Here’s my player-by-player rundown of Team Europe, including their Ryder Cup records and best prices (at the time of writing) to be Top European Points Scorer.
Sergio Garcia 4/1 Ladbrokes (5.1 Betfair)
15 wins from 20 matches
Still looking for his first Major, but Ryder Cups are a different matter altogether and he’s well on his way to becoming Europe’s highest ever scorer – currently trails Nick Faldo by 11 points. Expect him to play the maximum five matches, as he has done in each of his previous appearances. A worthy favourite.
Padraig Harrington 11/2 totesport
8 points from 17 matches
The dual Major winner as a great Ryder Cup pedigree, but his long hard summer may be catching up with him. Since winning the Open for a second time in July, his form has dipped alarmingly and he has been complaining of ‘fatigue’. The question for punters is: Can he go to the well one more time?
Lee Westwood 6/1 William Hill
15.5 points from 25 matches
Garcia aside, no-one else comes close to matching Westwood’s Ryder Cup record, and he too has played the maximum five matches in each of his appearances. Has struck up a formidable partnership with Garcia in fourballs and foursomes, so expect more of the same, providing he’s over his recent bout of tonsillitis.
Henrik Stenson 8/1 Paddy Power
1.5 points from 3 matches
Holed the winning putt at the K Club on his Ryder Cup debut and has since taken his game to another level, making the frame in both the Open and PGA Championships. Arguably though, his best performances have come in matchplay events – winner of the WGC Matchplay in 2007 and a semi-finalist this year – so he clearly relishes this format.
Justin Rose 12/1 VCbet
Ryder Cup debut
A belated debut for one of Europe’s leading lights, and he’s earned it too having played his way into the team competing in some of the lesser events on the European Tour – instead of relying on a wild-card pick. His experience in the States will stand him in good stead and he’s widely expected to team up with his good mate Ian Poulter. Key player.
Paul Casey 10/1 Boylesports
4 points from 6 matches
It’s been a largely disappointing year for Casey, but he has played some of his best golf in the States and has shown a liking for matchplay golf so, on balance, he deserves his wild-card –his 67% Ryder Cup record would have helped his cause too. What’s more, his big-hitting style is perfect for Valhalla.
Ian Poulter 16/1 Skybet
1 point from 2 matches
Dodged the last qualifying event to play in America, prompting allegations that he’d already been assured of his place by Nick Faldo, at the exclusion of the in-form Darren Clarke. That heaps more pressure on him, but you can say one thing for Poulter: he’s a battler and he could turn out to be one of Europe’s key players this time.
Robert Karlsson 11/1 Skybet
1 point from 3 matches
The Swede was in stellar form in the first part of the year, but his form had tailed off and he was beginning to look a bit of a liability - until last week that is! Both he and Captain Nick Faldo will have had cause to celebrate his win in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, his first win in two years, and he can look forward to this week with renewed confidence.
Miguel Angel Jimenez 16/1 BetDirect
3 points form 9 matches
At 44, he’s the oldest player by far but has looked far from a player in decline this season with two European victories and good efforts in the US Majors. And he’s another who will take great confidence from last week. His final round 66 was the best of the day and it took him up to third place, after which he said: “I feel good and feel like I can make a score and that's’ a very good feeling.”
Graeme McDowell 22/1 sportingbet
Ryder Cup debut
Played his way into the team with two lucrative Tour wins in 2008, most recently the Scottish Open in July, where he showed the strong temperament that is required this week. Making his Ryder Cup debut, but is far from new to this format having played in the 2001 Walker Cup winning side.
Soren Hansen 28/1 Stan James
Ryder Cup debut
One of the most consistent players on Tour, but rarely a winner – only two Tour titles this century. His lack of State-side experience is of more concern though, and it’s hard to see him playing more than two matches at best. Rank outsider.
Oliver Wilson 50/1 bet365
Ryder Cup debut
Incredibly for one of his talent, he’s still looking for his first professional title, and this might be one Ryder Cup too soon for him. Like Hansen, it’s hard to see him being involved much before Sunday’s singles. More like 500/1.
Verdict:
Don’t expect a shock in this market; and be prepared for a dead-heat. In the last two Ryder Cups, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were tied top points scorers, while Monty came out on top in the previous three renewals. That effectively rules out half the field, and I’m going for the bleedin’ obvious in Garcia. The simple reason being that he’s fast becoming one of the best Ryder Cuppers ever and his record in the fourballs / foursomes (with a variety of partners I should add) is an incredible 14 out of a possible 16 points. Enough said. Stenson and Casey are the dangers.
Bet: Sergio Garcia 4pts @ 4/1 Ladbrokes (5.1 Betfair)