U.S. Dominates at 2020 Ryder Cup, Leading to New Era of American Team Golf

IN DOMINATING EFFORT, TEAM USA WINS THE 2020 RYDER CUP
 

 

HAVEN, WISCONSIN - Although a U.S. win seemed predictable going into Sunday at the 2020 Ryder Cup, no one thought it would happen in this fashion. 

Whistling Straits was again the scene of something truly special. Team USA has won the 2020 Ryder Cup, with a dominating score of 19-9 over Team Europe. This is the largest margin of victory by a Ryder Cup team since the tournament switched to its current format in 1979.

 

 

SUNDAY SINGLES SUMMARY

The lead was 11-5 for the US heading into Sunday singles matches. A win for the US seemed imminent, but there was still hope that the Europeans could stage a comeback.

As the rounds kicked off, it was the Europeans who came out firing, taking the lead in several of their matches. Rory McIlroy, who had performed poorly so thus, went ahead of Xander Schauffele after the first hole and was determined to win his point. He did so, winning 3&2 and becoming only the 5th European player to win a point in the event so far.

But the Americans were quick to quash any chances of a potential comeback. In a momentum-killing match for the Europeans, Scottie Scheffler managed to find an edge over Jon Rahm and was poised to beat him, the player who was responsible for most of Europe's points. 

 

It was a sign of things to come, as the Americans kicked it into overdrive and at one point were leading 9 of the 12 matches. Incidentally, Team Europe needed to win 9 of 12 to retain the cup. It was cruel luck, but just goes to show what players are capable of doing.

 

In the end, the U.S. would win seven points (Cantlay, Scheffler, DeChambeau, Johnson, Koepka, Thomas and Berger) compared to three points by Europe on Sunday. Incidentally, it was Europe's veterans who won the points: McIlroy, Poulter (who remains undefeated in singles) and Westwood, with Hovland and Fleetwood halving their matches against Morikawa and Spieth, respectively. The clinching point for the U.S. was won by Collin Morikawa, who with a birdie on the 17th hole guaranteed the U.S. the half point they needed to get to 14.5.

 

Everything seemed to be going the Americans' way on Sunday and again we saw dominant golf by all. But despite this, there was one player who stood out most. Dustin Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team at age 37, won his match against Paul Casey by one point to go undefeated all week, going 5-0-0. This is a remarkable feat and something only done a handful of times under the current format. What's even more impressive is the players he took down along the way: Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Tyrell Hatton, Bernd Wiesberger and Victor Hovland; exactly half of the European team.

A NEW ERA OF AMERICAN TEAM GOLF IS FORMED

Going into Ryder Cups past, there were always questions about just how much of a team the American players could form. They were higher ranked, drove the ball further, but always struggled in unity. This had been their biggest fault and the cause of much failure over the years. 

These same questions were asked about the younger-than-normal American team this year, but Captain Stricker assured us all that things were different this year. 

 

And boy were they different.

 

What we saw at the 2020 Ryder Cup was the birth of a new era of American team golf, centered around a group of young players who, despite their youth, are highly intelligent and united golfers. A true camaraderie has developed, and as we mentioned in our op-ed on the Ryder Cup, this is something essential to winning. For the first time, I saw an American team where each and every member was friends with one another and supported everyone. We also got to see some amazing partnerships develop, between Johnson and Morikawa, Scheffler and DeChambeau, Schauffele and Cantlay, etc.

 

At their press conference afterwards, this camaraderie was on full display. You could tell that you were watching a group of friends, bonded by such an experience and journey, celebrating their success as one. You could tell something deep had developed and, as Assistant Captain Phil Mickelson said, the nucleus of the U.S.'s team golf future had formed. 

 

It all culminated with a hug between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, two players once deep in a bitter feud; a sure sign that the ways of old for American team golf had ended and a new era had begun. If this Ryder Cup is any indication, it will be a fun group to watch over the years.

 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

What we saw this week at the Ryder Cup was something truly special. The golfing skill that the Americans brought to each and every hole and match was simply astonishing. Everyone was firing on all cylinders, all the time, and never let off until the end. As a fan, this edition of the Ryder Cup featured some of the best, guttiest and amazing golf shots I've ever seen.

 

The Americans outplayed the Europeans in virtually every aspect, it's as simple as that. They were more consistent, steadier, and when they struck, struck harder. To me, what was most impressive and a real contrast between the two teams was their iron-play. The rate at which the Americans could stick their approaches close to the hole, despite the situation or conditions, was simply amazing. This is a testament to the raw skill that each U.S. player has in their own regard; its not hard to see why they are some of the top-ranked golfers in the world. Unfortunately, the Europeans could not match this intensity, albeit had brief moments of it.

Not only did we see a dominant performance by the Americans, we saw the birth of a new era of team golf for them. This is something that should be worrisome for the Europeans for future Ryder Cups. The group of 20-something and 30-something year olds that is the American team will be around for a long time. The ball is in the Europeans' court now. They've seen the firepower of this U.S. team and it's up to them to respond for the next Ryder Cup. 

