Ryder Cup 2014: Early Predictions for USA and Europe Teams
With the conclusion of the Fed Ex Cup this weekend, the golf world now shifts its attention to the 2014 Ryder Cup. Team USA will be looking to rebound after a disappointing finish in 2012 that led to a European victory in Medinah.
The United States hasn’t won the competition since 2008 at Valhalla so they should be coming to play this time around. Team captain Tom Watson will lead the Americans into the Gleneagles Hotel course in Scotland on September 26.
If you’re unaware of the format of the Ryder Cup, it goes like this. There are three days of golf in which players from each team will take part in different forms of match play events. It concludes on Sunday with 12 singles matches, with a total of 28 points available to earn over the three days.
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Until proven wrong, the pick has to be with the European side. Not only are the back-to-back cup winners on their home turf, but they also have the best player in the game going for them.
Rory McIlroy will be the most important player on the course, although there are many other Europeans who can dominate like him. Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose each have incredible records at the Ryder Cup and should be able to continue their success here in 2014.
Even though I see Europe winning again, that doesn’t mean the Americans will go down without a fight. They have plenty of good players on their team as well, just not as much experience when it comes to winning.
Beyond the rookies, Team USA has several players who have only played in a handful of Ryder Cup matches. In high-pressure tournaments such as this, I like to rely on the people who have been there before. Although Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk have that experience and are fantastic golfers, the top-tier guys on Europe are better.
Let’s examine both teams and how they will fare in the 40th Ryder Cup.
Team USA
As noted, Team USA is captained by Watson and features plenty of well-known players. It’s led by veterans like Mickelson, Furyk and Zach Johnson. There are also several youngsters in the mix who have been playing extremely well in 2014.
The most significant of that group has to be Rickie Fowler. The 25-year-old finished ninth in the Fed Ex Cup after a stellar regular season. Despite not winning a major tournament, Fowler arguably played his best golf at each of the majors, placing no worse than fifth.
The other Americans under the age of 30 are Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth. Reed and Spieth are both rookies to the Ryder Cup while Bradley and Simpson participated in 2012. The two combined to have a 5-3 record the last time around.
Other Americans who will have an impact are Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Jimmy Walker and Hunter Mahan.
In spite of not having Tiger Woods, I think this USA team is one of the strongest there’s been in recent years. The youth will be able to provide a spark that’s been missing for some time.
Team Europe
Captain Paul McGinley leads the Europeans into Scotland in their defense of the cup. The cup holders come into 2014 with plenty of confidence and some of the best players in the world.
McIlroy has to be the first man discussed. He emerged as the world’s No. 1 this season and was truly the best player on tour over the course of the year. McIlroy added two more major titles to his name with wins in The Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
After McIlroy, Europe has plenty of experience and talent in Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Rose and Garcia. All of these players had a very productive 2014 season, placing each of them among the top-18 ranked players in the world.
Captain’s picks Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher, along with Thomas Bjorn and rookies Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson round out the squad.
With all the parts in place, the 2014 Ryder Cup is shaping up to be a classic. Both teams are loaded with skillful players from top to bottom. Perhaps the USA will surprise me, among many others, by coming out of Scotland with the trophy in hand.
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