2012 Ryder Cup - Medinah, Illinois, Sept 28-30.

[Flight19]

Well the Europe side has been sorted, Harrington losing out after a woeful performance in the Barclays.

Poulter & Colsaerts Handed Ryder Cup Picks

2:03pm 27th August 2012.

Kaymer Takes Last Ryder Cup Place

Martin Kaymer claimed the final qualification spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team after Nicolas Colsaerts missed out at Gleneagles.

Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal has announced his full team for next month's Ryder Cup by naming Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts as wildcard selections.

The pair join the ten players who qualified automatically through the points system.

Poulter, who will be playing in his fourth Ryder Cup, was the highest points scorer for either side in 2008 and won three points out of four two years ago at Celtic Manor.

Colsaerts, who is the current World Matchplay champion, is the only rookie on the European team and will also become the first Belgian to play in the event.

At the team announcement at Gleneagles, Olazabal said: "Everyone of you guessed Ian was going to be there for obvious reasons. He has a great Ryder Cup record, he was playing well - he had some issues earlier in the season, he got ill and he couldn't play as much - but he is cured and his attitude and spirit in the Ryder Cup team has always been great.

"He likes to be in that situation, it gets the best out of him playing the Ryder Cup.

"Nicolas is a rookie, the only rookie in the team, we have an experienced team. His matchplay record is very good, he has a very solid season.

"And on top of that he has made the extra effort to try to make the team. He showed me he wanted to be a part of the team."

The European team will defend the Ryder Cup at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois from the 28th to 30th of September.

Europe Team: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter & Nicolas Colsaerts.

Looks like a decent side to me with the exception of Sergio, I'm not sure his recent form can be trusted.

[Mr Lick]

Well both Kaymer and Woods out of sorts on the first day although some very impressive performances witnessed by the very passionate spectators.

Bradley and Mickelson were unbeatable and Colsaerts had an unbelievable debut in the afternoon.

5-3 to the USA following the eight matches.

2nd Day - Woods not selected play for the first occasion in his 7th Ryder Cup but will play in the afternoon match probably again with Steve Stricker

[can123]

Well both Kaymer and Woods out of sorts on the first day although some very impressive performances witnessed by the very passionate spectators.

The loud-mouthed and ignorant American spectators I have grown to despise. How any rational human being can shout " get in the hole ! " to a golf ball is beyond me. What idiots they are !

[Loy Toy]

How any rational human being can shout " get in the hole ! " to a golf ball is beyond me. What idiots they are !

I agree...........Mashed potato is far more adult like.

[Mr Lick]

Bradley/Mickelson win 7 & 6 in their 4some match thrashing unbeaten pairing Westwood and Donald.

The other 3 matches are close, Colsaerts/Garcia A/S, Poulter/Rose 2 up and Mcilroy/McDowell 2 down

[Mr Lick]

Mcilroy/Mcdowell lose as do Colsaerts/Gracia

Rose/Poulter win 1 up

USA 8 Europe 4


Not sure if i would have selected Garcia to play this afternoon. Hansen only has 1 match under his belt and on form deserves to play

[Mr Lick]

Saturday afternoon 4 balls

D Johnson/Kuchar v Colsaerts/Lawrie
Watson/Simpson v Rose/Molinari
Woods/Stricker v Garcia/Donald
Dufner/Z Johnson v McIlroy/Poulter

[Humbert]

The loud-mouthed and ignorant American spectators I have grown to despise. How any rational human being can shout " get in the hole ! " to a golf ball is beyond me. What idiots they are !

Sour grapes from the village idiot because his side is losing.

[laymond]

^the yanks must be the worst spectators in the world,they even clapped when one of the boys went in the water(wtf)USA,USA,USA,USA,IN THE HOLE,IN THE HOLE,IN THE HOLE,what a bunch of clowns,fooked up a great contest for me.the american golfers must be embarresed?no wonder the rest of the world hate there guts.

