Why McIlroy, Rose, Kaymer, Garcia and the Rest of the Euros Will Beat the US

Let's face it, with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and historic Ryder Cup standouts Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, Europe is favored in the matches that begin on Friday. That doesn't even count Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson, both of whom have risen to the occasion by making winning putts in past Ryder Cups. 

The Euro team has world Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 12, 18, 23, 25, 30 and 34. Two of their lower ranked guys are Poulter and Westwood.  Westwood of the 37 matches played and of the 18 points won tied fifth in all-time matches won for Europe.

In Poulter's case, nobody knows what happens between the time he leaves his U.S. home in Orlando and shows up at the Ryder Cup, but he transforms into a winning machine. He was victorious in four of four matches in 2012 and three of four in 2008. Threat does not begin to describe Poulter.    

Europe is stacked with talent, but it wasn't always so. Teams struggled in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Some of that has to do with post WWII in Europe, and a lot of it had to do with the rise of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and the PGA Tour in the U.S.

Then Jack Nicklaus suggested the European PGA add players from the continent. They did, and it meant Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer, to name two, could participate.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, European teams had a handful of superb players. In Ryder Cup they wore out Nick Faldo, Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and, of course, Ballesteros. They never sat. Europe would put a lesser player with one of those big names and/or keep them out of the line-up until Sunday and hope to get a point here or there from the other seven.

The big five were so dominant compared to the rest of Europe that when newcomer Jose Maria Olazabal first played Ryder Cup in 1987, Ballesteros reportedly told him, "You just play your game, and I'll take care of the rest."

And he did. Ballesteros and Olazabal played 15 matches, more than any other European combination. They won 11 and only lost twice. No one on either side comes close to that record.

Then Colin Montgomerie joined the fray, and he now ranks fifth in matches won, behind Faldo and Langer and just ahead of Ballesteros.

What's different today than the Faldo/Ballesteros/ Langer/Woosnam/Lyle era is that the European team is deep, just like the U.S. teams have been historically. Little known Victor Dubuisson may turn out to have the next great short game in golf history, based on his performance in this year's Accenture Match Play.

If he brings half of what he showed there, he will win points.

The European captain, Paul McGinley, could just pick names out of a hat, but he won't. He and his assistants will strategize and plan. They will scrutinize every angle and evaluate every situation. They will leave nothing to chance. They will use everything they have learned in the last 25 years to try to keep the Ryder Cup.

Where are Europe's weak spots? You have to look hard. Thomas Bjorn, who has been an assistant captain previously, is now back as a team member. Youngster Jamie Donaldson is new to the competition, so is 39-year-old Stephen Gallacher.

Everyone else has numerous victories, several Ryder Cups and international reputations under their collective belts.

For those who think the European team is not favored, answer these questions: Who will beat Rory McIlroy five times? Who will beat Justin Rose five times?

Can you imagine Sergio Garcia will lose five times?  No.

If McIlroy, Rose and Garcia win three times, that's nine points. It doesn't even count Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. If each of those four win a single point, that's 13. Europe only needs 14 points to keep the cup.

Really, it's hard to see how Europe loses this one, but it's Ryder Cup, and as the Europeans have proven recently, anything can happen. Even a U.S. victory.    

Kathy Bissell is a Golf Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials from the USGA, PGA Tour, R&A or PGA of America.