Tom Watson has said that his USA team is seeking Ryder Cup redemption after the Miracle at Medinah two years ago. He’s also said that his team will target world number one Rory McIlroy and Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter. But you wouldn’t expect anything else from the Americans – would you?
Britons are a pretty independent-thinking bunch and you will generally be asking around for a while for someone with positive things to say about the European Union. But, every two years, we become unashamed federalists and will happily wave the blue and yellow flag in the face of the Stars and Stripes.
The Ryder Cup is very big business nowadays but Gleneagles is the perfect golf course to stage such an event. Locals will tell you it staged the first-ever match between British and American golfers in 1921, six years before the first official Ryder Cup. The Perthshire venure has three championship courses with this year’s Ryder Cup taking place on the PGA Centenary course which sweeps towards the Ochil Hills and Ben Shee before journeying down Glendevon. As well as being one of the toughest courses in Europe, it’s also one of the most picturesque and, in the year of Scotland’s homecoming, a suitable venue for which the Ryder Cup to return to the birthplace of golf after a 40-year absence.
Europe have won seven of the last nine contests and not lost on home soil since 1993 and vice-captain Sam Torrance thinks that the remarkable turnaround in Medinah will have scarred the USA team. They were well in control going into the final day and are usually strong in the singles. But Europe tore them to shreds and seven of that US squad will be in action at Gleneagles. Hunter Mahan missed out two years ago but was beaten by Graeme McDowell in the decisive singles matches in 2010 so may also be carrying baggage.
You can get 15/8 with sportingbet that the Americans return home with the Ryder Cup and Boylesports, Paddy Power, Stan James and 888sport are offering 11/1 against the tie. But Europe have to be the bet again at the general 4/6 with betway offering to refund single bets, in the form of a free bet, on Europe up to £25 if Paul McGinley‘s team lose.