 

***

 

And with that, we unfortunately come to the end of another edition of the Ryder Cup. One of the worst parts of the tournament is waiting the two years for it to be played again. 

 

Speaking of which, the Ryder Cup returns in 2023 and will be played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Europe will be seeking redemption but will need to do some soul-searching before then to prepare for the Americans.

 

Let the countdown begin!

What was your favorite moment from the 2020 Ryder Cup? Let us know in the comments below,

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

US on Brink of Victory Going Into Sunday at 2020 Ryder Cup

Dustin Johnson celebrates after winning a hole during Saturday fourballs
 

 

HAVEN, WISCONSIN - The all important Saturday matches have concluded at the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and the US has taken a commanding lead of the event. As it stands heading into the Sunday singles matches, the score is 11-5 for the US.

It was a day filled with many ups, downs and lost opportunities, especially for the Europeans who needed a strong counter to the impressive US scoring seen on Friday.

Let's take a look at all the action and drama from the Saturday matches.

MORNING FOURSOMES

 

1) Brooks Koepka/Daniel Berger vs Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia (3&1)

This match featured Rahm and Garcia, the only members of Team Europe to score points in the event so far. They were hands down the best performing European players at that point, but things started out poorly for them. After three holes, Koepka and Berger found themselves with a three point lead. While demoralizing to European fans, Rahm and Garcia fought back, chipping the lead all the way down by the end of the front nine. The comeback culminated with a chip-in by Garcia at the 9th to bring them to all square. It was all Europe from then on, managing to go 1UP after the 12th and building on their lead right until the end. The Spanish Duo remained undefeated.

 

2) Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa (2&1) vs Paul Casey/Tyrrell Hatton

Johnson and Morikawa were a fun pairing to watch on Friday and their play Saturday morning cemented them as a power team for the US. From the start of the match, it was all US, with Johnson and Morikawa taking a 4UP lead at the turn. Credit must be given to Casey and Hatton, who remained determined to win right until the end. The two brought the lead all the way down to 1 point on the 14th, when Casey holed out from 100-yards after Hatton's tee shot found the rough. However, the consistency of good golf on display by Morikawa and Johnson was too much to overcome. They remain undefeated as well.

3) Justin Thomas/Jordan Spieth (2UP) vs Viktor Hovland/Bernd Wiesberger

Thomas and Spieth admittedly were not performing at their best thus far, as neither of them managed to win a match. This looked to continue during their morning match, when Hovland and Wiesberger took a 1UP lead at the 1st hole and grew their lead to three points after the 6th hole. But, Thomas and Spieth would fight back, taking advantage of some poor putting and approaches by the Europeans, and cutting the lead to one after the 9th. A birdie on the 10th squared up the match, but the Europeans would counter with a birdie on the 11th after Thomas and Spieth found trouble. The Americans wouldn't strike again until later in the match, carding birdies on holes 14-16 and swinging the lead to two shots in their favor. Despite a European birdie on the par 3 17th, the match was clutched by Thomas and Spieth after a bogey by the Europeans on the 10th.

4) Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (2&1) vs Lee Westwood/Matt Fitzpatrick

Westwood and Fitzpatrick were again paired up for their morning matches, hoping to win a point this time. This was a very close match on the front nine, with the lead going back and forth between the two teams. But the US, aided by some great iron-play and putting, took over on the back nine, taking a three point lead after birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, a lead they would hold until the end of the match. Schauffele, despite being a Ryder Cup rookie, has played amazing team golf thus far, and has been key in the US's dominant performance.

At this point in the day, things were looking dismal for Team Europe. The score was 9-3 for the US and only Rahm and Garcia had managed to win matches against the Americans thus far. But, all hope was not lost. The Europeans could put themselves back in it with a strong performance during the afternoon rounds. Plus, the winds were starting to pick up, making for a windy afternoon session at Whistling Straits.

 

AFTERNOON FOURBALLS

 

1) Brooks Koepka/Jordan Spieth vs Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia (2&1)

The Rahm and Garcia show continued into the afternoon, where the Spaniards struck early, taking a three point lead after carding four birdies on their first seven holes. This match was very exciting and saw some impressive golf shots, between Rahm holing some super long putts that looked like they had no chance at all, to Garcia's indescribable ability to attack the green. You couldn't help but feel that if they lost, Team Europe would have lost. For the US, Koepka, was instrumental in holing long putts to close the gap. The Americans managed to square up the match after a birdie on the 13th hole. But Rahm and Garcia rallied back, making birdie on the 15th hole to retake the lead. A chip-in from Garcia on the 16th hole sealed the deal and kept the two undefeated.

