But, Monty doesn't like him (Poulter) though. I think you're right re: Christian Donald

We had to have something in common

The world Cup of Golf is 2 rounds of fourballs and 2 rounds of foursomes.
(and not exactly the hottest competition when the US sent Merrick and Watney).
I think Monty is banking on them in the foursomes.
I would always back a boomer(D.Johnson,say) paired with a steady eddie(Furyk) to beat them at match play fourball.

Edoardo is a boomer, Francesco is a steady Eddie

I have to agree with El Tel.

Casey is a renowned, proven matchplay specialist, AND the world number 9. He's finished 3rd and 12th in the last two Majors

No matter how well Edi has played, were it me I couldn't have picked him ahead of Casey.

That said, I hope he does really well!

Molinari was 1 ranking point away from automatic qualification to the Ryder Cup team. I agree I'd have liked Casey to be a part of the the team but at Harrington's expense not Edoardo's

Edoardo is longer than Francesco, but still not all that long in the grand scheme of things...

When it comes to booming, USA win hands down - Dustin Johnson was outdriving McIlroy (probably our second biggest hitter behind Fisher) by a good 10-20 yards in the USPGA - and then there's Watson and Overton - oh, and Mickelson and Woods.

It's important that they set up Celtic Manor to reward accuracy - much in the same way that Valhalla was suited to the bigger hitters.

Anyway, I think Monty was fair enough with his reasoning - and Casey is left to rue the fact that he didn't bother playing the last couple European Tour events...although I don't think he'll lose all that much sleep over it.

I especially liked the fact that Monty has asked Garcia and Davies to be involved in some form...even if Davies is only going to be driving his buggy!

Friday am fourballs:

McIlroy / McDowell

Donald / Harrington

Poulter / Fisher

Westwood / Kaymer

Friday pm foursomes:

Jimenez / Hanson

McIlroy / McDowell

E.Molinari / F.Molinari

Poulter / Fisher


How's that for an opening day line up

Has the 4somes/balls been decided as am/pm yet?

I thought that it was down to one of the Cpts, probably the home one.

Yes, it's fourballs first - as decided by the home team.

Luke Donald will almost certainly play the foursomes (but maybe not the fourballs) on the opening day - he won 4/4 foursomes with Garcia. He could pretty much play with anyone - not sure how he gets on with Poulter, but they could be a good foursomes combo.

Otherwise, GMac and RMac is a given for both formats (maybe Padraig and Rory for one session?) and the Molinari brothers obviously aren't going to be split up.

Westwood and Kaymer seem to be touted as a pairing, as do Hanson and Jimenez.

Fisher may be left entirely for the fourballs, where he could pair up with either Donald and Poulter for a contrast in qualities.

However, it depends on how the morning session is going as to who gets selected for the afternoon. I personally don't think it's imperative that all 12 players get an outing on the first day if it's going well...

I expect Woods to be picked, but only play 4balls, who would want to play 4somes, with him? The interesting thing about picking Woods is that he does not have the "reputation" that he had before. He does not have to be picked every game, he is not expected to win, and he will not be the scalp that he was in the past. If anything Europe will expect to beat him and not doing so could be good for US morale, and bad for Euro, as "Tiger is back" gains momentum. Remember we picked a past it Seve, who was reduced to starting Rules rows on the first green? The main question with Woods is whether he has the humility to actually be grateful for being picked, and realise he is not top dog. That is dog, not dogger

Given that the Underdog always does better than expected in the Ryder Cup, I would not be surprised if US do not lose it in Wales, and I do expect some surprising selections by Monty.

Woods plays with Stricker,and they went 4/4 in The Federations Cup.

Can anyone explain to me, (not a golf follower), how a player currently ranked 8th in the world (fourth of the Europeans), who is currently playing well, AND who is great at match play has not been selected. In my ignorant way I'd have selected him and Donald without too much thought and then wondered about the third place between Molinari and Harrington.

When the team Captain is not your biggest fan, you have to make certain of your qualification or risk being left out.

As far as Casey is concerned he will become the best player in the World IF Europe don't win, Monty will be castigated as a fool. However it is hard to see the logic in leaving out a 3 time Major winner (although, thats what I would've done)

Why on earth not, he has always struck me as a really decent sort of bloke?

What am I missing, or does the comment say more about Groomy than it does about Casey?

As far as I am concerned Monty is already a fool for not including Casey (in the much the same way as I regarded Capello when he left Hart out of the WC starting line up). If Monty has been influenced by personal feelings he is not fit to be the captain.

Despite Molinari's fantastic recent form is there still an element of political correctness in his selection?

That depends on what you mean by political correctness.
No one seems to know whether the team represents Europe or the European Tour.
I say the former:Mrs Doubtfire and her mates seem to believe the latter.

Team Casey is one of the most disliked Golfers on the Tour - I would have picked him instead of Harrington however given he had to rely on a pick last time he should have made more effort to qualify !
If you want to assemble the strongest side, it is wrong to make the leading points-scorers in the world ranking the first to qualify.
Switch the formula and make the leading money-winners on Tour the first five names on the team. Then have the leading five world points-accumulators.
If they did that Casey and Rose would be in the team instead of Hansen and Jimenz and we would all be happy!

Mr Bear: From your and Groomy's comments it appears that I've got Casey wrong. To me, based solely on TV interviews, he's always seemed a decent bloke. Perhaps I should re-assess all my views that I've based on interviews. Maybe Ferguson is in fact a fantastically reasonable bloke who sympathises with the difficult task that referees face and who is always capable of seeing the other side's point of view.

Irrespective of anyone's opinion of Casey, the fact remains (as he noted but didn't seem to whinge about) that had it not been for his rib injury which knackered him when in excellent form last year, he would have qualified automatically. I think that should have been borne in mind.

Of course, the Harrington gamble may pay off - Westwood was picked when still in his slump, Clarke was picked when it was held only a month after his wife died (a choice would only ever have been wildly successful or wildly disastrous) - so there are precedents.

But it also seems funny that Harrington gets picked and that Garcia is made a vice-captain when it was widely known that they are polar opposite characters.

Of course Casey could still get in the team if Lee Westwood is forced to pull out through injury. Going into the Ryder Cup without having played since June/July is hardly ideal preparation.

I think Rose was quoted by Monty as Westwoods replacement should he not be fit in time.

Wow!!!! How much did you win?

Casey isn't there because someone had to go after Molinari's superb win. The decsision to put him in is all about the European Tour and all about its prestige and the Cup.

Monty has gone for Harrington IMO because Harrington is great off the course too. Casey is something of a tool.

So has Fattie screwed up the first thing that he has had to do?

Not in my opinion no. I think it was a good call.

Casey had a mare last time out in the Ryder Cup and he totaly bottled The Open.

Casey isnt there because he's something of a prick: simples!

Why Donald, but not Tart Poulter's mate Justine?

Having Major winners is no guarantee of Ryder Cup success.....Woods & Mickelson have poor returns on that front. And Europe have won it a few times with no Majors on the team. Isn't the whole point that was trotted out that Europe were a team but the US the individuals?

And while Casey may be poorly thought of, Rose won the European Order of merit in 07 so he has served his service over here before going off to be successful in the US, as well as the already mentioned partnership with Poulter.

Were we favourites last time too?

I have had a bad feeling about this for a while.

Don't forget it's being played in Wales in October when it will be cold, wet, windy, misty, foggy, etc. etc. all at the same time.

The Americans won't be able to swing for all the layers they'll need to wear. And the cold air will negate Bubba Watson's 500-yard drives. Sorted.