[Mr Lick]

Saturday fourballs

• Watson/Simpson beat Rose/Molinari 5&4
• Johnson/Kuchar beat Colsaerts/Lawrie 1 up
• Woods/Stricker lost to Garcia/Donald 1 up
• Dufner/Johnson lost to McIlroy/Poulter 1 up

USA 10 Europe 6


The United States took five of the eight points on offer on Saturday to go into the final day's play of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah with a 10-6 lead.

Inspired once again by the all-conquering pairing of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III's team won three of the four morning foursomes and looked like repeating the trick in the afternoon's fourballs.

But dramatic late points from Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy and the brilliant Ian Poulter - his third of the competition - gave Europe late hope of an unlikely comeback.

"That was unbelievable," said Poulter, who notched up his 11th victory in 14 matches, despite being two down with six holes to play.

"We had to get something going. From then on my putter warmed up nicely, having been pretty cold for the first 13 holes.

"Then it just went crazy. It was tough out there. We're in Chicago, they've had a few drinks today and they weren't making it easy for us. I will be honest, it was brutal."

• The hosts were consistently superior on the slippery, sloping Medinah greens, nailing clutch putts as Europe's players struggled to read the fast lines.

Since the competition expanded to include mainland Europe in 1979, the biggest comeback on the final day of singles came at Brookline in 1999, when the US overhauled a 10-6 deficit on the Sunday to win by a single point.

If that is a chastening statistic for the visitors' captain Jose Maria Olazabal, he knows his side will have no chance at all unless there is a dramatic reversal of form from the first two days.

The gap between the two sides has at times been immense, not only on the overall scoreboard but in too many individual matches.

In a horribly one-sided morning session, Mickelson and Keegan Bradley had equalled the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history as the US roared out to an 8-4 lead.

The American pairing had won both their foursomes and fourballs matches on Friday and were even more dominant in a crushing 7&6 win over Luke Donald and Lee Westwood.

Their margin was almost matched in the afternoon by Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson's 5&4 butchering of Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.

Watson has been one of the darlings of the pumped-up Medinah crowd, and his huge driving on a course with almost no rough, allied to Simpson's vastly improved putting, were a matchless combination.

Dustin Johnson drained a 30-footer on the 17th green to establish a late winning lead for his pairing with Matt Kuchar over Paul Lawrie and Nicolas Colsaerts as Europe came close to capitulation.

In a see-saw match, the Belgian rookie Colsaerts almost holed his approach to rescue a half on the 18th.

But as so often on a frustrating afternoon the European ball flirted with the hole yet refused to drop, and when Colsaerts could only run the resulting 15-foot putt past the right edge, the American pair had the point.

Garcia and Donald had been four-up on Woods and Stricker at the turn, only for a previously out-of-touch Woods to find his touch on the back nine and embark on a birdie blitz.

A nerveless eight-foot putt from Donald on the 15th restored a two-hole advantage with three to play before Woods conjured up yet another birdie on 16 to leave Europe just one up.


Peter Alliss BBC Sport

"Poulter's putt on the last cheered up the Europeans. It didn't save the day but it certainly helped. He birdied the last five holes which was quite amazing.

It gave back some pride to the Europeans who were down in the dumps and looking beaten after the morning foursomes.

I'm not saying they're going to go on and win it but it's given them a chance of giving it a good go.

It could be electrifying stuff but the crowd is entirely behind the United States team and their team is certainly feeding off that and playing well."



After brilliant tee-shots from both Woods and Donald on the 17th the match came down to a Stricker putt on the 18th, and he could only lip out from eight feet to send his pairing to their third defeat in three.

But it was the miraculous late charge of Poulter that kept alive European hopes, five birdies on the bounce clawing back a two-hole deficit on Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson before nerveless putting on the 17th and 18th secured the precious point.

Earlier in the day, Dufner and Johnson had beaten Garcia and Colsaerts 2&1 while Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker saw off Graeme McDowell and McIlroy.

Europe's solitary point of the morning was won by the fired-up Poulter and Rose, who survived a seven-foot Simpson birdie attempt on the 18th to hang on one up.

