Golf Betting – Europe Remain Cup Favourites After Wild Card Picks

Europe can be backed at 8/11 with Skybet and Victor Chandler after Colin Montgomerie announced his wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, now just a month away. Edoardo Molinari‘s victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles persuaded the Scot that he should take his place in the line-up alongside brother Francesco, with Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington also given the nod. That means there is no place in the squad for Justin Rose, a dual winner on the US PGA Tour this year, or Paul Casey who is currently ranked eighth in the world. Both players will be hugely disappointed, especially when one considers the recent form of Harrington in particular. But there is no getting away from the fact that the Irishman does often rise to the big occasions, he has won three Majors after all, while Donald has an exceptional record in Ryder Cup fourballs. The Englishman can be backed at 12/1 with Stan James to be his team’s leading points scorer at Celtic Manor, while Harrington is a best 11/1 with Skybet.

With six rookies in the European Ryder Cup team, there’s also a market surrounding which of the ‘newbies’ will tally the most points. Rory McIlroy is a general 9/4 favourite but Martin Kaymer, winner of the recent USPGA Championship in Sheboygan, is sure to be popular at Coral‘s 10/3.

Montgomerie’s US counterpart Corey Pavin has an extra week to decide his final team with most of the speculation surrounding whether Tiger Woods will be one of the captain’s four wild card picks. Woods’ personal life is still in turmoil and his form has undoubtedly suffered as a result but it is unimaginable that the Americans will step off the plane in South Wales without Tiger among their ranks. The USA are a general 7/4 to retain the trophy with the tie available at 11/1 with bet365, sportingbet and Paddy Power.