2012 Ryder Cup: 25 Early Predictions for Latest USA-Europe Battle

Davis Love III made his four captain's picks for Team USA Tuesday morning, which finally set the rosters for the 2012 Ryder Cup.

With two more FedEx Cup playoff weeks leading into the event, there is still plenty of time to gauge how the top players on both squads are looking entering the USA-Europe battle in late September.

Of course, it's never too early to make semi-educated guesses as to what might happen.

Here are 25 early predictions for the much-anticipated matchup at Medinah.

Brandt Snedeker Wins All of His Matches

Davis Love III referred to Snedeker's positive energy and enthusiasm as very important for the team.

Other than being one of the most likeable golfers in the world, Snedeker is also arguably the best putter on the planet. He ranks first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained while putting.

Sometimes Snedeker can spray it, but his unbelievable touch on the greens bails him out frequently. That has resulted in a wonderful stretch of golf lately: a runner-up at The Barclays, and a sixth-place showing at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Sneds has thrived under the pressure of the Ryder Cup microscope, knowing he was being eyed for a captain's pick.

At Medinah, the water-ridden par-3s will be vital, and the par-5s will have to be taken advantage of. Snedeker ranks in the top-10 on Tour in birdie or better average on both.

Pairing him with a longer hitter in the group play will take care of any shortcomings Snedeker may have on the long par-4s.

In singles, Snedeker will be as tough of an out as anyone on Team USA, and has the firepower to beat anyone when he's hot.

Mac Attack Goes Undefeated

The duo of good buddies Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy yielded uneven results in 2010, finishing 1-1-1 at Celtic Manor Resort.

This time around, McIlroy has expressed his interest in playing with McDowell again, and both have grown as players, particularly McIlroy.

Now, McIlroy is a two-time major champion, the No. 1 golfer in the world, and has passed the senior McDowell, who has had a phenomenal year at the major championships despite no victories.

Both men have grown into exceptional, clutch putters, and have gotten it done on the biggest stages. McDowell clinched the Cup in the final match of 2010, beating Hunter Mahan 3 & 1.

2010 was McDowell's career year, and 2012 is McIlroy's to date.

It's hard to imagine any American duo competing with this contingent from Northern Ireland.

Let's just see if they can get that celebration thing down a bit better this time.

Nicolas Colsaerts Becomes a Household Name

The 29-year-old Belgian bomber is the lone rookie on Team Europe, but has burst onto the golfing scene this season.

Colsaerts' most notable victory came at the Volvo World Match Play Championships in Spain. He beat a world-class field, including Ryder Cup rookie counterpart Brandt Snedeker and Graeme McDowell in the final.

According to a profile on EuropeanTour.com, Colsaerts was a self-professed party animal at the outset of his career. Although still relatively young, Colsaerts has shown the maturity to get his seemingly derailed career back on track.

The longer track at Medinah favors a player who can crush it like Colsaerts, and he also has an underrated short game.

At the U.S. Open, Colsaerts was in contention but couldn't quite maintain it over the weekend. He also fired a pair of 65s at the British Open, but wasn't in contention. Still, it showed the level of play Colsaerts is capable of on the biggest stages.

Some casual golf fans may already know his name, but Colsaerts will have a stellar Ryder Cup debut. The outgoing, free-spirited nature he has will gel well on the European squad, and he will show why he's one of the fastest rising stars in the game.

Rory McIlroy vs. Tiger Woods Singles Showdown

Maybe Team USA's best player isn't particularly known for his Ryder Cup prowess, but Tiger Woods is 4-1-1 in singles matches.

On paper, the European side looks to have the edge in experience and just about every other category, aside from combined major championships. That's thanks to Woods' 14 titles.

The matchup everyone wants to see in the Sunday singles is Tiger vs. Rory McIlroy, and it should definitely happen.

Just about the only thing that could prevent this is if Sergio Garcia continues his torrid streak, which is likely to happen. In the event of such a development, perhaps locals will be clamoring for a Tiger-Sergio rematch of the 1999 PGA Championship showdown that took place at Medinah.

I have a feeling that won't happen, though. McIlroy seems like the better player right now, cut and dry. Seeing the two most talented golfers in the world go heads up—hopefully at their best—will be the highlight of the Ryder Cup if it happens.

