Thomas Pieters of Europe poses with his girlfriend Eva Bossearts as they depart the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 ahead of the 2016 Ryder Cup on September 26, 2016 in London, England.
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The 41st Ryder Cup starts on Friday morning with the opening foursomes matches. Jamie Donaldson sealed the deal with a memorable nine-iron to kick-in range to topple Keegan Bradley and clinch the cup.
Points: Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup.
In the 18 Ryder Cups since the format pitted Europe against the U.S. in 1979, the Americans have claimed just seven wins – the last one in 2008 at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky.
That is the opinion of one of golf’s foremost performance psychologists, Dr Bob Rotella, as the build-up to next week’s contest at Hazeltine intensifies.
And somehow, European captain Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland has convinced nearly everybody that his team is the underdog. You can’t go out there feeling pressure or tight. The 1991 “War on the Shore” at Kiawah Island came down to the United States leading by one point with Hale Irwin playing Germany’s Bernhard Langer in the last singles match. You have to get guys to forget about their individual records.
“At no time in any event are we reliant on a captain and his support team for strategy, geared up in the same kit and battling against the might of the Americans”.
“I’ve had words with them already, I’ll be having words with them on that flight and I’ll be having words with them when they get there”, said Foster, who will see the White Rose ranks swelled further later in the week when South Yorkshire coaches Pete Cowen and Mike Walker arrive. “Even (Lee) Westwood, I don’t know if he can make putts in Ryder Cup pressure.
But certainly, I have been thinking about things along with the vice captains and we have been working on numerous things but I’m sure Davis has done as much preparation as he can as well”.
Sky Sports’ coverage will include commentary and analysis from former European captains Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley, as well as American golf coach Butch Harmon – who will have a number of his players competing for Team USA.
The popular 46-year-old carded a final round 4-under 66 on Sunday at the 30-man Tour Championship to finish in a lowly 22nd position on the leaderboard, but the real fireworks came when Mickelson fronted the media after signing his card.
That was the same day the Americans took a 10-6 lead into the final day at Medinah, only for Europe to produce the greatest comeback by a visiting team. “So you know what, it’s up to us to go there and try to upset the odds”.
There are numerous theories to explain the United States’ Ryder Cup troubles: that the Europeans play more match play growing up, that they care more about the Ryder Cup that the US players, and that the Americans are more singular in their approach to the game.
The Americans had lost two straight Ryder Cups when Raymond Floyd took over as captain in 1989 at The Belfry and summoned his inner Hogan.
“This might be the greatest team in USA history”, Sutton said after announcing they would be in the opening match. The bottom line is it doesn’t matter if you want to blame individuals or the captain – both sides all have to buy in. He did an unbelievable job.
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“You’d have to say America would be favourites … if you’re going to look off world rankings, etc”. You can focus a lot on the fact that there are six rookies on the team but I really don’t think these guys are going to be afraid when it comes to the Ryder Cup.
