2021 Ryder Cup- Whistling Straits

benhogan

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I can think of at least 15 or 20 courses in Surrey I'd rather play than Wentworth. (Not a fan of the Els redesign either, FWIW.) But Loch Lomond...I did get to play that once, shortly after it opened, and it's really cool to have such a good - not to mention beautiful - inland course like that in Scotland. Because there aren't many of them here.

Meanwhile, Wiesberger shot a 67 today and is tied for 19th in the BMW - he'll really need to trip over his shoelaces not to qualify for the European Team at this point. Not sure if that's a positive development for the USA or for Europe at this point; ironically, the man Wiesberger is most likely to bump out of Ryder Cup contention - Justin Rose, who I think would get the last of Padraig's three picks (after Garcia and Poulter) if Wiesberger were to crash and burn - is tied for 5th at Wentworth right now. Actually, I wonder if Padraig has the stones to drop Poulter, who missed the cut this week and whose game really isn't suited for Whistling Straits,
Ha. Wentworth was nothing special, but free.

IDC how Poulter is playing, he is dangerous. If Wiesberger takes his spot thats a huge win for the US.

Been enjoying Na's play this whole season, scrappy. Can get up and down from out of a garbage can, short game plays well in Ryder Cup, regardless of the course. He would have been a nice best ball partner for BAD
 

patinorange

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Ha. Wentworth was nothing special, but free.

IDC how Poulter is playing, he is dangerous. If Wiesberger takes his spot thats a huge win for the US.

Been enjoying Na's play this whole season, scrappy. Can get up and down from out of a garbage can, short game plays well in Ryder Cup, regardless of the course. He would have been a nice best ball partner for BAD
Agreed. Our team is very bland and I expect they will get their ass kicked once again. Not having Reed hurts.
 

benhogan

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Agreed. Our team is very bland and I expect they will get their ass kicked once again. Not having Reed hurts.
Scott Sheffler is the poster boy of Texas bland. Berger seems edgy enough to do battle.

All USA Bland pod: DJ, Sheffler, English & Finau....Hope I'm wrong
 

benhogan

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Horschel goes and wins BMW/Wentworth in Europe after playing well last week and winning match play event during the season.

During the post-match interview, BH said Stricker didn't even bother calling him to tell him he didn't make the team. SMH

With six Captain picks you'd think more would go into the calculus than just going with the final rankings as Stricker basically did. If Koepka can't go, I hope Stricker goes with Na or Billy.
 

cshea

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Horschel goes and wins BMW/Wentworth in Europe after playing well last week and winning match play event during the season.

During the post-match interview, BH said Stricker didn't even bother calling him to tell him he didn't make the team. SMH

With six Captain picks you'd think more would go into the calculus than just going with the final rankings as Stricker basically did. If Koepka can't go, I hope Stricker goes with Na or Billy.
Billy had 1 top 10 since winning the match play, and it was a 7th place finish in a 29 player field. Statistically, he's 111th on tour in strokes gained. He loses shots off the tee, around the green and putting. He finished 17th in the qualifying, so similar to Na and Kisner, not all that close to making the team. Is Stricker supposed to call and console everyone that accumulates points? The only real argument for Billy is he's a fiery sort who could be a US version of Poulter. That's about it, statistically, he's not one of the 12 best American players.

Anyway, Wiesberger locked up the final qualifying spot for Europe and Paddy went with Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter as his captain's picks. Justin Rose is the notable omission from the team.
 

benhogan

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Billy had 1 top 10 since winning the match play, and it was a 7th place finish in a 29 player field. Statistically, he's 111th on tour in strokes gained. He loses shots off the tee, around the green and putting. He finished 17th in the qualifying, so similar to Na and Kisner, not all that close to making the team. Is Stricker supposed to call and console everyone that accumulates points? The only real argument for Billy is he's a fiery sort who could be a US version of Poulter. That's about it, statistically, he's not one of the 12 best American players.

Anyway, Wiesberger locked up the final qualifying spot for Europe and Paddy went with Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter as his captain's picks. Justin Rose is the notable omission from the team.
Yep I'm opting for the fiery veterans, that are playing well this time of year, and have some previous match play success. Those qualities would shade my last couple of picks. Anyone in the top 20 should be fair game for Captain's picks.

I'm also in favor of Stricker using the Zinger pod approach to put types/compatible players together. Has there been any talk there?