Two Longest Hitters in the World Square-off

Beyond the Tiger-Rory grudge match, the next-best clash to watch in singles play would be Bubba Watson against Nicolas Colsaerts.

Watson is No. 1 on the PGA Tour in driving distance, and Colsaerts is atop the same category across the pond.

Watching these two aggressive, insanely long players smash the ball around Course No. 3 would make for some captivating storylines.

Both men hit a high volume of greens in regulation and are phenomenal talents, but the putter would be the deciding factor in a potential match. That's often the case, but especially with Watson and Colsaerts.

It's a good move for ratings, and a good move for fanfare.

Come on captains, prove me right. Give the fans this testosterone-driven, tour-de-force tussle!

Martin Kaymer Is Benched Frequently

Last time the Ryder Cup was played, Kaymer was the reigning PGA Championship winner.

Viewed as the next potential superstar in golf, Kaymer backed up his breakthrough major win with four more victories in the next year, reaching No. 1 in the world.

However, 2012 has been very disappointing for Kaymer, who barely qualified automatically for Team Europe. Three Top 10s for a player of Kaymer's caliber is not a good year by any stretch of the imagination.

Kaymer has missed three of his past six cuts, and has finished no better than T29 in that span. The match play format and team-oriented atmosphere of the Ryder Cup may be what Kaymer needs to get back track.

Given his recent form, though, it's unlikely Kaymer will be a prominent player in Team Europe's success.

Tiger Woods Enjoys His Best Ryder Cup

Three of the four captain's picks directly play into Tiger's favor and would form formidable duos in the group play.

Steve Stricker is frequently paired with Woods and the tandem went 2-1 in 2010. Jim Furyk teamed with Woods for a 2-2 outing in 2006.

Given Tiger's fantastic game from tee to green this season, he would make an amazing pairing with Brandt Snedker, who he played with on the weekend at the British Open this year.

Snedeker and Tiger get along great, and would likely serve as a fantastic ham-and-egg, not to mention Tiger's immense experience and ability to mentor Snedeker, who's a first-time Team USA member.

On top of that, Tiger will play much more of a leadership role for this particular team, which sports three additional rookies on top of Snedeker.

Now more like "one of the guys"—relatively speaking, of course—Tiger returns to the venue where he's captured two PGA Championships.

Team Europe Will Have Better Chemistry

The Europeans only have one rookie on the team, while the United States has four.

Even though Team USA's newcomers are no slouches and include multiple major champions, there is a much greater level of familiarity on the European side.

Think about it this way: the top two automatic qualifiers on Team USA are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson who don't have the greatest history in terms of their relationship.

So many people on the U.S. will be new to the atmosphere and will have to acclimate to the pressure and excitement of the Ryder Cup on the fly.

Meanwhile, Europe has guys who have been there before, know what to expect and eight of the 12-man roster triumphed together in 2010.

The U.S. also returns eight players from the previous squad, but sport a few less free-flowing personalities, and more guys dealing with the first-time nerves.

Phil the Thrill Is in Full Force at Medinah

It's been a long road for Mickelson this summer, but he finally turned it around with a tie for fourth at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

A switch to the claw putting grip allowed Mickelson to roll the rock a bit more consistently in Boston, as he finished fourth in the field in strokes gained putting. Overall, 2012 has been his best statistical putting season in at least a decade.

Phil should ride his usual gripping and ripping style to success at Medinah, much to the delight of American fans.

Sergio's Surge Continues

To say there are good vibes ringing around Medinah for Sergio is the understatement of the Ryder Cup.

Garcia didn't blink against Tiger Woods as a 19-year-old in the 1999 PGA Championship, ultimately falling one stroke short. The next time the PGA was held there in 2006, Tiger won again, but Garcia finished tied for third.

It's been a perplexing career for Garcia, who was once considered the next big thing. One place where everything does seem to make sense for Garcia is Medinah, though.

2012 was as obscure a season as Garcia has had, but he rose up to win the Wyndham Championship and finish in the top three at The Barclays before taking last week off.

It doesn't hurt that this is also Sergio's best year with the flatstick by far and the extra rest should only help him entering the final stretch of the year.

His Ryder Cup record is 14-6-4, which pretty much speaks for itself. On top of that, this is probably his favorite course in the United States, based on his results.

