  This is round one of what might be an epic international battle for the next twenty five years.  Rickie Fowler brings the youthful energy to the team to match the energy of McIlroy.  The difference is McIlroy is #7 in the world and Fowler #33.  EUROPE

Jim Furyk versus Miguel Angel Jimenez:  This is the battle of pit bulls.  This match would have two of the most tenacious over achievers in golf grinding out every shot to gain the advantage.  Jimenez, AKA The Mechanic is one of golf’s most underrated players and he is playing well just winning in Europe.  Furyk keeps grinding it out high finish after high finish.  All things being equal the difference between the two is one US Open to none; Jim Furyk.  A side note, if this match happens and you want to see how golf is played, watch these guys.  Neither will get max airtime or headlines, but they are the real deal.  PUSH

Stewart Cink versus Ian Poulter:  I find it interesting that Stewart Cink has now been picked three times at a Captain’s Pick to represent America in the Ryder Cup.  Poulter is color all unto himself for the Euros pretty much picking up where Monty left off as a player.  Ian’s job is to say what he thinks and try to get under the Yanks’ skins.  Poulter has a great golf swing and can really play the game.  On the other hand Cink is the one million Twitter-bug who is measured in public speech.  His victory at Turnberry gives him the edge.  USA

Dustin Johnson versus Graeme McDowell:  USA revenge match number one, “McDowell I want my US Open back!”  I was one of the many who drank the “Dustin Johnson is the new Ice Man Kool-Aid” back in June.  The raw power of Johnson is tough to overcome.  How do you do it?  You do it like McDowell; just keep plugging along, ignoring the press, pressing on with your own game and own style.  Graeme is a great player and a US Open Champion; some of that with an assist from Johnson.  In a one versus one I think advantage Johnson three out of four days.  USA

Bubba Watson versus Martin Kaymer:  Revenge match number two, “Herr Kaymer give me my Wannamaker!”  Much like the US Open where Dustin Johnson handed Graeme McDowell the trophy Bubba Watson handed Martin Kaymer his in Wisconsin.  The more I research Kaymer the more I like him.  The more I watch Bubba the more I shake my head.  A side note, I would like the celestial golf association to line up a Ben Hogan versus Bubba Watson match with Dan Jenkins as referee.  I sure as heck don’t want to play Bubba in a one off match or in bad weather because his ball still go far.  Kaymer has the edge though because he is more likely to win a major, again, before Bubba.  EUROPE

Steve Stricker versus Ross Fisher; This is a match up that statistically looks like a bad deal for Ross Fisher. 1.85 versus 1.742 as in putts per greens in regulation.  The only stat Ross has better than Strick is driving distance.  Fisher is way longer off the tee.  Much like the DJ versus McDowell match up Stricker is more polished. More well rounded, and better able to win.  I’ll give Ross a lot of credit because he has gotten better every year, but this is a clear American edge.  USA

Jeff Overton versus Peter Hanson:  This is a match when you search the record books becomes the match of two guys who don’t hit it too straight, hit it pretty far, hit a lot of greens and putt OK.  Overton and Hanson are two money making machines who both have gotten better over the years.  Overton is longer.  Hanson hits more greens.  Overton putts a little better.  Hanson wins more.  It is these types of matches that determine who wins and who loses a Cup.  In this pairing I see no clear cut advantage.  A side note, Hanson is the lone Swede this year a far cry from 2006 when Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson just killed the Americans.  I don’t know what that means other than somehow I see Hanson as the third best Swede.  PUSH

Zach Johnson versus Padraig Harrington:  I love to watch these two guys play golf.  I love to watch them putt.  Both Zach, at the Masters, and Padraig, two British Opens, putted the ball as well as anybody I have ever seen.  Both are captain’s picks which says a little something about their overall form the last two years.  Neither has quite been there, except the always seem to pop up on the leader board.  In terms of putts per round the top four in the Ryder Cup are Harrington, Donald, Stricker, and Z. Johnson.  Zach has been better as of late.  Paddy looks a little weary.  It is two majors to one Paddy.  EUROPE

Matt Kuchar versus Luke Donald:  How about number one and number two on the PGA Tour in scrambling?  That is Kuchar versus Donald.  Kuchar has ten Top Ten finishes and Donald has six.  Kuchar has taken home almost $190K per event; Donald $160K.  Kuchar’s scoring average is 69.61 and Donald’s 69.90.  Kuchar won a couple of weeks ago and Donald came close.  Georgia Tech versus Northwestern is not a factor but is cool that Luke went to Northwestern.  Even with the good reputation for Donald I give the edge to Kuchar.  USA

Hunter Mahan versus Francesco Molinari:  I bet you did not know that statistically Hunter Mahan is the third best driver on the PGA Tour combining long and straight.  Francesco is almost the same, just a little shorter off the tee.  They hit about the same number of greens, putt about the same, and do a lot of things about the same.  Here is the catch for Molinari #1, Mahan has played for America before and Mahan has won twice this year Molinari zero.  USA

Tiger Woods versus Edoardo Molinari:  Ed is hot!  He just won the Johnnie Walker and just missed in the Omega European Masters.  I have no doubt that the Molinari brothers will be formidable as a team a little like the Spaniards have been the last 30 years since Seve.  However, when it comes down to it there is a real reason why Tiger Woods is Number One in the world; he is the best golfer on the planet.  He is still number one without his usual practice, a stint in rehab, and divorce trial, a large settlement, and a swing change.  Tiger is looking like Tiger and that is that.  USA

OK so I am a little bit of a homer.  OK so I discount a little bit success and failure on the European Tour.  By my count the USA Team has an 8-4 advantage counting the two draws.  I will give the Europeans a three point home team advantage, one point a day, so a singles analysis is USA 7-5.  To me, clearly, as individuals USA has an edge.  But as we know America has struggled in the Foursomes and Four-ball portions of the event and Corey will have to find a way to get the right teams together.  To this end I think Corey has one huge advantage over his predecessors save Paul Azinger: Tiger comes in as a trooper not the General.  A humble Tiger, a hungry Tiger, a Tiger looking to make it back from personal Hades will be a great partner and team player.

This is not my Ryder Cup at all.  No Monty, no Sergio, no Swede, no Olazabal, and no Irish in Ireland lighting the fire.  For the USA the middling four; Overton, D. Johnson, Watson, and Kuchar; are coming in with more momentum than Captain Lehman’s four.  Where is Ian Woosnam in Monty’s entourage?  He is missing at the moment.  Most of all I think it is telling who is not here for both teams; the near misses.

In the end Pavin’s risky pick is Ricky Fowler who as mentioned is there to offset Rory McIlroy.  That left a still hurting Anthony Kim and US Open Champion Lucas Glover on the sideline.  You can tell Kim still hurts, and Lucas just did not get it done.  Who is on the bench for Europe?  Justin Rose, who might be playing as good a golf as anybody, and Paul Casey who was spectacular at the K Club are on the outside looking in.  In my opinion Casey is the one they will miss.  Paul Casey is like the team mojo, the spark, the guy that holds the locker room together.  One final comparison I will make, the Captain’s Picks; Cink, Z. Johnson, Fowler, and Woods versus Harrington, Donald, and E. Molinari.  USA

A side note, when Corey Pavin announced his picks today the order he chose was Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson, Tiger Woods, and Rickie Fowler.  I don’t know about you but Tiger Woods is America’s eleventh man for this Ryder Cup.  Woods in the eleven-hole is amazing to me and that means it is a strong USA team.  It is not even remotely like my Ryder Cup.