Ryder Cup Insights Pack
Everything you need for your Ryder Cup bets
Ryder Cup Preview
History
The Ryder Cup trophy was first provided by English businessman Samuel Ryder in 1927 at the inaugural game between Great Britain and the USA. Players from Ireland were allowed to qualify for team selection over time, and the Ryder Cup as we know it — Europe vs. USA – was established in 1979 to make the competition more competitive than it had been in prior years.
As a result, the Ryder Cup has established itself as one of the world's most prestigious athletic events. Every two years, a match play format pits 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States against one other.
Three of the most exciting days in sport, grabbing millions of fans across the world, theatre, incredible acts of greatness, team bonding, and sportsmanship under extreme pressure. It's an event that exceeds the expectations of all sports fans, not just golf enthusiasts.
The United States has won 26 of the 42 matches played in the Cup's history, compared to only 14 for Europe. However, because Team Europe was only formed in 1979, this figure is misleading and one that many overlooks when evaluating the modern-day Ryder Cup.
Since the entrance of European players, Europe has won 11 of the past 20 Ryder Cup events, losing 8 and drawing one. Team Europe has been particularly dominating on home soil, winning six and losing one of nine matches, whilst Team USA has only won five of the nine contests so far. Furthermore, the Europeans have performed well away from home, winning four of 10 games in scary and difficult conditions, but the Americans have only achieved two wins and one tie on European territory. Overall, Europe has consistently produced their best golf, although Team USA is more likely to win at home and that’s what we have in store in the 2020RyderCup that’s taking place in 2021 due to the COVID 19 issue we faced during the past 18 months.
Ryder Cup Fun Facts
Matches: 42
Most appearances on a team: 12
Phil Mickelson (USA), 1995–2018
Most points: 25.5
Sergio García (Eur) (22–11–7 record)
Most singles points won: 7
Colin Montgomerie (Eur) (6–0–2 record)
Billy Casper (USA) (6–2–2 record)
Lee Trevino (USA) (6–2–2 record)
Arnold Palmer (USA) (6–3–2 record)
Neil Coles (GB&I) (5–6–4 record)
Most foursome points won: 11½
Bernhard Langer (Eur) (11–6–1 record)
Sergio García (Eur) (10–4–3 record)
Most fourball points won: 10½
Ian Woosnam (Eur) (10–3–1 record)
José María Olazábal (Eur) (9–2–3 record)
Most points won by a pairing: 12
Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal (Eur) (11–2–2 record)
Players and captains
· Youngest player: Sergio Garcia (19 years and 258 days)
· Oldest player: Raymond Floyd (51 years and 20 days)
· Youngest Ryder Cup captain: Arnold Palmer (34 years and 31 days)
· Oldest Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson (65 years and 22 days)
· Most successful Ryder Cup captain: Walter Hagen (4 victories)
· Most appearances on a team: 12 (Phil Mickelson 1995-2018)
Most matches played:
· Phil Mickelson 47
· Sir Nick Faldo 46
· Lee Westwood 44
· Bernhard Langer 42
· Neil Coles 40
Most common nationalities of European players:
· English 22
· Spanish 11
· Swedish 10
· Scottish 7
· Northern Irish 5
· Denmark 1
Performance Stats
· Largest margin of victory—singles: 8&7* (Tom Kite, USA, def. Howard Clark, Europe, in 1989 / Fred Couples, USA. def. Ian Woosnam, Europe, in 1997)
Most points:
· Sergio Garcia 25.5
· Sir Nick Faldo 25
· Bernhard Langer 24
· Colin Montgomerie/Billy Casper 23.5
· Lee Westwood/Arnold Palmer 23
6 / hole-in-ones (5 for Europe, 1 for USA)
· Peter Butler (16th at Muirfield, 1973)
· Sir Nick Faldo (14th at The Belfry, 1993)
· Costantino Rocca (6th at Oak Hill, 1995)
· Howard Clark (11th at Oak Hill, 1995)
· Paul Casey (14th at The K Club, 2006)
· Scott Verplank (14th at The K Club, 2006)
3 / undefeated partnerships:
· Arnold Palmer/Gardner Dickinson
· Jack Nicklaus/Billy Casper
· Jack Nicklaus/Tom Watson
Most matches lost:
· Neil Coles/Christy O’Connor Sr. 21
Most foursome matches lost:
· Bernard Hunt 9
Most four-ball matches lost:
· Sir Nick Faldo 9
Team and Staff Overview
Captains
On February 20, 2019, Steve Stricker, a native of Edgerton, Wisconsin, near Madison, was named US captain.
On January 8, 2019, Pádraig Harrington was named European captain.
Vice Captains
Jim Furyk was named as Stricker's first vice captain.
Zach Johnson and Davis Love III were announced as the next two vice captains on May 11, 2020.
Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples were selected as Stricker's final two vice-captains on September 1, 2021.
Robert Karlsson was named Harrington's first vice-captain in September 2019.