 

2) Tony Finau/Harris English vs Shane Lowry/Tyrrell Hatton (1UP)

When this match began, the winds were howling along the coast holes. This was the perfect scenario for links veteran Shane Lowry, which European captain Padraig Harrington had banked on when he made his pick. This was a very tough match though and a real duel between the two teams. Only three birdies were made between the four players: two for Europe and one for the US. In particular, it was Lowry who was holding up the European side, sinking putt after putt in the most clutch of situations, showing emotion like we've never seen before. It all climaxed on the par 4 18th hole. The Europeans found themselves 1UP, needing to at minimum halve the hole to win. After landing his approach into the steep greenside, Hatton effectively eliminated himself from the hole after his ensuing chip landed short of the green. This put Lowry in a tough spot, as he still had a 10-foot putt to save par and Finau and English had already made their par putts. With the match on the line, Lowry sank the putt, letting out a massive, inspiring yell heard by all. This was probably one of the most important putts of the tournament for Europe, would could not afford to lose anything at this point.

 

3) Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau (3&1) vs Tommy Fleetwood/Viktor Hovland

This is the match that the Europeans will be wishing they had won. Scheffler and DeChambeau were struggling with the winds all afternoon, missing fairways and greens at key moments, but Hovland and Fleetwood could not capitalize on their mistakes. The match bounced between 1UP for either side until the par 4 14th hole. DeChambeau was on the green with a lengthy birdie putt, but many believed he was simply lagging the putt to make par. He did not though, and holed the putt, providing a huge momentum boost for DeChambeau and Scheffler and more importantly to square up the match. The duo would birdie holes 15-17 to take the lead and ultimately win the match. This goes to show just how big momentum can be in match play. 

4) Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa (4&3) vs Ian Poulter/Rory McIlroy

The Johnson/Morikawa Effect was felt full force by Pouler and McIlroy during this match. The steadiness by Johnson allowed Morikawa to go full out and take on everything. The Americans took an early 1UP lead, but a huge putt by Poulter on the 5th squared up the match. Morikawa then went on a three-hole birdie streak from the 6-8th to boost themselves up to a 3 point lead heading onto the back nine. It was easy sailing for them after this, with Morikawa carding another birdie on the 15th hole to end the match. Johnson and Morikawa were the best pairing of the event, in my opinion, and their dominance proves this. They just seemed to jive together. Playing with a consistent player like Johnson really allowed Morikawa to take chances, and succeed, since he is such a high quality player, particularly his approach game. On the other hand, this is perhaps one of the worst Ryder Cup performances we've seen by Rory McIlroy. He simply could not hole anything, and has only carded two birdies the entire event. Poulter, did show sparks of mounting a comeback, but could not battle Johnson and Morikawa alone. 

***

With the afternoon matches split, the score stands at 11-5 heading into the Sunday singles. There's no need to deny it, a US win is most likely, unless the Europeans can mount a historic comeback. But is a comeback even realistic? To put things into perspective, the infamous "Miracle at Medinah" in 2012 saw the Europeans win after being down 10-6 heading into Sunday. This was the biggest comeback in history.

 

Is it theoretically possible but to get to the magic 14 points to retain the cup, Europe will need to win 9 of 12 available points on Sunday. That means nine European players need to outperform nine US players, when to date, only four have managed to do so. It is improbable, but not impossible. The Europeans have nothing to lose, so why not give it a shot.

The Sunday single matches start at 12PM EST and the pairings can be found here. Have the US storylines already been written for the 2020 Ryder Cup? Or can the Europeans make a comeback? 

 

 

Stay tuned to see who has won it,

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

US Dominates After Day 1 Matches at 2020 Ryder Cup

Justin Thomas makes eagle in afternoon match to aid in US domination on Day 1 of the 2020 Ryder Cup (image: PGA Tour)

 

 

HAVEN, WISCONSIN - The 2020 Ryder Cup is underway and Day 1 of action has concluded. As it stands, the US holds a dominating lead over Europe with a score of 6-2. 

 

This is the largest Day 1 lead of the Ryder Cup since 1975 and was the start that the US was looking for. The team managed to win 40 holes today, versus Europe's 27.

Let's break down today's action match by match.

MORNING FORESOMES

 

1) Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas vs Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia (3&1)

Match 1 was the most anticipated pairing of the morning, with both the US and Europe going to their strengths first. The match was tight for the first few holes, with Spieth and Thomas taking a 1UP lead after the 2nd hole, but Garcia and Rahm rallying back to take a 1UP lead after the 4th hole. After this, Rahm took over the match with an impressive display of putting, aiding by accurate iron-play by Garcia. The two had a 3UP advantage after the 10th hole, and won by that amount. On the 17th hole, the last hole of play, Spieth, after a poor tee shot by Thomas, was faced with a dramatic chip shot. Their ball was located on the side of a grassy cliff that surrounds the 17th green. With barely a stance possible, Spieth hit one of the most impressive shots I've seen this year, managing to flop the ball straight up in the air, just feet from the hole and nearly stumbling down the cliff doing so. Unfortunately, Thomas could not make the putt to extend the match, giving Europe their first point. For Garcia, this ties him with Sir Nick Faldo for most match wins at a Ryder Cup with 23.

