Golf 2010

**Kingdom** · 26/08/2010, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

So the Gleneagles starts today and then the Ryder Cup team will be finalized on Sunday night.

So given that Paul Casey (world ranking 9 ), Luke Donald ( 10 ) , Padraig Harrington ( 18 ) and Justin Rose ( 22 ) are all not going to make the team and people like Simon Dyson ( european ryder cup ranking 13 ) Eduardo Molinari ( 16 ) and Alvaro Quiros ( 15 ) all busting a gut to make the team, who would people's wildcards be ? Throw in in form Welshman Rhys Davies as well.

Montgomerie has stated that he wanted all his possibles to play at Celtic Manor and this week at Gleneagles so on that basis he should pick Dyson, Molinari and Quiros! If he picks the higest world ranked players not in the team the Casey , Donald and Harrington will get the picks.

Personally I think he will compromise a little and go with the 2 players in the world's top ten Casey and Donald and hand the last wildcard to Eduardo Molinari due to the fact that he has won the World Cup with his brother and these 2 would take some beating I think during the ryder cup as well.

Obviously that leaves out 2 times PGA tour winnner this season Rose and 3 time major winner Harrington.

I don't think you're too far off the mark there RAM. I think Paddy is in big trouble, given his last two Ryder cup tournaments weren't great personally. That said he is one of a few European major winners. With respect to the man, he has more reason than most for not playing Gleneagles, as he is a Special Olympics ambassador and had committed months ago to running a clinic on either the Weds or Tues before the Barclays, and couldn't renege on that commitment. I believe he has his own Harrington clinic on the other day also, so he was never going to feature in the final qualifying tournament.

I've a feeling he'll also go with the other Molinari brother. They will be a handful in the doubles and that will count for a lot over the course of the two days. I can't see him picking Casey funny enough, I do see him picking Luke Donald, given that he missed the last one through injury and seems like quite a likeable guy, and then the last choice could be a toss up between Harrington, Rhys Davies, or someone random like Robert Karlsson, who consistently is decent and has good Ryder cup experience.

**Stuttgart88** · 29/08/2010, 5:51 PM

Harrington makes the team. Lucky boy.

Edoardo Molinari also makes it, with Luke Donald. Molinari's last 3 holes at Gleneagles were amazing. Brilliant win, with or without the context of Ryder Cup selection.

**Real ale Madrid** · 28/09/2010, 9:27 AM

Cant wait for the Ryder Cup on Friday, 7.45am start. Surely one of the most exciting events on the sporting calender and made for TV!

From what I can make out - the following are the pairings for this morning's practice session

McIlroy / McDowell , Molinari's
Hanson / Jiminez , Kaymer / Westwood
Donald / Poulter , Harrington / Fisher

And not sure the way the americans are paired off but it looks something like.

Z Johnson / Mahan , Stricker / Woods
Furyk / Cink , Kuchar / Overton
Mickelson / Fowler , D Johnson / Watson

Europe are favourites and home advantage should swing it but Americans should put up a really good contest. They have 4 out of the worlds top 5, major winners in Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink and some real in form players like Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.

Either way I cant see there being more than 2 points in it. Should be some 3 days.

**Razors left peg** · 28/09/2010, 5:48 PM

Harrington singled out as the outstanding performer in the first days practice rounds.Really getting excited about it now, although still havent figured out my plan of action for taking friday off work!

**elroy** · 03/10/2010, 11:18 AM

Not going to finish till Monday now and ALL singles match will start Monday morning. Great, not.

**strangeirish** · 03/10/2010, 9:31 PM

**elroy** · 04/10/2010, 1:17 PM

Looks like an Irishman yet again may be the man to seal the Ryder Cup for Europe. Step up to the plate McDowell

**Dodge** · 04/10/2010, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

Looks like an Irishman yet again may be the man to seal the Ryder Cup for Europe. Step up to the plate McDowell

I�d imagine imagine he�s petrified of upsetting his adopted home too much. GMac indeed

**bluemovie** · 04/10/2010, 2:55 PM

Another Irishman wins the Ryder Cup for Europe. Brian Cowen is busy perfecting his G Mac impression for the next drink-in.

**Razors left peg** · 04/10/2010, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I’d imagine imagine he’s petrified of upsetting his adopted home too much. GMac indeed

In trying times its nice to see that Irish begrudgery is alive and well

Fantastic day of golf, amazing tension and drama. Everything thats great about sport

**Dodge** · 04/10/2010, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

In trying times its nice to see that Irish begrudgery is alive and well

I begrudge him nothing, but just because he's Irish doesn't mean he's not a tool. I'd have thought these "trying times" would've rammed that point home

**OneRedArmy** · 04/10/2010, 4:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I begrudge him nothing, but just because he's Irish doesn't mean he's not a tool. I'd have thought these "trying times" would've rammed that point home

What evidence have you got for him being a tool, other than having an American accent and talking in the "say a lot whilst saying very little" parlance of nearly every modern sportsman?

Judging by anecdotes, both what I've read in articles and a from a friend who sat beside him on a plane, he's a decent skin who remains down to earth. I could think of 50 rugby, GAA and football players who would be way above him in the tool stakes, some through personal experience...

**Razors left peg** · 04/10/2010, 4:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I begrudge him nothing, but just because he's Irish doesn't mean he's not a tool. I'd have thought these "trying times" would've rammed that point home

I dont understand what ur problem with his nickname is. Most sportsmen have one and I doubt any of them came up with that nickname themselves. Just seems like u are going out of your way to have a go at him

**Real ale Madrid** · 04/10/2010, 7:01 PM

Had to laugh during the Fourballs on Saturday when McIlroy hit into the water and MacDowell shouts " Dont worry Rolls - I got your back!" - Fierce American accent on him alright! Anyway who cares! he's certainly a great golfer to close things out - that was tough on him today, yet when he really needed to perfrom, he did.

Awful pity it had to be on a Monday tho - missed all but an hour or so during lunch.

The Americans took defeat surprisingly badly I thought - usually most of them don't really care - but they really wanted to win this one. They will be really tough to beat next time around over there.

**Dodge** · 04/10/2010, 7:55 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I dont understand what ur problem with his nickname is. Most sportsmen have one and I doubt any of them came up with that nickname themselves. Just seems like u are going out of your way to have a go at him

Calm down fellah, its the fecking internet. I think "Gmac" is as horrible a nickname as I can remember. Based on that, I think he's a tool.

No big deal.

He's plenty of fans out there and, won the US Open and earned the point that won the Ryder Cup. I think he can handle me not liking him based on his nickname

**The Fly** · 04/10/2010, 8:52 PM

**SwanVsDalton** · 05/10/2010, 3:31 PM

A lot of guys I know seem to hate McDowell for his accent as much as anything. In fairness Portrush via Alabama would be the accent from hell.

Anyway always thought GMac seemed a decent sort who doesn't take himself too seriously. No patch on Jimenez - he's the crazy sitcom golf pro uncle everyone loves.