After two long years and one interminable week of hype and press conferences, the Ryder Cup finally returns Friday morning. With the 2014 edition swinging back to Scotland, the first two days will start in the middle of the night back in the United States. Friday is the first of two double-session days, with the first session going out just after sunset and the second session starting a half-hour after the conclusion of the first in the afternoon. From start to finish, it should be an 11-hour march to get the first 8 points doled out at Gleneagles. The first session will be Four-Ball -- each player plays his own ball from tee to green and the best score of the two matches up against the best of their opponent's. The afternoon will then transition to Foursomes, where the two players alternate shots playing just a single ball off the tee. Here are some thoughts on the first four matches of the Ryder Cup
The second match of the day is the only one in which the Americans are favored. Rickie Fowler is probably the best overall player on Tom Watson's team right now, and the best candidate to play all five sessions this week. Jimmy Walker is coming off a career year, winning three times before mid-February. The thought was that he'd lock up a Ryder Cup spot based on the points from those early wins, but he continued to contend at the biggest events throughout the summer and finished as one of the most consistent players of the season. Kaymer, of course, had that amazing stretch early in the summer when he won The Players and set records at the U.S. Open with that dominating win at Pinehurst. But he was hobbled by a shoulder injury at the British Open and never found the same German-machine form in July and August. He was improved in the FedEx Cup last month, but this is still a gettable match for the USA. Bjorn is the veteran of the group, making the team on points after a complete rejuvenation season for his first RC start since 2002.
Rose and Stenson are a really formidable duo, two players in the top 6 in the world rankings. But I think the most important match for Europe is the third one, featuring the only Scot on the team, Stephen Gallacher, and the heart and soul of the team, Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter. It's the native son and the most popular player together, and they should draw the loudest galleries of the session. Captain Paul McGinley's decision to send Gallacher in his first ever Cup match out in front of the home crowd with Poulter was a nice stroke, putting more of the pressure on the man who has set the tone for the European side. Opposite those two are USA rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. Spieth can get a little reactionary when things start to go sideways, but he's got experience in these team events now at just 21-years old. Reed is cocky and temperamental, and is probably excited about how loud the crowds will be and how they'll be cheering against him. Poulter may have that near-perfect record, but he's coming off a season of pretty ugly golf. If the American rookies can pick him off, that would be a huge mental boost to the USA side and deflate the Euro hero symbol right out of the gate. McGinley's team needs to take care of the American rookies.
This is a no-brainer -- the Mickelson/Bradley match against McIlroy/Garcia is the best we could have hoped for and could be the match of the entire cup. Phil's little verbal barb about Rory's lawsuit against teammate Graeme McDowell only adds to the fun. McIlroy and Garcia are two of the top three players in the world, and as powerful a duo as Europe could put out there. They have successful Ryder Cup records and a history of crushing American hopes and enthusiasm. Bradley and Mickleson, on the other hand, were the emotional leaders of the USA side at Medinah, whipping up the crowds and their teammates better than any other duo. They also put points on the board (3-0 record) throughout the first two days. A best ball between Rory and Sergio seems unbeatable and unfair after what we just watched from those two this summer. But given some of the trash talk from Phil, and his history of catching a roll alongside Bradley, this should certainly be the most fun match to watch. It will anchor the first session, and go off at 3:20 a.m. ET (8:20 a.m. local).
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