Golfing weekend

Once again Jeremy Chapman brought joy to the Pargiter household with another winner, Franceso Molinari at the Italian Open at Monza. He narrowly beat Danny Willett by one stroke and it was good to see the Masters winner in form going into the Ryder Cup. There was no US PGA event this weekend . Molinari would have been  a good selection for the Europeans. Lee Westwood’s selection smacks of old mates with Darren Clarke. Russell Knox who has done  so well in the USPGA that he is high in the Fedex rankings would surely have been a better pick. US skipper Davis Love will make his final selection on the 25th September. Will he go for experience with the likes of Bubba Watson and Jim Furyk or younger bloods like Justin Thomas or Phil Rodgers or someone between the two like Billy Horschel? I reckon he will go for experience because of the six rookies in the Europeans.

Much is made  of having so many debutants but form is the key. Ricky Fowler for example is neither in form nor has he won any singles in the Ryder Cup. Nonetheless the Americans with a febrile home crowd are favourites. Dustin Johnson is in great form, Patrick Reed a gritty competitor and the core of the side, Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickleson, Brandt Snedeker vastly experienced golfers with huge earnings under their belts. Pairings will be vital. Clarke will no doubt wish  to recreate the incredible Spanish Ryder Cup record off Ballesteros and Olazabal ( 14 wins out of 15) in Cabrera Bello and Garcia . Westwood probably will be paired with Matt Fitzpatrick unless he plays with fellow Sheffield man Danny Willett. The interesting element will be how he deploys Justin Rose, Henrik Stensen and Rory McIlroy as he will want them to counter DJ, Spieth and Mickleson.

Plenty in the war chest for wagers and off to IKEA with the missus!