AND calling veterans that played well at East Lake, that have spoken highly about playing for the USA would be a thoughtful gesture. A 5-minute call from Stricker or one of his Assts wouldn't kill anybody

If Brooks can't go, who takes his place?
 

cshea

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I'd assume it'd be someone from the snubbed list that everyone is talking about. Reed, Simpson, Burns, Na, Kisner, Horschel. Gun to my head, I think it'd be Reed unless he's tells them no due to the pnemonia bout (seems unlikely) or he's been blacklisted (possible). Webb's got experience, seems to be a good team guy, but does not fit well with the bombers set up. Sam Burns might be the guy, in that case.

Anyway, we're a week away from this thing so let's check in on Bryson:

View: https://twitter.com/LifeOfTimReilly/status/1437779206306508804?s=20
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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We had a former Long Drive champion at a local golf tournament to put on a show and help raise money for charity. I looked at his stats and he was well into the 400s (and was hitting some well over 400 when putting on his show for us). All to say that Bryson is doing exceptionally for a pro golfer but he is not close to championship long drive level, and if he goes after it too hard to gain so much distance in a short amount of time then how will he not injure himself.
 

cshea

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I don't give a shit if he hurts himself. The bigger concern is the long drive stuff is going to fuck up his professional golf game at the Ryder Cup. It's like when he showed up at some team event thing paired with Lexi and fucked around with side saddle putting. Lexi should've punched him in the face.

Also, Brooks caused a stir with an interview he did for Golf Digest.

View: https://twitter.com/KylePorterCBS/status/1437805904951496704?s=20


I find his comments harmless, but others (including Paul Azinger) want him off the team for someone who "cares." He basically just summed up why the US has sucked at this thing. They play as an individual for 51 weeks a year and then are asked to play as a team. It's a hard switch to flip. For whatever reason, Europe has figured out how to do it better than the US. I didn't really get the impression that Brooks doesn't "care" about the Ryder Cup like some are saying, more he just candidly spoke about how it's a different week than what they do for the other 51 weeks in a year and it's a difficult adjustment to make.
 

Phil Plantier

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I'll be rooting for the Europeans this time.

"I won my match. I did my job. What do you want from me?" That's.... not great.
 

BaseballJones

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Seems honest and accurate. I don't think the Americans care nearly as much about this event as the Europeans. They show up out of obligation mostly.
In tennis, some players have never embraced the Davis Cup. McEnroe, however, was one guy who LOVED it. And because he loved it, well, and because he was a great player, but also because he loved it, he was great at it and a perfect guy to have on the Davis Cup team.

Honestly, there have to be a bunch of American players who would kill to play in the Ryder Cup. If there are guys on the team that are there just out of obligation, they really shouldn't be on the team. There are tons of great American golfers who would probably be great for the team because (a) they are still very talented, and (b) they would completely get into it and love being a part of it.
 

cshea

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Rory said the Ryder Cup "wasn't important" to him at one point early in his career. I don't think it's a Europe cares and the American's don't problem. Ultimately, at the end of the day it's an exhibition and the players don't get anything out of it other than bragging rights, footnotes in history, and memories.

This point was brought up on an NLU podcast recently, but in someways the US cares too much. They put a ton of stock in winning. When they lose, they form task forces, shout blame all around and throw each other under the bus. When Europe loses they raise a toast to the Americans and shrug it right off.
 

swiftaw

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Wouldn't simple solution be to eliminate automatic places, and have the entire team be captain's picks (kind of like international soccer). That way, you can pick only those that are interested.
 

Average Reds

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In tennis, some players have never embraced the Davis Cup. McEnroe, however, was one guy who LOVED it. And because he loved it, well, and because he was a great player, but also because he loved it, he was great at it and a perfect guy to have on the Davis Cup team.

Honestly, there have to be a bunch of American players who would kill to play in the Ryder Cup. If there are guys on the team that are there just out of obligation, they really shouldn't be on the team. There are tons of great American golfers who would probably be great for the team because (a) they are still very talented, and (b) they would completely get into it and love being a part of it.
I didn't take the comments from Koepka as saying that the Ryder Cup wasn't important. (In fact, he explicitly said "I don't want to say it's a bad week.") He was just answering a question about how it is radically different from how he prepares and plays during a normal week.

There's also the fact that Koepka has always been a bit of an odd duck in the way he interviews. He's like the opposite of the modern, media-trained athlete, in the sense that he says exactly what's on his mind and people read all sorts of things into it. (Some fair, some not.)

If he's fit to play, I want Koepka on my team 100% of the time. he's a beast out there.
 

benhogan

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Nice primer for the Captain

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/ryder-cup-2021-america-gameplan-steve-stricker

Any rumors, thoughts, suggestions on American pairings?

These are some of the pairings that may connect due to history, friendship, style of play or region of the US they are from. I ranked them and would send them out as the first 4 on Thursday morning (if BK is well). Use 5 & 6 in the afternoon.