The Englishmen won three holes out of four from the ninth to go two up after 12, an advantage they maintained until the 16th when Rose missed a five-foot putt to allow the Americans to win with a bogey.

Rose atoned for that miss with a terrific 40-foot putt on the last, which was conceded, but Simpson still had a 10-foot putt to win the hole and halve the match only to slide it by.

McIlroy and McDowell's match was a repeat of Friday morning's foursomes, and as then it went down to the last hole.

The Northern Irish duo failed to sink a single birdie putt until McIlroy's effort on the 16th - their four on the par-five 14th had been conceded - reduced their deficit to one down.

However, the world number one missed a 10-foot putt to win the 17th and level the match.

On the par-four 18th, Furyk kept his nerve to find the green with his second shot while McDowell's approach landed in the greenside rough. McIlroy's chip drifted past the hole and when Snedeker rolled his putt to a foot, Europe conceded to lose the match by one hole.

In the other match, Colsaerts struggled to find the form he showed on Friday afternoon when he rolled in eight birdies and an eagle.

The Belgian did sink a birdie putt from 12 feet on the 11th to level his and Garcia's match but he then missed from two feet on the 13th as they fell two holes down.

Overnight, Olazabal had delivered a stinging pep-talk to his team. But once again it was the home side who snatched the early initiative and an advantage that should prove decisive. Europe's golfers must produce a historic turnaround in Sunday's singles if they are to retain the Ryder Cup after another day of American domination.

[Mr Lick]

Ryder Cup 2012: Donald to lead European singles charge


Luke Donald will play Bubba Watson in the opening singles match on the final day of the Ryder Cup as Europe seek to overturn the United States's 10-6 lead.
Captain Jose Maria Olazabal has put four of his most experienced players at the top of the order with Ian Poulter second out against Webb Simpson.
Rory McIlroy faces Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose takes on Phil Mickelson.
World number two Tiger Woods is the last man out for the United States, against Francesco Molinari.
Sunday's singles (USA first)

1703 BST: Watson v Donald
1714: Simpson v Poulter
1725: Bradley v McIlroy
1736: Mickelson v Rose
1747: Snedeker v Lawrie
1758: D Johnson v Colsaerts
1809: Z Johnson v McDowell
1820: Furyk v Garcia
1831: Dufner v Hanson
1842: Kuchar v Westwood
1853: Stricker v Kaymer
1704: Woods v Molinari



Woods faced the Italian two years ago at Celtic Manor, winning 4&3.

As holders, Europe need to score eight points from the 12 singles to reach 14 points and retain the Ryder Cup while the United States need to pick up four and-a-half points to reclaim the trophy.

Olazabal remains upbeat that his side can create history in Illinois despite the Americans having never lost more than a two-point advantage on the last day since the compeition began in 1927.

The Spaniard said: "It's been done in the past. Things have not gone our way, especially on the greens, but I believe that momentum will come our way.

"We could not hide anything. We are trailing by four points and we have to put the players that are playing well up there.

"We knew the Amercans would know that but if we want to win this match we have to take the big guys down.

"I believe that it's not over. That's what I learned from Seve [Ballesteros] and what I tried to pass to the players. It's not over until it's over."

Paul Lawrie, who is fifth out against Brandt Snedeker, played in the same team as Olazabal when the United States produced the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history, overturning a 10-6 deficit to win at Brookline in 1999.

The Scot was one of just three Europeans who were victorious on that final day when the US picked up eight and-a-half points.


Peter Alliss BBC Sport

"A European victory can still happen but they have to get away to a good start.

There is no point Olazabal keeping who he deems to be his best players to the end.

Europe have to get points on the board so there is no point putting them out last when all could be lost."



And he said: "There's still 12 singles matches. We can all win and why not?
"It's certainly not over. It would be nice to make a big comeback, so we'll see what happens.

"It's always possible. Until it's impossible to do it, then you fight on, certainly for Jose Maria this week. No one is going to be giving up."

Europe will play in the blue and white colours favured by the late Ballesteros, who died in May 2011 after a long battle with a brain tumour.

