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Post by rubcale on Jun 21, 2010 10:33:44 GMT 1
Great news that Graham McDowell has become the first British player since Tony Jacklin 40 years ago to win the US Open finishing one shot ahead of Ernie Els.
He held his nerve together well in the final round.
After he shot a couple of bogeys in the final holes of his third round I thought he was crumbling and wouldn't do it. I didn't think the unknown Dustin Johnson would hold on to his lead but expected someone like Phil Mickelson or Els to come through.
This must mean McDowell will play in the Ryder Cup?
Have to laugh the way his name is pronounced McDOWell to rhyme with cow - it's a common enough name in NI but anyone I know pronounces it to rhyme with DOH!
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Post by Panda on Jun 21, 2010 11:01:21 GMT 1
Great performance to hold his nerve and win.
It's been coming as we've had several near misses but great to finally have a British major winner after an 11 year wait.
I think it's virtually guaranteed he'll be in the Ryder Cup team.
The win takes him up to #2 on the European Ryder Cup World List, with the top 4 qualifying automatically for the team: 1. Lee Westwood 2. Graeme McDowell 3. Rory McIlroy 4. Ian Poulter ------------------------ 5. Luke Donald 6. Padraig Harrington 7. Martin Kaymer 8. Edoardo Molinari 9. Justin Rose 10. Rhys Davies
The top 5 players on the European points list, who haven't qualified through the world rankings also qualify automatically: 1. Lee Westwood 2. Ian Poulter 3. Graeme McDowell 4. Rory McIlroy 5. Ross McGowan 6. Martin Kaymer 7. Luke Donald 8. Simon Dyson 9. Alvaro Quiros --------------------------- 10. Padraig Harrington 11. Francesco Molinari 12. Rhys Davies
The other three members of the team are chosen by captain Colin Montgomerie. It's hard to imagine Padraig Harrington not being chosen if he doesn't qualify automatically. Paul Casey would be another possible choice, leaving the final pick wide open. Maybe he'll go for Rhys Davies as a token Welsh pick, with the Cup being staged there.
Europe's looking very strong at the moment with 19 players in the top 50 of the world rankings, exactly the same number as the USA. However, Europe has 8 in the top 20, compared to the USA's 6.
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Post by rubcale on Jul 18, 2010 19:01:54 GMT 1
Doesn't seem to be any interest in golf here so won't open another thread but the British Open was such a bore today with the South African guy out in front for the whole round.
As sonn as Casey lipped out for a birdie on the 1st you somehow knew it was all over.
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Post by Panda on Jul 19, 2010 10:48:22 GMT 1
Doesn't seem to be any interest in golf here so won't open another thread but the British Open was such a bore today with the South African guy out in front for the whole round. As sonn as Casey lipped out for a birdie on the 1st you somehow knew it was all over. It's The Open! Fair play to Oosthuizen yesterday. Others might've cracked being in front for so long but the truth is no-one got close to him yesterday. Casey was threatening a challenge until that triple bogey on the back 9. It's a shame about McIlroy's second round 80, as he was -16 for his other three rounds.
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Post by rubcale on Jul 19, 2010 12:09:05 GMT 1
It's The Open! Sorry, gettinhg mixed up with Tennis where there's Wimbledon and then they call Flushing Meadows The Open.
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Post by Panda on Aug 16, 2010 10:55:51 GMT 1
Another European major winner as Martin Kaymer won the USPGA last night after a playoff with Bubba Watson. Dustin Johnson was also due to be involved in the playoff but was given a 2-shot penalty for grounding his club in what was deemed to be a bunker on the 18th. He had led by a shot going to the final hole and it's the second time this year he's thrown a major away. He led by 3 going into the final round of the US Open but capitulated under the pressure and shot an 82.
Rory McIlroy finished 3rd, just one shot back after a level par round. He narrowly missed a birdie putt at the last (which saw just one birdie all day) that would've put him into the playoff. McIlroy would've become the youngest major winner of the modern era had he won, beating Tiger Woods' record by 3 days.
The tournament makes the Ryder Cup selections very interesting. Tiger Woods is outside the automatic qualification places for the USA and will need a captain's pick.
Europe Ryder Cup World Points List: 1. Lee Westwood 2. Rory McIlroy 3. Martin Kaymer 4. Graeme McDowell -------------------------- 5. Luke Donald 6. Edoardo Molinari 7. Ian Poulter 8. Padraig Harrington 9. Justin Rose 10. Francesco Molinari
Europe Ryder Cup European Points List: 1. Lee Westwood 2. Martin Kaymer 3. Rory McIlroy 4. Graeme McDowell 5. Ian Poulter 6. Ross Fisher 7. Francesco Molinari 8. Miguel Angel Jiminez 9. Paul Casey ------------------------ 10. Padraig Harrington 11. Ross McGowan 12. Luke Donald
US Ryder Cup Points List: 1. Phil Mickelson 2. Hunter Mahan 3. Bubba Watson 4. Jim Furyk 5. Steve Stricker 6. Dustin Johnson 7. Jeff Overton 8. Matt Kuchar ------------------------ 9. Anthony Kim 10. Zach Johnson 11. Lucas Glover 12. Tiger Woods
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Post by rubcale on Aug 16, 2010 12:04:23 GMT 1
Interesting as to whether Corey Pavin will pick Woods.
Has he really been that much use to the US teamsa in past matches - I don't think he is much of a team player.
Maybe Pavin will be pressured into it.