 

2) Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa (3&2) vs Viktor Hovland & Paul Casey

This was an interesting pairing, with both Captains Stricker and Harrington opting to pair one of their rookies with one of their veterans. Johnson and Morikawa struck first, taking a 1UP lead after the first hole, but Hovland and Casey rallied back, winning holes 3 and 4 to go 1UP after the 4th. Johnson and Morikawa, aided by excellent iron play and driving accuracy, countered, winning holes 6 and 7 to go 1UP. This lead would continue and grow onto the back nine, with the Hovland and Casey only wining one point on the back nine, leading to a 3UP win and the first point for the US.

3) Daniel Berger & Brooks Koepka (2&1) vs Matt Fitzpatrick & Lee Westwood  

Captain Harrington again decided to pair youth with experience, but things did not pan out. Koepka and Berger, former college teammates at Florida State, managed to take the lead after the 2nd hole and held onto it all match, with Fitzpatrick and Westwood unable to win a hole from the 7th hole onward. This was a tough loss for Europe, since both Fitzpatrick and Westwood had several putts to win holes but could not convert.

4) Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay (5&3) vs Rory McIlroy & Ian Poulter   

This was perhaps the most surprising result of the day. We knew it would be a good one, given the skill between Schauffele and Cantlay and the experience between veterans McIlroy and Poulter. But the Europeans found themselves in unfamiliar territory, and fast, losing their first five holes, to go five down after five. I think this shocked most fans, who could not believe what they were seeing. Poulter and McIlroy began to muster a comeback on the back nine, winning holes 10 and 11. But the lead proved too large to overcome in the end. 

The score was 3-1 for the US after the morning rounds, which was cause for concern amongst European players and fans alike.

 

 

AFTERNOON FOURBALLS

 

1) Dustin Johnson & Xander Schauffele (2&1) vs Paul Casey & Bernd Wiesberger

For this match, Captain Harrington again decided to pair Casey with a rookie in Wiesberger. This turned out to be ineffective against the well performing Schauffele and Johnson. Again, in a growing trend, the US struck first, going 3UP after five holes. The Europeans managed to cut the lead to one going into the back nine, but the Americans were able to counter, taking the lead back up to three over holes 10 and 11, and held it until the end.

 

2) Bryson DeChambeau & Scottie Scheffler vs Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton (halved)

This match saw the much awaited tournament debut of DeChambeau and Scheffler, who were both fan favorites. The match was very close, going back and forth right until the end. Going into the par 4 18th hole, the Americans held a 1UP lead. A victory seemed imminent, but Hatton saw things otherwise. After hitting a huge tee shot on the 18th and following it up with a close approach onto the green, Hatton sunk his birdie putt to halve the match.

 

3) Tony Finau & Harris English (4&3) vs Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry

This was a very good match for the Americans, as both Finau and English played very well.  But it was the Europeans who took an early lead, going 1UP after the 5th hole. But, both English and Finau knew exactly what to do and did it, rallying hard over holes 6-10 to gain a 3UP lead, one that would extend to four shots after the 13th hole. This was a good and dominating win for the US.

 

4) Justin Thomas & Patrick Cantlay vs Tommy Fleetwood & Viktor Hovland (halved)

This is the match that the Europeans will be kicking themselves over. Fleetwood and Hovland held a commanding lead in the match, being three points up after 8 holes. But determined not to be had, Thomas and Cantlay managed to make birdies at holes 9 and 12 to chip the lead down to a single point. A huge eagle on the 16th tied the match up and it remained that way until the end. 

 

The score was 6-2 for the US at the end of the day and Europe managed to not win a single match in the afternoon.

***

On the whole, things are not looking good for the Europeans. Simply put, they were outplayed all day by the Americans. They will need a strong performance on Saturday to even think about being in contention. It will be tough, but we've seen just how hard the Europeans can rally when asked to do so. Saturday's match formats will remain the same, with foursomes in the morning and fourballs in the afternoon. Winds are scheduled to pick up as well.

 

Is this the start of a comeback in the making for Europe? It's too early to tell, but Saturday is moving day and a lot can happen. Stay tuned tomorrow for our Day 2 coverage.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

2020 Ryder Cup Preview

The 2020 Ryder Cup hosted by Whistling Straits is finally here
 

 

HAVEN, WISCONSIN - It is finally here, the long awaited 43rd edition of the Ryder Cup. This time, the infamous Straits course at Whistling Straits, located on the coast of Lake Michigan, plays host. 

 

This is golf's flagship event, the pinnacle of professional golf, on display for us this week. 

The Europeans are the defending champions, after an impressive performance at Le Golf National 2018, but are in enemy territory, as the Americans look to break what has been a Europe-dominated event since the start of the millennium. 

Let's get right into our preview of the 2020 Ryder Cup.

THE FINAL ROSTERS COMPARED

The rosters and captains picks were only finalized just a few weeks ago, with captains watching player performance right until the end of the 2021 FedEx Cup Playoffs.

 

Captained by Steve Stricker, the US roster features Collin Morikawa (r), Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay (r), who automatically qualified for the tournament and Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele (r), Jordan Spieth, Harris English (r), Daniel Berger (r) and Scottie Scheffler (r), who were chosen as captains picks by Stricker. 