Fellow Spaniard Olazabal was his partner for much of his Ryder Cup career and the players will have the image of Ballesteros on their bags as well as his silhouette on their shirts.

"We have Seve's blue and white, Seve on the bag and his right-hand man as our captain hopefully seeing us home," said Poulter, who has won all three of his matches at Medinah.




Looking at those pairings i might fancy a european fightback although 8 points from 12 is asking a lot. Much will depend on how the USA approach their matches. Will they be content to fall over the line or smash the europeans into submission early on.

McIlroy can either be brilliant or completely off course. His match against in form hero Bradley is certainly one to savour.

USA need 4.5 points and i can't see that happening within the first 9 matches so we may see the winning putt coming from one of the final 3 americans. Stricker v Kaymer would be my bet.

It'll be a very tense and magnificent final day as always.

[Humbert]

^the yanks must be the worst spectators in the world,they even clapped when one of the boys went in the water(wtf)USA,USA,USA,USA,IN THE HOLE,IN THE HOLE,IN THE HOLE,what a bunch of clowns,fooked up a great contest for me.the american golfers must be embarresed?no wonder the rest of the world hate there guts.

But I bet you liked the Eurotard who hired the airplane to write taunts in the sky over the golf course.

[mackayae]

I liked the tribute to Seve which was made in the sky above the course. One commentator said: that was clever, how did they do that? The other commentator replied: maybe Seve had something to do with it, he's up there, you know.

[Mr Lick]

My predictions:-

Match 1.- Steady Luke to beat the cavalierish and often brutal Bubba Watson

Match 2 - The incredible Ian Poulter to beat Webb Simpson

Match 3 - The undefeated Bradley to beat Rory

Match 4 - Mickelson to halve with Rose

Match 5 - Snedeker to beat Lawrie

Match 6 - Colsaerts to beat Dustin

Match 7 - McDowell to beat Zac

Match 8 - Furyk to beat Garcia

Match 9 - Hanson to beat Dufner

Match 10 - Kucher to halve with Westwood

Match 11 - Stricker to beat Kaymer

Match 12 - Woods to halve with Molinari


Golf is a funny old game so i wouldn't expect to get more than 3 correct on that list.

The americans have played quite brilliantly on the first 2 days and their 4 point lead is well deserved. The crowd has pulled them along and to be fair i haven't seen/heard of any complaints from the european team on the passion displayed. When the US comes to europe they receive similar treatment nowadays. The conservative 'oh bad luck,*cough*' long since past. That's what makes the Ryder Cup one of the most exciting and passionate competitions on the planet.

[can123]

The loud-mouthed and ignorant American spectators I have grown to despise. How any rational human being can shout " get in the hole ! " to a golf ball is beyond me. What idiots they are !

Sour grapes from the village idiot because his side is losing.

I listened carefully and soon realised that it was the same idiots who were making all the noise. Not all Americans are noisy drunks but it appears that most are too cowardly to prevent such boorish behaviour. The result is of no consequence to me although, even now, it is far from certain. The one sure thing is that all who watch, and listen to it, will gain a very poor impression of American sportsmanship.

Please don't criticise me. Summon up the courage to chide the fools who make your country look second-rate and ignorant. You golfers are fine, your supporters are "shits".

[Mr Lick]

We could blame mainland europe for all the hullaballoo at the Ryder Cup. Before 1979 us British/Irish were mere handclappers when things were going awfully well (which wasn't very often unfortunately).

Since our union with the rest of europe to balance things up a wee bit things have gotten rather boisterous.

I can recall the 1985 event at the Belfry when a few of the US players put their tee shots into the water at the 18th and the european supporters were cheering (possibly in delight that the US opposition were looking likely winners for the first time in in 28 years). Peter Allis was quite astonished by the home crowd's behaviour and things haven't changed that much since.

Stupid/drunken behaviour is/should be dealt with by eviction but the cheering and friendly booing is a part of the game now. It all creates a great atmosphere which the players have now accepted.

Davis Love informed the euro team to expect a rowdy welcome and i suspect the reply was 'bring it on'.