Medinah may be considered enemy territory, but Garcia should feel right at home.

Dustin Johnson Brings Boost to Team USA

There are certain golfers that are horses for certain courses. Johnson fits that particular label at Medinah.

In his press conference, Team USA captain Davis Love III discussed plugging holes in the lineup with the captain's picks.

DJ's game certainly suits the venue, but he also brings an aspect of "must-see TV" that many of the American players simply don't have.

Outside of Tiger Woods, fan favorite Phil Mickelson and the always-interesting Bubba Watson, there aren't many explosive games on the U.S. side that appeal to the casual golf fan.

There is plenty of depth and strength on Team USA, but the aforementioned trio is the only one that produces a lot of "Wow!" shots.

Johnson brings his freakish athleticism and crazy distance off the tee to the table in that regard, and hits shots that only a handful of players in the world can hit.

This will make for more entertainment for the home crowd, and Johnson should fare better in his second appearance in the Ryder Cup.

Belly Putter Controversy Becomes Magnified

Zero—write that down—zero European players use the dreaded broomstick putters that are perhaps the most stirring issue in the game today.

For Team USA, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, and Matt Kuchar all use them.

What do they also have in common? They've won some of the biggest tournaments in recent memory.

Bradley won the 2011 PGA Championship; Simpson won this year's U.S. Open, and Kuchar broke through at the PLAYERS Championship in May.

Not only could that be a source of serious trash talk on the course, since no one on the European end has those broomstick-looking things. It could also generate controversy if Team Europe gets beaten on the greens

Here's how I see it: yes, it seems like the belly putter would give the player a more consistent starting point every time they line up a putt. The other side of the coin: at that level, does it really matter?

That is, just to get to the point in the game of golf to even fathom playing in a Ryder Cup requires a hell of a lot of birdies, and even more time practicing the short game. Are there really that many players currently on Tour suffering without the belly putter to the extent that they're consistently losing tournaments?

It doesn't seem like it, but until an extensive study is conducted, we'll continue the debate, if only because belly putters look straight up ridiculous.

Webb Simpson Struggles as Ryder Cup Rookie

The reigning U.S. Open champ simply hasn't been the same since winning his first major this summer.

Much of that can be attributed to a new child, but after four straight weeks of competition, Simpson hasn't even come close to flashing the form he showed earlier in 2012.

Simpson ranks second only to Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour in birdie average, but that explosiveness has been absent in recent weeks.

At the TPC Boston, Simpson did not mount a very threatening defense of his 2011 Deutsche Bank Championship, finishing T18.

The rest of the FedEx Cup should provide enough competition for Simpson to raise his game. At 13th in the playoff standings, he is a virtual lock for the top-30 and a spot in the TOUR Championship.

It's been a wonderful year for Simpson, but it seems like the steam is running out. If any rookie were to struggle on the American side based on what he's done lately, the smart money is on Simpson.

Ian Poulter Turns in Third Consecutive Strong Performance

With Poults it's easy to dismiss a number of aspects in his game that are usually the mark of a great player. He's not particularly bruising off the tee. Not the greatest iron player. A very streaky putter.

What Poulter does is just keep it in play by hitting a lot of fairways, and being fantastic under pressure.

In putts between three and five feet, Poulter ranks No. 1 on the PGA Tour. He is also second in scrambling, largely as a result of that statistic.

Another important element of Poulter's makeup: when he doesn't get up and down, Poulter is among the quickest to bounce back with a birdie on the following hole.

The tenacious exterior Poulter exudes, and his sometimes overwhelming confidence, couldn't be any more ideal for a Ryder Cup, and he's shown it in the past two outings.

As a captain's pick in 2008, Poulter scored the most points on Team Europe in a losing effort. Last time out, Poulter earned his way onto the team and notched three points for his continent.

Don't let his wildcard selection fool you: Poulter will be an ace in the hole for captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

Team USA Can't Count on Singles to Overcome Deficit

The singles matchups are impossible to predict as they will be based on the captains' strategy in terms of what has already happened in the Cup.

In recent history, the Americans have dominated singles play and used it as a crutch for typical slow starts during the prior three sessions.

This year won't provide that same opportunity.

The line between the elite golfers of the world is very fine, but the Europeans have an intimidating array of match play stalwarts who also have track records of Ryder Cup success.