In an interview in May 2020, he inadvertently revealed his second vice-captain pick, Luke Donald. Harrington named two more vice-captains in June 2021 Martin Kaymer and Graeme Mcdowell
Player Records
USA
Europe
Players To Watch
USA
Patrick Cantlay
1st in Birdies made on Pete Dye course over the past 50 rounds
Comes in after winning back to back events
Deceptively long of the tee box which will suit
Has the game to go low in fourballs and the discipline to be a perfect partner in foursomes
Scottie Scheffler
Proved his liking for match play earlier this year when making the final of the world match play championships
A prolific birdie maker and elite iron player will stand him in good stead when player
A player I will be looking at each day when the matches are announced
Justin Thomas
4 points from 5 on debut on a losing team in France
3rd in SG Approach play on Pete Dye Courses, his elite level iron play makes him a player no European will want to face
5th in Proximity to the hole stats at Pete Dye Tracks
JT also possesses a very underrated shoer game which will make him a key player for the USA in all 3 formats Foursomes, Fourballs & Singles
Will play alongside his childhood friend in Spieth and that will be a tough team to take down
· He will be popular in the Top Point scorer market and rightly so
Europe
Viktor Hovland
The most exciting rookie on the European team, he won’t fear anyone he faces this week and will be a player that the USA team will be sacred off.
He sits 4th in in Proximity to the hole at Pete Dye Tracks
He sits 3RD in fairways gained despite his length of the tee, he is a world class driver of the ball
4th in opportunities gained
Everything you would want in your armoury; he will be a player I look to get onside especially if he is picked against some of the big names on the USA team. He certainly has the talent to all his matches
John Rahm
Rory will be the leader of the European team but in terms of current play and stats Rahm is the top dog.
Long and accurate of the tee, arguable intense pressure he will relish this opportunity. He only player 3 match in France in 2018 I expect he will be playing all 5 this week and could easily be victorious in all. He will be a player I consider for Top European points scorer.
Paul Casey
1st in Proximity to the hole at Pete Dye courses over the last 50 rounds
he is third in strokes gained tee to green at Pete Dye tracks over the past 50 rounds
Third in approach play at Pete Dye tracks over the past 50 rounds
His experience will stand him in good stead, and I expect him to be a key player for the European team he is also someone I will be considering in the top point scorer market
Sergio Garcia
Had to rely on a captain pick to be involved this week but he has returned to form over the last month and is the leading point scorer in Ryder Cup history for the European team
one of the best drivers in the world which makes him a great partner in foursomes and a force to be reckoned with in fourballs
I'm convinced Sergio will play an important role in the foursome's golf played on the first two days his experience will be vital to the European team and his leadership will help. I expect to see him paired with a rookie and share his vast experience to carry them over the line.
Sergio is also one of the world's elite iron players and he's dangerous in both the fourball and singles format, he comes alive in the Ryder Cup.
The Course and Key Skills Sets Required
A long and demanding test awaits the players, this tough Par 71 at circa 7390 yards will challenge the top players in the game as they look to take home the Ryder Cup
Open, rugged, and windswept terrain defines the walking-only, links-style Strait’s course sculpted along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. A masterpiece in the world of golf created by Pete Dye, The Straits at Whistling Straits was ranked number 3 in Golf Digest’s 2019/2020 America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, number 5 in Golfweek’s 2018 Best Resort Courses, and number 21 in Golf Digest’s 2019/2020 America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
Let’s take a look at how the course may play and what skill sets will be required by these 24 players on shows
5 Key Skill Sets
1. Driving Distance – As we can see in the graphic below provided by data golf, this demanding layout favours player who are above average of the tee box, the course doesn’t penalise wayward driving like some courses and you can be sure Captain Sticker took this into account when selecting his wild cards. Kevin Na and Kevin Kisner were both players in form that have been left out and this key skill set could give us the reason why.
2. SG Approach – The course put pressure on the approach game of all players and those that can hit in close are going to have a huge advantage. When looking at players to support when the matches are announced then look no further than those with amazing SG Approach stats
3. Birdies or Better scoring – To win your matches, players will need to score plenty of birdies. It is unlikely you are going to find your form at the Ryder Cup itself under the immense pressure of the team game, whether you be a seasoned player or a rookie. Look for players who having amazing birdie stats. Team USA have 6 of the top 8 Birdie makers over the past 50 rounds on Tour
4. SG Around the Green - Getting up and down when in trouble around the greens his key to keeping the pressure on your opponents in match play golf those players that are able to give away no easy holes will put consistent pressure on their opponent. In foursomes golf this skill set will be required even more as par becomes a good score
5. Proximity to the Hole - As we have touched on birdies are the order of the day when it comes to fourballs and singles. This is 1 area the European team look strong with Paul Casey Viktor Hovland and Tyrell Hatton all showing a real liking to Pete dye courses under in the top five players for proximity to the hole over the last 50 rounds. Ryder Cup matches aren't traditionally worn with pars and this stat correlates nicely with strokes gained approached and birdies or better scoring those players that struggle with their iron play over the first two days will be the ones I want to be against when the pressure is high, and the world is watching
Player Rankings
We have talked about the key skill sets that are going to be required from the players this week in order to be successful. Hello is a table with the player rankings from 1 to 24 for each of the key skill sets that will come into play this week.
The ranking is taken from data on PETE DYE Courses only over the last 50 rounds.
Strokes gained stats key skill set area’s
Outright Pick
Reasons Why
Team USA have 6 of the top 8 Birdie makers over the past 50 rounds on Tour
Team USA have 5 of the top 5 Birdie makers on Pete Dye layouts, Cantlay, BDC, Brooks, Morikawa and DJ
The Home team have won 82% of events since the turn of the century – home advantage is playing a bigger role than ever as captain can use all the state of the art computer science and stats to set the courses up to favour their players
The European team have players seriously out of form, think Westwood, Hatton, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick
Slight negative for the US team is the inclusion of 6 Rookies, however there are Major Champs, FedEx champions and Olympic Gold medallists between them so they have pedigree for performing under the most intense pressure.
The Pick
TEAM USA TO WIN – ODDS -190 BETMGM 8/15 William Hill
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