On the European side, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Bernd Wiesberger (r), Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland (r), Paul Casey, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Lee Westwood all qualified for the event, with captain Padraig Harrington picking Shane Lowry (r), Sergio García and Ian Poulter, to fill the team. Hovland (Norway) and Wiesberger (Austria) are the first players to represent their respective countries.

At first glance, the European team as a whole is much more experienced in Ryder Cup play, something they will need to rely on heavily playing on US soil. Six of the nine non-rookies on the team have winning records and three of those six (Fleetwood, Garcia and Poulter) have records above 60%. Garcia also holds the records for most career Ryder Cup points at 25.5. Westwood follows closely in 5th place with 23 points (incidentally tied with Arnold Palmer). The European team has an average age of 35 and world rank of 31st.

The American team is younger and theoretically stacked, featuring some of the best players in the world who hit the ball very far. Their average age is 29 and world rank is 9th (the lowest ever rank for a US team), with Dustin Johnson being the oldest on the team at age 37. On paper, the Americans have an advantage here, but as we've seen in Ryder Cups past, this does not always translate into success.

 

We also see some stark differences in the captains picks. Stricker opted to go with younger players with his picks, most of which are rookies, but great players in their own right. Harrington, albeit with less picks, opted for experience in Garcia and Poulter and Lowry, who is the lone rookie pick, but a links veteran. Historically, European picks have fared better in competition, with Europe's picks going 21-19-3 and the US picks going 16-29-2 in the last four Ryder Cups.

Another thing to consider is team chemistry. Typically, Europeans who play on the European Tour are more tight-knit and naturally spend a lot of time with each other, as a result of having to travel across the world for tour events. This is not the case as much for PGA Tour members. How much will this influence team performance this week? Who knows, but as we've seen in the past, having great chemistry is a key advantage at the Ryder Cup.

WHISTLING STRAITS: WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE?

The iconic Straits course at Whistling Straits is no stranger to high profile events, having hosted the 2004, 2010 and 2015 PGA Championships. The course was designed by Pete and Alice Dye and opened in 1998. For the tournament, it measures a staggering 7,790 yards and par 72. 

The design of the Straits course was meant to replicate the iconic links courses found in the UK and Ireland. Special features include vast elevation changes, undulating tricky greens, and a lot of bunkers/dunes. The course is heavily influenced by the wind and the elements also, being on the coast of Lake Michigan and exposed due to a lack of trees. 

Whistling Straits is a unique pick for a Ryder Cup, especially for an American host, given its links design. The course demands accurate ball-striking and accuracy off the tee, with thick fescue surrounding the holes and numerous bunkers dotted all over the place. Landing the ball on the green is only half the battle, as many of the holes feature tough slopes and tricky pin positions. There's also something to be said about the length of the course, in particular the long par 4s, which can favor longer hitters. Previous golfers, such as Jason Day at the 2015 PGA Championship and Martin Kaymar at the 2010 PGA Championship, all found success at Whistling Straits by excelling in these categories.

 

But perhaps the biggest variable in course difficulty is the weather.  Whistling Straits is very much a  course that must be played in the air, in typical Dye fashion. Given the location of the course however, the winds can pick up at any time and in any direction, making the course virtually unpredictable and increasing difficulty.

 

WHO DO WE THINK WILL WIN?

It is tough to say whether one team outright has a clear advantage or not, there's just too many variables.

 

I think it will be very tricky for both sides. Statistically (and according to betmakers), the US have been given the advantage, with theoretically better players in terms of rankings. But as we've seen in past Ryder Cups, this means nothing unless individual skill can be converted into team success.

I believe Europe has the slightest of advantages overall however. It looks to me like their team is more unified and comfortable around each other, plus the experience they bring with their veteran players like Garcia, Westwood and Poulter cannot be overlooked.

I believe the weather will also play a huge factor, particularly the wind. I think that the Americans tend to flight the ball higher, which could negatively affect them if the winds picks up. On the other hand, strong winds may aid the Europeans, who see these conditions more often. Perhaps this is why Padraig Harrington chose Shane Lowry as a captains pick, for his expertise in links-style conditions. But if the wind is not a factor, I think the Americans can take advantage of the course in some spots with their length. As of now, the weather is forecasted to be cloudy with temperatures around 20 celcius and winds between 10-20mph.

 

Our pick therefore is Europe to win, by a slim margin, perhaps 15-13.

***

Play kicks off early Friday morning with the foursomes matches. Team captains have not released their groupings yet, but all we know is that both teams will be looking to start off strong. 

Since this is a special event, we'll be having daily recaps of the day's action. Also be sure to check out our Twitter feed for live-tweeting during the matches.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

 

 

2014 Ryder Cup Day 2 Recap

There's just one more day left in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Scotland and as it stands now, Europe still holds the lead with a score of 10-6 against the US. Today's rounds are now over and again they were all filled with excitement, emotions, and good golf. Here is a quick recap of the morning and afternoon matches.