Have to mention, having just watched a re-run of yesterday's 4balls that Ian Poulter was just incredible, 5 birdies in the final 5 holes and didn't he deserve it. These are the unforgetable moments that make the game so great and spectator friendly.

[Mr Lick]

Final Day

Fantastic atmosphere on the first tee in the No. 1 match between Bubba and Luke. Watson refused to tee off again until the crowd made a great deal of noise. Unfortunately he hooked his ball off to the right whilst Luke smacked his in the fairway.

Both on the green in 2.

Birdie for Bubba

Birdie for Luke

We're in for a good'un

[Mr Lick]

Rory McIlroy arrived late due to traffic congestion and is teeing off almost straight away in Match 3 against Bradley. He hits his tee shot off the fairway down the right.

Terrible preparation!

[Mr Lick]

Poulter birdies the 1st with a chip in and Simpson holes his putt A/S

Luke Donald 1 up against Watson

[buriramboy]

Projected score: USA 15-13 Europe
Bubba Watson v Luke Donald 3 up after 11
Webb Simpson A/S Ian Poulter after 9
Keegan Bradley v Rory McIlroy 2 up after 9
Phil Mickelson v Justin Rose 1 up after 9
Brandt Snedeker v Paul Lawrie 2 up after 8
D J'son 1 up v Nicolas Colsaerts after 7
Zach J'son 2 up v Graeme McDowell after 5
Jim Furyk A/S Sergio Garcia after 4
Jason Dufner 1 up v Peter Hanson after 4
Matt Kuchar v Lee Westwood 1 up after 4
Steve Stricker 1 up v Martin Kaymer after 2
Tiger Woods A/S Francesco Molinari after 1

[nigelandjan]

How any rational human being can shout " get in the hole

is beyond me. What idiots they are !

Well I have to put my hand up and admit years ago when I used to drink too much lemonade , I did have my moments of frustration

[buriramboy]

Not a good last 30 minutes for Europe.......

Projected score: USA 17-11 Europe
Bubba Watson v Luke Donald 3 up after 15
Webb Simpson A/S Ian Poulter after 13
Keegan Bradley A/S Rory McIlroy after 12
Phil Mickelson A/S Justin Rose after 11
Brandt Snedeker v Paul Lawrie 2 up after 10
D J'son 1 up v Nicolas Colsaerts after 10
Zach J'son 2 up v Graeme McDowell after 9
Jim Furyk 1 up v Sergio Garcia after 8
Jason Dufner 3 up v Peter Hanson after 7
Matt Kuchar A/S Lee Westwood after 6
Steve Stricker 1 up v Martin Kaymer after 5
Tiger Woods v Francesco Molinari 1 up after 4

[can123]

Americans fail to win yet again. Do they ever win anything ? I'm eating my grapes and drinking Tiger beer.

[Shrinking Violet]

dont like golf, bores the shit out of me. but to hear a load of over-zealous yanks silenced...yes

[astasinim]

Well done to all who took part. It certainly made for a very nail biting and entertaining competition.

Ryder Cup 2012: Etiquette suspended as Bubba Watson whips up a frenzy | Steve Busfield | Sport | The Guardian
That's part of the Ryder Cup's charm: some of the normal golfing etiquette finds itself suspended, particularly in the US. While the crowd mostly cheers ferociously for its own players and their shots, they are certainly not above cheering when a European hits a poor stroke either. This upsets the purists but there are cultural factors behind it: at other American sporting events, such as basketball, the fans are encouraged to "Make some noise!" to distract the opposition.
The Medinah crowd have certainly been raucous and patriotic but respectful too. Watson tee-shots aside, the crowds are quiet around the tees and greens when the players are addressing the ball. They like a shout, but only after the shot has been played. Quite what the sense of "Get in the hole!" is for a tee-shot at a par-five is unclear.
There was a report of an American fan shouting "Fuck you, Seve!" and occasional comments directed towards the European entourages, particularly the wives and partners, but the idiotic behaviour of random individuals should not detract from the enthusiastic good humour of the vast majority.