Ther has been some speculation that Montgomery might pick Bernhard Lager but with quite a few big European names now just missing the automatic spots it doesn't look likely.
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Post by Panda on Aug 16, 2010 13:34:41 GMT 1
Interesting as to whether Corey Pavin will pick Woods. Has he really been that much use to the US teamsa in past matches - I don't think he is much of a team player. Maybe Pavin will be pressured into it. Ther has been some speculation that Montgomery might pick Bernhard Lager but with quite a few big European names now just missing the automatic spots it doesn't look likely. I think Woods probably will be picked just because he's Tiger Woods. He doesn't have a stellar record in the Ryder Cup, winning 3 of his 5 singles matches and just 7 of his 20 fourballs/foursomes matches. His percentage is 44%, which doesn't compare favourably to the likes of Tom Watson (70%), Arnold Palmer (70%) and Jack Nicklaus (66%). That said, Phil Mickelson's percentage is only 43%. Interestingly, of those on the fringes of the European team who've played in the Ryder Cup before, Padraig Harrington surprisingly has the worst percentage with just 40%. Langer would be an interesting pick and he's been playing well but I just can't see it happening. I suspect Monty will pick whichever two from Donald/Casey/Harrington don't make it in automatically. The final pick is more open. Justin Rose has a chance but he could go for Edoardo Molinari to join his brother in the team. Alvaro Quiros could be an outside bet.
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Post by Panda on Aug 23, 2010 10:41:52 GMT 1
Peter Hanson won the Czech Open yesterday to move into the automatic Ryder Cup qualification places with one event to go.
Hanson's now in 8th, with Miguel Angel Jiminez 9th, meaning Paul Casey drops out and will need a captain's pick, along with Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
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Post by rubcale on Aug 23, 2010 12:35:00 GMT 1
Puts Montgomery in a wicked position.
Sadly, no hope for my boy Langer now!
Just been announced that Jiminez is going to play this week so the position could change.
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Post by Panda on Aug 23, 2010 13:59:38 GMT 1
Puts Montgomery in a wicked position. Sadly, no hope for my boy Langer now! Just been announced that Jiminez is going to play this week so the position could change. Smart move from Jiminez, though I don't think it will change much, other than ensuring he stays in the top 9 ahead of McGowan, Dyson, Quiros... It's looking like 3 from Casey, Donald, Harrington, Rose and E Molinari for Monty's picks...
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Post by Panda on Aug 27, 2010 10:55:13 GMT 1
Francesco Molinari is guaranteed a place in the Ryder Cup team after Ross McGowan withdrew from the Johnnie Walker Classic after the first round.
It's now between Hansen, Jiminez, Dyson and Quiros for the final two automatic spots.
Most of the wildcard contenders are over in the States this weekend, playing in the Fedex Cup event, and there's not much between them. Casey and Harrington are -2 after the first round, Donald is -1 and Rose is #1.
If I was picking the three wildcards, I would go for Casey (one of the best matchplay players in the world), Donald (probably the most consistent of the contenders) and Edoardo Molinari (would be a big boost to his brother and they would make a formidable fourballs/foursomes pairing.) Rose has gone off the boil a bit since his wins a few months back and Harrington has been playing the worst of all of them and has a poor Ryder Cup record. However, I would also be keeping an eye on New Jersey to see what was happening there. If one of them won the tournament (or came close), it would be hard to leave them out.
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Post by rubcale on Aug 27, 2010 12:01:41 GMT 1
According to the golf commentators Montgomery has more or less guaranteed Harrington a pick.
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Post by Panda on Aug 27, 2010 12:19:52 GMT 1
According to the golf commentators Montgomery has more or less guaranteed Harrington a pick. I can believe that. I can't imagine him not being picked but he wouldn't be one of my choices.
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Post by Panda on Aug 29, 2010 17:53:08 GMT 1
Montgomerie is due to name his three wildcard picks at around 6:30.
Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jiminez have held onto their automatic qualification positions after the Johnnie Walker Classic, which was won by Edoardo Molinari.
Luke Donald and Justin Rose are in contention in the final round of the Fedex Cup event in the US, with Harrington and Casey not far behind. Interestingly, Scotland's Martin Laird has a three-shot lead going into the final round.
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Post by Panda on Aug 29, 2010 18:00:56 GMT 1
It's worth mentioning Luke Donald is -6 for the day after 6 holes of his final round...
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Post by Panda on Aug 29, 2010 18:35:36 GMT 1
Montgomerie has chosen Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari.
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Post by wonderwall on Aug 29, 2010 18:51:20 GMT 1
Harrington has done nothing this year should of picked Rose
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Post by Panda on Aug 29, 2010 19:00:45 GMT 1
Harrington has done nothing this year should of picked Rose Rose can count himself very unlucky and is probably a victim of the system Europe have in place. Casey can have few complaints after not bothering to play at Gleneagles or the Czech Open last week.
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Post by Panda on Aug 29, 2010 19:11:47 GMT 1
So the confirmed European team: Luke Donald (2 caps, 2 wins) Ross Fisher (rookie) Peter Hanson (rookie) Padraig Harrington (5 caps, 3 wins) Miguel Angel Jiminez (3 caps, 1 win) Martin Kaymer (rookie) Graeme McDowell (1 cap, 0 wins) Rory McIlroy (rookie) Edoardo Molinari (rookie) Francesco Molinari (rookie) Ian Poulter (2 caps, 1 win) Lee Westwood (6 caps, 4 wins)
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