Saturday's Fourball Matches:
1) Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson VS Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar > EUROPE 3&2
2) Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood VS Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan > US 4&3
3) Thomas Bjorn/Martin Kaymer VS Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth > US 5&3
4) Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter VS Jimmie Fowler/Rickie Fowler > HALVED

This morning's fourball matches brought a wave of US success, with the US winning most of the points. In the opening match, the match was back and forth between US and Europe. However, on the back nine, Justin Rose's putter was on fire, as he was making putt after putt. This eventually lead to the match concluding at the 16th hole, where Europe went 3UP. In the second match of the day, the US dominated most of it and Donaldson nor Westwood won a hole between them. On the other, Furyk and Mahan both played very well and deserved the win. Europe didn't lose that match, rather the US won it. In the third match, despite an early lead through the first few holes, the rookie duo Reed and Spieth rallied back to an eventual 5UP win, with the match concluding after the 15th hole. It was again another great performance by the formally considered underdog rookies, who are continuing to shock us every time they play. In the last fourball mach, Rory McIlroy was paired with an off Ian Poulter. This match also went back and fourth between Europe holding the lead and the US holding it. However, on the 16th and at 1 DOWN, we saw a glimpse of the old Ian Poulter, as he chipped in from off the green to secure a point for Europe (which would eventually result in them halving the match).

The afternoon foursome matches saw another European dominance, as we saw yesterday. Here were the pairings and scores for each match:

Saturday's Foursome Matches:
1) Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood VS Zach Johnson/Matt Kuchar > EUROPE 2&1
2) Sergio Garcia/Rory McIlroy VS Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan > EUROPE 3&2
3) Martin Kaymer/Justin Rose VS Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed > HALVED
4) Victor Dubuisson/Graeme McDowell VS Jimmie Walker/Rickie Fowler > EUROPE 5&4

The first afternoon match saw a redemption for the Donaldson/Westwood duo. The match was again back and forth on the first nine, but Europe took a solid lead on the back nine after going 1UP, 2UP on the 9th and 10th hole. They held onto this lead and the match was concluded after the 17th hole. In the second match, a rested Garcia and McIlroy were reunited. The two took an early lead of 2UP after the first two holes and most of the holes were halved from there on, except for a US-won hole, and two Europe-won holes. This match was also concluded early at the 16th hole, where Europe went 3UP. The third match of the day saw Rose playing not with Stenson (who had a tight back and did not play), but with Martin Kaymer. Again the amazing US rookie duo of Spieth and Reed were leading for most of the match (and for most of the afternoon were the only winning US team). Justin Rose's putter had also gotten cold this afternoon, but right at the last minute, Europe began a rally that would result in them halving the match. We also saw on the 16th hole that the US rookie duo were in fact human, when Patrick Reed missed a two-foot putt that would have won the US the hole. The last match of the day was probably one of the most exciting matches so far. An excellent-playing Victor Dubuisson was on fire and playing excellent golf. His great tee shots, combined with McDowell's putting resulted in Europe going 5UP after 8 holes. Despite much effort by Walker and Fowler, the could not catch Dubuisson and McDowell, and the match was ended after the 14th hole.

Incidentally, Europe holds the lead by the same amount that the US did during the 2012 Ryder Cup, going into the final round. Due to this, everyone is reluctant in saying that Europe has won yet. Remember, this is match play, and this is the Ryder Cup. As we saw back in Medinah, anything can happen.

We'll be covering the last day of the Ryder Cup tomorrow as well with some live tweeting and our Recap post, when it concludes. Stay tuned for that and some exciting golf tomorrow,


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 Ryder Cup Day 1 Recap

Friday's sets of rounds have now concluded at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland and the overnight leader is Europe, with a lead of 5-3 over the US. Today's rounds featured some great golf on both parts and was very exciting. Here's a quick recap of each match that was played today

Friday's Fourball Matches:
1) Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson VS Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson > EUROPE 5&4
2) Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker VS Thomas Bjorn/Martin Kaymer > HALVED
3) Jordan Speith/Patrick Reed VS Stephen Gallacher/Ian Poulter > US 5&4
4) Keegen Bradley/Phil Mickelson VS Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia

The opening match between Watson/Simpson and Rose/Stenson officially kicked off the Ryder Cup. However, the Europeans played better than their US counterparts the entire match. Both Watson and Simpson failed to make a single birdie and as a result, the match was mostly dominated by Rose and Stenson, who were in the lead from the second hole onwards. The match ended after the 14th hole, at which point the Europeans went 5UP, thus securing their lead and the first point for Europe. The second match featured Fowler/Walker vs Bjorn and was a very good match with good golf played on both sides (both Bjorn and Walker made excellent chips to secure points for their team). However, a last minute rally from a 2UP deficit by Walker and Fowler payed off and as a result the match was halved.