Aside from his spanking at the hands of Anthony Kim in 2008, Sergio Garcia has been as impressive as anyone in the event.

Rookie Nicolas Colsaerts, as noted earlier, won the Volvo World Match Play Championship this year, and Ian Poulter is renowned for his match play prowess.

Also well worth a mention is Graeme McDowell, who was Team Europe's hero in 2010 and finished second to Colsaerts during his run in a thrilling, 20-hole match.

Oh, and Rory McIlroy has to be dealt with, along with former No. 1 players Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Martin Kaymer.

Homefield advantage can always swing things, but the Americans will need a lot support—and a minor miracle—if they face a huge deficit on Ryder Cup Sunday.

The prediction: Team Europe will win the majority of singles matches.

Lucky No. 13 and No. 17 Crucial in Majority of Matches

The 13th hole is a par-3, measuring at 245 yards and right over a strip of Lake Kadijah.

Clearly, longer hitters will be at an advantage here, and the shorter hitters may need a 3-wood or even a driver if the wind really kicks up.

In fourball, where the lowest individual score between the two teams wins the hole, No. 13 could turn the tide of a match. Let's face it, making a three there is going to be a tall task, and dunking one in the water could cramp anyone's brain.

Then, No. 17 plays at 193 yards, but is another par-3 that requires all carry over a body of water.

There's plenty to think about over the last six holes at Medinah, but the shortest ones are going to do most of the damage.

It will be fascinating to see how both teams game plan In the alternate shot format of the foursomes, with long-iron tee shots facing shorter-knocking players on both of these pivotal holes.

Zach Johnson Plays More Than in 2010

Johnson only played three matches in 2010, but won two of them after a winless effort in his Ryder Cup debut in 2006.

Medinah isn't exactly ideal for Johnson since he doesn't hit the ball very far. However, he's very precise with his irons, and is the best putter on the team this side of Brandt Snedeker.

This has been arguably the best season of Johnson's career, with two victories and a level of consistency he hasn't displayed in years.

Pairing Johnson with a longer player such as fellow faith-based teammate Bubba Watson would be a great piece of strategy as well. Both have laid-back personalities on the course and are very grounded, and it would be an interesting one-two punch to try out.

At this year's Ryder Cup, expect Johnson to get action in all four sessions.

Justin Rose Bounces Back

After a missed cut at the British Open, Rose bounced back with two top-fives at the Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship.

To start the FedEx Cup playoffs, Rose has registered a T46 at The Barclays and missed the cut in Boston last week.

It's not ideal, but Rose still sits in 12th in the standings, virtually guaranteeing him a spot in the $10 million shootout at the TOUR Championship.

There are still two weeks for Rose to bounce back once again, and he'll have extra motivation to get his game in good shape after missing out on the Ryder Cup in 2010.

Rose ranks third in greens in regulation and fifth in all-around ranking during 2012. The consistency in his numbers say he's bound to get off the mat sooner rather than later.

Peter Hanson Has Breakout Performance

We saw him right in the thick of things at The Masters this year, but a final-round 73 ended any green jacket ambitions.

Well, that and two ridiculously talented golfers ahead of him in Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.

Hanson made the last Ryder Cup team as a 32-year-old rookie, but finished just 1-2.

That 2010 season was actually the last time Hanson won, but his experience in the heat of a major championship should serve him well. He also backed it up with a Top 10 at the PGA Championship, but of course never seriously contended thanks to Rory McIlroy.

Other than possibly Francesco Molinari, Hanson is the most overlooked player on the European team.

The Ryder Cup will be a big opportunity to gain more notoriety, and Hanson should capitalize in his second appearance.

Jason Dufner: Surprise Personality of the Week

If you haven't checked out Dufner's Twitter page, it's definitely worth a gander, even for his dip-lip profile picture alone.

As cool a cucumber as they come on the course, Dufner takes to social media to show off a fairly colorful and sometimes laugh-out-loud hilarious personality outside the ropes. His game has done plenty of talking, but the heightened passion of the Ryder Cup may bring out a side of Dufner that will allow him to resonate with American fans in an unprecedented way.

He is holding up well in the FedEx Cup playoffs at the moment, and continues to use last year's blown chance at the PGA Championship as a positive learning experience.

