Ah, the Ryder Cup, a fine festival of intercontinental rivalry by men in nicely matching polo shirts. Handily enough, it’s great to gamble on too so here’s a few bets we like.
The Ryder Cup has snuck up on us a bit this year. After a frankly ridiculous summer of sport, this bi-annual golfing set to is going to have be pretty special to warrant more than 15 seconds on Reeling in the Years 2012. However, with the teams pretty evenly matched, and with the potential for lots of head-to-heads between our own Rory McIlroy and ‘Mr Team’ himself Tiger Woods, I will be glued to all the action from Chicago this weekend.
So, how can I make around 30 hours of sitting on my arse this weekend profitable? Let’s try these for size.
McIlory and Woods to be paired against each other in very first match Friday, 4/1
Big guns out first? It’s a no brainer. Woods has been part of the opening US salvo in three of the last four Ryder Cups he has played in. His form in 2010 meant he went out third but after his best season since, well, you know, we fully expect Davis Love to give him the nod this time. Europe led with their top man last time (Lee Westwood) so we expect Rory to be sent out first by his skipper. A rookie the last time, you could say he has come on a bit since then.
Top points scorer overall, Ian Poulter, 16/1
In three previous appearances the English golfer has picked up eight points. With four points garnered in 2008 and three last time out, he has never even halved a Singles match and has had success in partnership with Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. I expect Poulter to play a minimum of four, if not five, matches this weekend so I reckon he is the best value to be had.
Hole in one, 4/1
There have only been six holes–in-one in the history of the Ryder Cup (the last two occurring at The K Club in 2006), but with Medinah having four Par 3s we think there is a decent shot of one of the 24 players pulling off the trick this weekend.
Top US Wildcard scorer, Brandt Snedeker, 10/3
The boy might be a rookie but we like the cut of Brandt Snedeker. Yes, his name may look like a particularly awful round of Countdown but he has just pocketed a monster $11.4million in the last week for winning the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship. He should be in very good mood then, and, more importantly, in very good form. Add in his more than decent showing in the World Matchplay this year and we fancy the Nashville man to outscore fellow Wildcard picks Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk.
Graeme McDowell to hole the winning putt, 18/1
Okay, this bet will require more than a slice of luck. Firstly it needs Europe to win and I am far from sure that Jose Maria Olazabal’s men can pull off that trick. Secondly, we will be completely in the dark as to the order that the Spaniard will send his men out in the Singles.
Last time out G-Mac sealed the deal and we expect him to be sent out close to the end this time. Add in that the list of Irish men who have secured victory in the Ryder Cup is frankly ludicrous (G-Mac, Paul McGinley, Christy O’Connor Jnr, Philip Walton) and we think there is a chance this might pay off late on Sunday night.
All odds courtesy of Paddy Power
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