The third match was between Speith/Reed and Poulter/Gallacher and was a major upset on Europe's part. To set the stage, we have two American Ryder Cup rookies going up against Ryder Cup royalty (Poulter) and the hometown hero (Gallacher). Surely this would be an easy point for Europe, but things did not turn out that way. The rookies dominated the entire match right from the start, winning by 5&4m and at one point were 6Up. Speith and Reed played excellent golf and were deserving of the win, especially considering that they were heavily favoured to lose the match. In fact, Europe's only won hole in this group was by Gallacher, with a poorly playing Poulter contributing no won holes. It's safe to say we were all shocked by this today as this was one of Poulter's biggest defeats in the Ryder Cup. Putting the rookies up against them was a brave move by US Captain Tom Watson but payed off greatly. The last match of the day was probably one of the most looked forward to match of the day, Mickelson/Bradley vs Garcia/McIlroy. Again, there was great golf played by both sides, but the US ended up winning this match by 1UP, after another late rally by the US from all square. It should be mentioned though that the score was back and fourth all throughout the match. Mickelson proved he's still as fierce as ever, nearly holing out a bunker shot that would of won the hole for them.

Shortly before the end of the morning matches, the afternoon foursome matches were announced. In foursome or alternate shot format, players on a team take turns hitting the same golf ball. The pairings were:

Friday's Foursome Matches:
1) Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood VS Jim Furyk/Matt Kuchar >> EUROPE 2UP
2) Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson VS Hunter Mahan/Zach Johnson >> EUROPE 2&1
3) Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia VS Jimmie Walker/Rickie Fowler >> HALVED
4) Victor Dubuisson/Graeme McDowell VS Phil Mickelson/Keegen Bradley >> EUROPE 3&2

Europe was dominant in the afternoon and many were surprised that Reed and Speith weren't playing either, despite their morning success. This may have actually led to Europe's dominance, but we will never know. For the first afternoon match, Donaldson and Westwood led for most of it, but the US were 1UP in the early part of it. Both sides were evenly matched, I'd say, but Europe was just able to hold onto their lead against Furyk and Kuchar. The second match showed another great performance by the Rose/Stenson duo, but Johnson and Mahan didn't let them off that easily, as the match dabbled between all square and 1UP for most of time. Regardless of this, Rose and Stenson are looking like they're going to be key players in the Europe team and their chance at winning.

The third match was probably the most exciting of the afternoon (no surprises here). Walker and Fowler looked like they were going to win going into the 17th hole at 2UP, but a spectacular performance by Garcia and McIlroy resulted in them going 1UP, 1UP through the last two holes, which was good enough for a half. Despite the half, this will probably be considered a loss to Walker/Fowler and a win to McIlroy/Garcia. The last match of the day was another dominant performance by Dubuisson and McDowell, who led for pretty much all of the match against Mickelson and Bradley. Both McDowell and especially Dubuisson played excellent golf and deserved the win. Many golf experts were critical of Tom Watson's decision to play Mickelson, due to him being older in age (some reported that he looked very tired after his 36 holes, but can't you blame him?). On the other hand, we saw a taste of the 2010 Graeme McDowell on the 16th and final hole, where GMac holed a long putt and similar to how he did in the 2010 Ryder Cup (he even celebrated the same way too!)). It's stuff like this that you'll only see in the Ryder Cup.

Finally, here are tomorrow morning's groupings:

Saturday's Fourball Matches:
1) Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson VS Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar
2) Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood VS Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan
3) Thomas Bjorn/Martin Kaymer VS Patrick Reed/Jordan Spetih
4) Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter VS Jimmie Walker/Rickie Fowler

Very interesting pairings for sure, now we'll just have to wait and see how they play. Stay tuned for our coverage tomorrow on Twitter and our recap post too!

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 Ryder Cup Preview

After two years of waiting, the golfing world will finally get to see one of it's most coveted team events being played again, the Ryder Cup. This year, the Ryder Cup returns to Scotland, the home of golf and for the first time in over 40 years, being played at Gleneagles in Auchterarder (specifically the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles Hotel). The stakes are even higher this year than previous Ryder Cups, as the US Team looks for revenge against current cup holders Europe after their defeat at the 2012 Ryder Cup, in what was known as the "Meltdown at Medinah".

To recap, the full US team, captained by Tom Watson, consists of Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Matt Kutchar, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Speith, Jimmie Walker, Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan, and Webb Simpson, as well as vice captains Steve Stricker, Andy North, and Raymond Floyd.

The European team, captained by Paul McGinley, consists of Rory McIlroy (NIR), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Justin Rose (ENG), Martin Kaymer (GER), Victor Dubuisson (FRA), Thomas Bjørn (DEN), Jamie Donaldson (WAL), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Ian Poulter (ENG), Stephen Gallacher (SCO), and Lee Westwood (ENG), as well as vice captains Sam Torrance, Des Smyth, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and 2012 Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

An ongoing theme of the Ryder Cup is how the European side, despite it's depth of nationality, always appears more united and "team-like" compared to the Americans. This is traditionally why the US team is always characterized as the underdogs, at least that's how it's been in the last several Ryder Cups. This is something that Captain Tom Watson wishes to dispel and disprove come the matches. However at least to the golfing experts, this seems to be the case this year too, as many have picked Europe as the winning side again.