1. Cantlay/Xander, President Cup history. Playing well now. Both Socal guys, same temperament, similar age
2. JT/Spieth, long time buddies, wedge maestros, want to play together
3. Koepka/Berger, Fla St connection, both kind of combative types
4. English/DJ, from the Southeast, similar maturity, poster boys for the Bland American

5. Morikawa/Finau, West Coast duo. Colin has seemed off the last month. Tony played well in the last Ryder Cup (2-1) but sketchy in the Presidents Cup (0-1-3)
6. Bryson/Scheffler, Texas connection? Scheffler seems easy-going (& long) enough to deal with BAD

My 3 pods:
Low key: English/DJ/Cantlay/Xander
Team Edgy: JT/Spieth/Koepka/Berger
Nice guys to pair with BAD: Morikawa/Finau/Bryson/Scheffler
 

RedOctober3829

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43RD RYDER CUP
Broadcast Team
  • Play-by-Play: Dan Hicks / Mike Tirico / Terry Gannon
  • Analyst: Paul Azinger / Justin Leonard / Nick Faldo / Roger Maltbie
  • Tower: David Feherty / Gary Koch / Tom Abbott / Curt Byrum
  • On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Jim “Bones” Mackay / John Wood / Notah Begay III / Kay Cockerill
  • Essays: Jimmy Roberts
  • Interview/Reports: Steve Sands / Jimmy Roberts

How To Watch – Friday, September 24 – Sunday, September 26 (all times ET)
  • TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
  • Streaming – Peacock, RyderCup.com and the Ryder Cup app, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date GOLF Channel NBC Peacock/RyderCup.com
Friday, Sept. 24 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 8-9 a.m. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 12-6 p.m. 12 – 6 p.m.

Note: All live coverage on NBC and GOLF Channel will simul-stream on Peacock Premium and RyderCup.com

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE RYDER CUP
Beginning Monday, September 20, NBC Sports will surround the 43rd Ryder Cup with approximately 50 hours of live studio coverage on GOLF Central Live From the Open on GOLF Channel.
Broadcast Team
  • Host: Rich Lerner / Shane Bacon / Cara Banks
  • Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Justin Leonard / Mark Rolfing / Trevor Immelman / David Duval / Paige Mackenzie / Notah Begay III
  • Reporter: Todd Lewis / Jamie Diaz / Damon Hack / Steve Burkowski / Ryan Lavner / Rex Hoggard / Eamon Lynch

Date Golf Central – Live From the Ryder Cup*
Monday, Sept. 20 4-5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 21 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 23 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / 5-8 p.m. (Opening Ceremony)
Friday, Sept. 24 6-8 a.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 6-8 a.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
*all times ET, post-round coverage begins following conclusion of play
 

cshea

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Nice primer for the Captain

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/ryder-cup-2021-america-gameplan-steve-stricker

Any rumors, thoughts, suggestions on American pairings?

These are some of the pairings that may connect due to history, friendship, style of play or region of the US they are from. I ranked them and would send them out as the first 4 on Thursday morning (if BK is well). Use 5 & 6 in the afternoon.

1. Cantlay/Xander, President Cup history. Playing well now. Both Socal guys, same temperament, similar age
2. JT/Spieth, long time buddies, wedge maestros, want to play together
3. Koepka/Berger, Fla St connection, both kind of combative types
4. English/DJ, from the Southeast, similar maturity, poster boys for the Bland American

5. Morikawa/Finau, West Coast duo. Colin has seemed off the last month. Tony played well in the last Ryder Cup (2-1) but sketchy in the Presidents Cup (0-1-3)
6. Bryson/Scheffler, Texas connection? Scheffler seems easy-going (& long) enough to deal with BAD

My 3 pods:
Low key: English/DJ/Cantlay/Xander
Team Edgy: JT/Spieth/Koepka/Berger
Nice guys to pair with BAD: Morikawa/Finau/Bryson/Scheffler
From the NLU content (tweets and podcast) these seem pretty close to accurate. JT/Spieth and Xander/Cantlay can probably be locked in. It sounds like Koepka and Berger don't get along, but Berger and DJ are buddies so they will likely play together. Bryson/Scheffler for fourball could be a thing, I still don't see how they can put Bryson into alt shot. Then you mix and match Finau, Morikawa, Brooks and English. Finau and Brooks did play together in France so maybe they hook up again, but there's also been some speculation about Finau/Morikawa being a foursome pair. Only problem with that pair is they are below average (FInau) and bad (Morikawa) at putting.

