Stanley
09-13-2004, 09:22 AM
Europe +1.5pts to beat U.S.A. Evens @ Bet365 [3pts]
"There is no "I" in "Europe", but there is in "America"" and "The Americans play like a side, the Europeans play like a team" may be well-worn clichés, but they do highlight why the European team consistently plays above itself in this event. On paper, the American team again have the better players, but the same was true in 2002 when it was forecast to be the most lopsided match since 1981. It was, but in Europe's favour!
In the last 20 years, the European team has won five, lost three and drawn one Ryder Cup, while there have been four matches played on American soil where each team has won twice with the Europeans never losing by more than a single point. Combine that with a European Ryder Cup team that has never played as much on the PGA Tour or performed, collectively, as well in the U.S. Open - Oak Hill is reported to be setup along U.S. Open guidelines - and this European team looks better-prepared than any previous team to win on American soil. Even the GB&I Walker Cup team has won the last three Walker Cups, including a 15-9 defeat of the American side at Sea Island, Georgia in 2001.
I expect the European team will win this match, but history suggests it is close when the Americans play on home soil. So a "safe" play of a +1.5pts handicap seems the best solution. After all, with a +1.5pts handicap, Europe would be the winner in nine out out of the last ten Ryder Cups and in all five matches in the United States. Not bad for evens!
"There is no "I" in "Europe", but there is in "America"" and "The Americans play like a side, the Europeans play like a team" may be well-worn clichés, but they do highlight why the European team consistently plays above itself in this event. On paper, the American team again have the better players, but the same was true in 2002 when it was forecast to be the most lopsided match since 1981. It was, but in Europe's favour!
In the last 20 years, the European team has won five, lost three and drawn one Ryder Cup, while there have been four matches played on American soil where each team has won twice with the Europeans never losing by more than a single point. Combine that with a European Ryder Cup team that has never played as much on the PGA Tour or performed, collectively, as well in the U.S. Open - Oak Hill is reported to be setup along U.S. Open guidelines - and this European team looks better-prepared than any previous team to win on American soil. Even the GB&I Walker Cup team has won the last three Walker Cups, including a 15-9 defeat of the American side at Sea Island, Georgia in 2001.
I expect the European team will win this match, but history suggests it is close when the Americans play on home soil. So a "safe" play of a +1.5pts handicap seems the best solution. After all, with a +1.5pts handicap, Europe would be the winner in nine out out of the last ten Ryder Cups and in all five matches in the United States. Not bad for evens!