Assuming his world-class ball-striking continues, Dufner will have plenty to celebrate at Medinah. Let's just hope he does to the max.

Jim Furyk Won't Match Presidents Cup Success

It wasn't a difficult decision for captain Davis Love III to choose Furyk with one of his wildcard picks, but part of the rationale at Love's press conference was Furyk's 5-0 record in the 2011 Presidents Cup. That's certainly an encouraging most recent outing in international competition. However, it won't translate to similar results at Medinah.

Furyk averages just a shade above 280 yards off the tee, and has struggled this season on longer tracks. Course No. 3 plays at nearly 7700 yards, which will be to Furyk's disadvantage.

The thing that Furyk does bring to the table is great driving accuracy, steady iron play, and clutch putting. Also, Phil Mickelson is the only one to log more Ryder Cup appearances—this will be his ninth such occasion, while Furyk will be suiting up for his eighth go-round at age 42.

With the talent and power on Team Europe suiting the venue much better, I don't like Furyk's chances to go undefeated this time around.

Paul Lawrie Officially Sheds One-Hit Wonder Label

If you remember—I barely do, and more because of Jean Van de Velde than anything else—Lawrie took advantage of favorable morning conditions and an unprecedented major collapse to win the 1999 British Open.

Since then, the 43-year-old Scotsman has been largely unheard from on the world stage, not even sniffing major contention. Lawrie has somehow wiggled his way up through the ranks, won a couple tournaments on the European Tour, and now finds himself on the Ryder Cup team.

Two weeks after the PGA Championship, Lawrie won the Johnnie Walker Championship and then finished tied for sixth at the Omega European Masters. He currently sits sixth in the Race to Dubai standings.

It could be argued that Lawrie has already shed the one-hit wonder label, but it's doubtful any casual American golf fans have even heard of him. If they have, it's for his lone major victory, and nothing else.

During the Ryder Cup, Lawrie will change that perception for good and ride his current hot play to a stellar showing.

Rory McIlroy Shows Why He's No. 1

With his rise to the official No. 1 ranking after a win at the Honda Classic, McIlroy is the most recent of Team Europe's four top-ranked players.

Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, and Luke Donald came before him, and Donald even after him for a short time, but it looks like McIlroy is there to stay.

After another win on the PGA Tour this past week, it seems McIlroy is just beginning to tap his potential. At age 23, he is also a multiple major winner, something no one else on his squad has accomplished.

His continued partnership with Graeme McDowell is likely, and he has proven over the past two years how much he can do on his own.

No matter who he encounters in singles play, McIlroy is likely to trounce them with ease, unless it's Tiger Woods.

Even if that's the case, it should signify an official changing of the guard in the game of golf, if it weren't evident already.

Keegan Bradley's Fire Inspires Team USA

I mentioned earlier something about golfers being must-see TV, and how Bradley was on the fringe of that company. If people tune in to this event, Bradley is liable to grip them with his competitiveness and fidgety nature which will only be enhanced in the Ryder Cup atmosphere. As pumped as he gets during regular PGA Tour events, I can't even imagine how nuts he'll go if he starts playing well in his Cup debut.

His stare may make skulls explode, and his jubilation may cause Bradley himself to pop a blood vessel or two.

Bradley may be too off his rocker and crash and burn in his first experience, or the Ryder Cup may be the absolute perfect environment for him to excel in.

No matter the outcome of his individual play, Bradley is exactly the type of amped up personality that this particular version of Team USA needs.

Team Europe Retains the Ryder Cup

The Europeans only need to tie in order to hold onto the Ryder Cup, and it will no doubt be a challenge to do so on U.S. soil. That will happen, though, because the Americans simply aren't as deep and no longer have the best players in the world.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson used to be the unquestioned top dogs, but now it's Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, and it has been so for the past two years.

Thus, the tables will be turned on the U.S. in singles matches. The level of familiarity amongst the European players—who sport multiple partnerships with prior success—will also play into their hands. Team Europe typically dominates the group play as it is.

Six of the past eight Ryder Cup Matches have gone Europe's way, so it's definitely an uphill battle for the USA.

However, there are plenty of hungry veterans who are eager to reverse the trend of recent European dominance, and Medinah's friendly confines are sure to provide an enthusiastic atmosphere.

It just won't be enough.