Ryder Cup review
It was a great result for Europe and for me but why did the USA do so badly? Preparation, selection and performance were all faulty.
It is significant that the American with most wins (4) Justin Thomas was the only one to play the course at the French Open. I recall at the time wondering why Tiger Woods, a vice captain, went to some sponsored event instead.
As for selection, they chose bombers not a golfer like Zach Johnson who is not a massive hitter but can plot his way accurately around the course like Francesco Molinari did. Accuracy not power is the key to Le Golf National.
Performance: time after time the Americans hit the rough or the drink.
Looking at The Racing Post review last night after the result no one predicted the comprehensive Europe victory of 17.5-11.5.
My guru Jeremy Chapman recommended Francesco Molinari as top European at 8-1. He also advised a tie, a one point victory either way, Jon Rahm as top rookie and Webb Simpson as top American. It is a never an easy market for us punters as you never know how often a golfer will play.
Where will the Ryder Cup be in two years time in the USA?
It may well be (post-Brexit) a Britain and Europe team again. Poulter and Stensen will be well into their forties.
Just as Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzgerald, Danny Willetts and Chris Wood failed to make the side there will be those whose form will drop over the next two years.
I can’t see Phil Mickelson leading a revolt as he did four years ago to topple Tom Watson. In fact I can’t see him or Tiger Woods in the team. On their own course, with wider fairways and less vicious rough before their own home crowd, they will be more of a threat.
The Americans front-loaded their singles. At around 2 pm there was concern with so much blue on the board. Rather like the Wehrmacht counter offensive in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 it ran out of gas.
The match did not end on a moment of tension on the green but with Phil Mickelson conceding to Molinari as yet again an American ball finished in the water but how appropriate that Molinari with his five straight wins should be the man of the moment – the West Ham-supporting Kensington-based Italian saw us all proud not least the Pargiter household.
