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Golf

Handicapping the American Ryder Cup Team

Posted Sep 15, 2008 12:31PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf, PGA, Ryder Cup

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We're all honest people here, so we'd be lying if we thought the Americans were the favorites. They are not. The good news is the Europeans, who have won the last three Cups, have been the underdogs for most of them and snagged the trophy right under our noses (or by winning 18.5 to 9.5, like the last two years).

On that positive note, here is your American Ryder Cup team as we know it, their past record and who we think they will be best paired with this week.

Phil Mickelson (9-12-4) and Ben Curtis (rookie) -- Here is a sad fact about Lefty -- there isn't a single player on this team that Phil has won with. Actually, there is only one player on the American squad this year that he's ever played with, Jim Furyk, and they lost their only match in 1999. Curtis doesn't hit the ball a long way, but he's pretty straight and can make putts. Also, he's 13th on tour in sand saves and 42nd in scrambling, which bodes well when teamed with the sometimes erratic Mickelson. Also, for a guy that will be as nervous as Curtis, playing with the most talented American will sure ease some of the jitters, even if Lefty has won just one point in the last two matches (1-7-1). I heard he's not switching clubs this week, which is probably a good decision.

Furyk (6-12-2) and Justin Leonard (0-3-5) -- Call this the Steady Eddie team for the Americans, something you always need in these matches. With Furyk's main partner, Tiger Woods, out this time around, the fairways and greens expert might best fit with Leonard, more of the same. Both are ranked in the top-40 on tour in fairways hit and greens in regulation, which should make for some boring, but solid match-play golf.

J.B. Holmes (rookie) and Kenny Perry (0-2-0) -- It might not make the most sense to pair two golfers that have never won a Ryder Cup match together, but come on, it's in Kentucky and they're both from the Bluegrass State. Perry's early season success has slumped off, but playing with a young guy like Holmes, who can bomb it off the tee (310.9 average) will make for some tough decisions for the Europeans if he can boom some drives on the risk-reward holes. Not to add extra pressure on these two, but I look for this pairing to be the make or break group for the American squad.

Anthony Kim (rookie) and Hunter Mahan (rookie) -- Hey, why not? Both these rookies are flashy, phenomenal and freaking solid on the links. Most of the time pairing two young guys in this type of atmosphere is the wrong decision, but I love these two going at it and pumping up the crowd. I don't know two players Nick Faldo could throw at these two that would have as much talent or would intimidate them when heading to the first tee. The over/under on fist pumps with this group might reach triple digits, and that isn't a bad thing.

Chad Campbell (1-3-2) and Boo Weekley (rookie) -- Since Boo didn't even know the Masters were in April, do you think he has any idea about the history behind the Ryder Cup? I bet of loose rookies on either team, he has to be the most calm, mostly because he isn't sure why in the world he'd be nervous. Both are "keep to themselves" type golfers that would just go out and get the job done. I'm also going to say that either of these guys could play with any of the 11 other players on the team and be fine with it, almost like two Jokers in Paul Azinger's deck.

Stewart Cink (3-5-4) and Steve Stricker (rookie) -- A woeful record at the Ryder Cup, Cink has never lost a match in the Presidents Cup and finished runner-up to Tiger at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship so we know he loves this format. Stricker will be making his debut in this event, but has had some success as well with match play, finishing in a t-9 at the WGC this year and has a 2-3-0 record in the Presidents Cup. If Stricker can find the fairway this week, something he's struggled with this season, these two might have a lot to work with.

So, there you have the Americans. Agree with the picks? Think Mahan might be better suited with a veteran? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Tags: Anthony+Kim, AnthonyKim, Ben+Curtis, BenCurtis, Boo+Weekley, BooWeekley, CHad+Campbell, ChadCampbell, Hunter+Mahan, HunterMahan, J.B.+Holmes, J.b.Holmes, Jim+Furyk, JimFuryk, Justin+Leonard, JustinLeonard, Kenny+Perry, KennyPerry, Nick+Faldo, NickFaldo, Paul+Azinger, PaulAzinger, Phil+Mickelson, PhilMickelson, Steve+Stricker, SteveStricker, Stewart+Cink, StewartCink, Tiger+Woods, TigerWoods

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