Introduction to the Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a prestigious golf tournament that brings together the best golfers from Europe and the United States. The tournament is currently underway, with Europe leading the U.S. by three points, 5.5-2.5, after the first day. The odds are currently in favor of Europe, with a -250 to lift the trophy, while the U.S. is at +190.
Saturday’s Pairings
The pairings for Saturday’s matches have been announced, with the first match starting at 7:10 a.m. ET at Bethpage Black in New York. The matches are as follows:
- Match 1: Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Åberg vs. USA’s Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young
- Match 2: Europe’s Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood vs. USA’s Harris English and Collin Morikawa
- Match 3: Europe’s Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton vs. USA’s Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay
- Match 4: Europe’s Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland vs. USA’s Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler
Analysis from Golf Analysts
Kelley Bydlon
Kelley Bydlon is pleased with the current standings, as she had bet on Europe to win the Ryder Cup. She notes that the European team’s heavyweights, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm, have been performing well, but there are concerns about the bottom end of their roster. Bydlon expects Europe to continue rolling out their top players, including Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Fleetwood. She also suggests that the U.S. team will rely more on players like Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Justin Thomas.
Wes Reynolds
Wes Reynolds notes that the U.S. team did not get swept in the Friday morning foursomes, but still trails Europe by three points. He analyzes the Saturday morning foursomes matches, including the match between Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young vs. Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick. Reynolds suggests that the U.S. team needs to win this session to make up ground, but it will be a tough task against the strong European teams.
Matt Brown
Matt Brown is critical of the U.S. team’s captain, Keegan Bradley, for his pairings and decisions. Brown suggests that the captains should be decades removed from the current players or be a coach who knows the sport, players, and game theory. He notes that the U.S. team is not outmanned, but is being put in the worst possible position to succeed. Brown also comments on the betting side of things, suggesting that the three-way market can be used to reduce the price.
Conclusion
The Ryder Cup is heating up, with Europe currently leading the U.S. by three points. The Saturday pairings have been announced, and the matches are expected to be intense. Golf analysts Kelley Bydlon, Wes Reynolds, and Matt Brown provide their insights and analysis on the tournament, including the performance of the teams and players. As the tournament continues, it will be interesting to see how the teams strategize and perform, and who will ultimately emerge as the winner.