I also think JT/Spieth lead off on Friday morning. I think the hope is that they are the emotional leaders so you'd want them off first to try and set the tone for competition.

One thing that I think is being a bit overlooked is how little experience the American's have. Xander, Cantlay, Morikawa, English, Bergerr and Scheffler are all rookies. JT, Bryson and Finau only have 1 appearance. DJ, Spieth and Brooks are the veterans. DJ doesn't strike me as a leader type, and Brooks is, well, Brooks. Theoretically, that leaves Spieth as the veteran leader who has been through this before to try and keep things on the rails.
 

benhogan

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Nov 2, 2007
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Santa Monica
43RD RYDER CUP
Broadcast Team
  • Play-by-Play: Dan Hicks / Mike Tirico / Terry Gannon
  • Analyst: Paul Azinger / Justin Leonard / Nick Faldo / Roger Maltbie
  • Tower: David Feherty / Gary Koch / Tom Abbott / Curt Byrum
  • On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Jim “Bones” Mackay / John Wood / Notah Begay III / Kay Cockerill
  • Essays: Jimmy Roberts
  • Interview/Reports: Steve Sands / Jimmy Roberts

How To Watch – Friday, September 24 – Sunday, September 26 (all times ET)
  • TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
  • Streaming – Peacock, RyderCup.com and the Ryder Cup app, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date GOLF Channel NBC Peacock/RyderCup.com
Friday, Sept. 24 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 8-9 a.m. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 12-6 p.m. 12 – 6 p.m.

Note: All live coverage on NBC and GOLF Channel will simul-stream on Peacock Premium and RyderCup.com

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE RYDER CUP
Beginning Monday, September 20, NBC Sports will surround the 43rd Ryder Cup with approximately 50 hours of live studio coverage on GOLF Central Live From the Open on GOLF Channel.
Broadcast Team
  • Host: Rich Lerner / Shane Bacon / Cara Banks
  • Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Justin Leonard / Mark Rolfing / Trevor Immelman / David Duval / Paige Mackenzie / Notah Begay III
  • Reporter: Todd Lewis / Jamie Diaz / Damon Hack / Steve Burkowski / Ryan Lavner / Rex Hoggard / Eamon Lynch

Date Golf Central – Live From the Ryder Cup*
Monday, Sept. 20 4-5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 21 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 23 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / 5-8 p.m. (Opening Ceremony)
Friday, Sept. 24 6-8 a.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 6-8 a.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
*all times ET, post-round coverage begins following conclusion of play
Golf Channel is run by a bunch of pricks

Immelman needs to be at the course as an analyst or tower. 3rd party/unbiased opinion when something sticky happens (see Solheim Cup/putt pick-up) would be nice

Zinger and Faldo will give decent insight
 

TheGazelle

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Mark Rolfing: "I'm hearing that after they were here a couple weekends ago that Spieth is emerged as the leader of this team."
Makes sense. Per chsea's note above, he's actually the experienced guy among this crew. Hopefully he can keep the rest of the team from murdering Bryson.
 
Makes sense. Per chsea's note above, he's actually the experienced guy among this crew. Hopefully he can keep the rest of the team from murdering Bryson.
I dunno, I think it'd be a great story if Team Europe had to choose a player to sit out the Sunday singles because Bryson had been murdered by his teammates. Plus, I'd never have to watch Bryson harangue a rules official again! Win-win!
 

Dan Murfman

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I do like how the President's Cup does pairings better. Ryder Cup the captains write down their order and just matched up. And Presidents Cup has a captain pick a pairing or single on Sunday and the other captain picks his pairing and so forth. More strategy involved with that I think.
 

RedOctober3829

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Rolfing thinks Schauffele/Cantlay could be a really, really good team that will be together and out there for all 4 matches. He also thinks Stricker is going to front load Friday morning with JT/Spieth and XS/PC and Europe will do the same with their 2 best pairings.

Smh, Bryson. Seems pretty concerned with his club head speed and hopes it can get over 200 mph.
 

benhogan

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Listening to Scheffler presser. He said something interesting. Felt like the 6 automatic qualifiers had input in the 6 selections along with Stricker. That may be a proactive approach to team building if the 6 players had an actual vote

Sounds like Jordan/JT/Bryson/Sheffler are a pod
 

RedOctober3829

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deep inside Guido territory
Listening to Scheffler presser. He said something interesting. Felt like the 6 automatic qualifiers had input in the 6 selections along with Stricker. That may be a proactive approach to team building if the 6 players had an actual vote

Sounds like Jordan/JT/Bryson/Sheffler are a pod
Azinger did something similar when there were 4 captains picks in 2008. He said that each pod leader got to pick a player to add to their pod.