2023 Ryder Cup

Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert McIntyre clinched the last two automatic qualification slots for the European Ryder Cup team today.

European Team.

Auto qualifiers:
Rory McIlroy - Northern Ireland
Jon Rahm - Spain
Victor Hovland - Norway
Tyrrell Hatton - England
Matt Fitzpatrick - England
Robert MacIntyre - Scotland

Captain's picks:
Tommy Fleetwood - England
Sepp Straka - Austria
Justin Rose - England
Shane Lowry - Ireland
Nicolai Hojgaard - Denmark
Ludvig Aberg - Sweden

Hmm, I think the US might just be faves for this.

^^ USA are favourites to win every Ryder Cup, on paper, but golf isn't played on paper, it's played on grass, usually.
USA have more strength in depth than Europe. If you take the Rankings Europe compare well, with 6 players in the top 14, the US have 7. Scheffler is World N0.1, but Europe have Rory, Rahm 7 & Hovland in the next 3 places.
Fleetwood is ranked 14th, but you have to delve down to 23rd before you find another European in Straka.
Fowler is the lowest ranked US player at 26th, the US have the luxury of leaving out players above him such as Bradley, a controversial omission, & Cam Young, Finau, & Zalatoris.
Europe have Nicolai Hojgaard at 78th & Aberg at 90th.

Despite all that, I think we match up favourably. Nine Europeans play in the US against their players. The only issue I can see is the US have more settled pairings, how Donald organizes his, will be key.

The singles always favours the US. If you consider the rankings, head to head, the first 7 matches could be split (3.5/3.5). But the last 5 should be a US clean sweep. Obviously, that's a simplistic way of looking at in, as the draw is random, but there is a potential for a 5-point US advantage in the singles.

Off the top of my head (no doubt someone will put me straight) USA have 8 major winners to Europe's 5.

My general approach is hope for the best and fear the worst.

Europe's home record is good but the US have a powerhouse talent laden set of players.
Pairings will be key I suspect as will the ability of the relatively out of form wildcard picks find something extra in Rome.

Heart says Europe to win 15-13.
Head says USA to win 15.5-12.5.

But knowing me both will be completely wrong

Day One.

Foursomes matches:

1. Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns
2. Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman
3. Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa
4. McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay

I'll put Europe 1-0 up on USA in terms of dress son not a big fan of the no sock look.

No Tommy and Frankie this time round, goodbye Moliwood, hello Fleetwood Mac.

4-0 Europe after the foursomes .

Mind you the US ladies team led 4-0 in the Solheim Cup and we all know what happened there.
So no taking the foot off the gas. Full throttle afternoon required.

The US have gone all in for the second fourballs pairing this afternoon.

Fourballs:

1. Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth
2. Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka
3. MacIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark
4. McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele

End of day one and Europe lead 6.5-1.5.

The fourballs proved very competitive and the US were threatening a bit of a fightback before some late recoveries from the European pairings clawed back halves in three out the four matches.
This ensured no US wins on day one and the character shown by the European pairings to stop any US victories may prove telling in the final analysis.
More of the same required tomorrow.
Need to be utterly ruthless and extend the lead as much as they can.