For me, I'm picking Europe as the wining side this year, mainly for a few reasons. Firstly, I agree with the experts completely in that this year's European team is just as united as teams before, and more united that the US side (a unity which I think was started by the Ryder Cup legend Seve Ballesteros and a unity which lives vicariously through him). Secondly, the European team consists of some of my favourite players in the game; Graeme McDowell, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Martin Kaymer. Naturally, everyone wants to see their favourites win! Lastly, is the course itself. The PGA Centenary course is considered by most more of a parkland course than a links course, but despite this, I think the Europeans will have an advantage here.

As for weather conditions over these three days, it looks like there's only a chance of rain on Sunday, with low winds throughout the three days, as well as temps in the high teens.

Earlier today during the Opening Ceremony for the Ryder Cup, Friday's Fourball pairs were announced by Captains Tom Watson and Paul McGinley. Being in Fourball format, each players of the 2-player team plays their own ball and the player that has the lowest score on each hole wins a point for their team, with half points being given out for a draw.  The pairings are:

1) Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson VS Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson (2:35AM EST)
2) Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker VS Thomas Bjorn/Martin Kaymer (2:50AM EST)
3) Jordan Speith/Patrick Reed VS Stephen Gallacher/Ian Poulter (3:05AM EST)
4) Keegen Bradley/Phil Mickelson VS Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia (3:20AM EST)

Now these are some interesting pairings. For match #2, it seems likely that Poulter and Gallacher will be able to beat rookies Speith and Reed, but this may prove to not be true, given the way Poulter has been playing this year. Perhaps the biggest match of the morning is match #4. As we've seen in the past few weeks, Rory's dominant performance has almost been matched by Sergio Garcia in the events they were both in. It seems like when one's playing well, the other is too. This is a power group for sure, but let's not underestimate Mickelson and Bradley, who were an excellent pairing in the last Ryder Cup. This will be an interesting match to watch for sure.

There's just a few hours now before the first groups tee off and the excitement begins. We'll be covering as much as we can of it and we'll be recapping the day's action with daily posts, so stay tuned for those.

Who do you think will win it this year? Leave a comment, let us know...

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 European Ryder Cup Team Confirmed

At 7:30AM EST this morning, the twelve players of the 2014 European Ryder Cup Team were confirmed by European Captain Paul McGinley. The 2014 Ryder Cup this year is being played at Gleneagles, Scotland (the second time the Ryder Cup has been played in Scotland)

Here is the full team as it stands:

2014 European Ryder Cup Team
Captain:
Paul McGinley

Vice-Captains:
Sam Torrance, Des Smyth, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal

Team (qualified):
Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Henrik Stenson (SWE)
Sergio Garcia (ESP)
Justin Rose (ENG)
Martin Kaymer (GER)
Victor Dubuisson (FRA)
Thomas Bjørn (DEN)
Jamie Donaldson (WAL)
Graeme McDowell (NIR)

Captain Picks:
Ian Poulter (ENG)
Stephen Gallacher (SCO)
Lee Westwood (ENG)

Wow, this is a very good team with lots of depth and character from it. You have Rory McIlroy, who's just white-hot on fire as of now with his two major wins and WGC win, making his third Ryder Cup appearance (2010, 2012). Henrik Stenson also had an amazing season last year, with both the PGA and European tour money lists, as well as having good major finishes his year. This is Stenson's third Ryder Cup appearance (2006, 2008). Then there's Sergio Garcia, who seems to always be a shot behind Rory and is a Ryder Cup star in his own right. This is Garcia's seventh Ryder Cup appearance (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012).

Justin Rose also played a major part in the 2012 European Ryder Cup team's comeback two years ago and is a top-level golfer as well as Martin Kaymer, who has won twice this year, including the US Open. Victor Dubuisson will be making his first appearance, but played will in the WGC match-play this year. Jamie Donaldson is also making his first appearance this year, well deserved without doubt. Thomas Bjørn also brings much experience to the team. Finally, Graeme McDowell is also a Ryder Cup hero and sealed the European team's with back in 2010, with a key putt.

As for the three Captain Picks, it was expected that Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher would be picked, Poulter simply because he is the embodiment of the Ryder Cup and brings so much energy to it, and Gallacher who literally played his way on the team with impressive golf this year, and especially last week at the Italian Open (this will be his 1st appearance and 1st on home soil). The name Gallacher is also famous in Ryder Cup history. Stephen's uncle Bernard Gallacher was a Ryder Cup non-playing captain back in 1991, 1993, and 1995, and played in eight Ryder Cups before. It was really between Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, who are both great Ryder Cup players. Captain McGinly said in his press conference that it ultimately came down to the form of the two players. This is Lee's ninth Ryder Cup appearance.

Within the next 48 hours, the last two vice-captains will also be picked by Paul McGinley. Stay tuned for that and for the American Ryder Cup team Captain Picks, later on this evening.

This should make for a very exciting Ryder Cup this year, come the end of September,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

UPDATE (09/03/14): Captain McGinly announces his last three assistant captains: Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and 2012 captain Jose Maria Olazabal.