Ryder Cup 2014: Predictions for Every Head-to-Head Match at Gleneagles
The United States enters the final round of the Ryder Cup 2014 in the same position the European team entered the 2012 Ryder Cup: trailing 10-6.
A disappointing afternoon session saw saw Tom Watson's side lose 3.5 out of 4 possible points, just as they did in Friday's afternoon session, which puts the team firmly behind the eight ball.
Can they stage a Miracle at Medinah of their own? Perhaps another Brookline?
Don't count on it.
A breakdown of the Sunday Singles matches reveals why oddsmakers are right to give the European side a better than 90 percent chance of retaining the Ryder Cup.
Click through for the gory details.
Graeme McDowell vs. Jordan Spieth
1 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: McDowell (2-0-0), Spieth (2-0-1)
Singles record: McDowell (2-1-0), Spieth (0-0-0)
Prediction: Halved. Spieth was a Patrick Reed two-footer away from going 3-0-0 in his first Ryder Cup. Still, McDowell is playing well and is a formidable match play opponent.
Tally: Europe: 10.5, United States: 6.5
Henrik Stenson vs. Patrick Reed
2 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Stenson (3-0-0), Reed (2-0-1)
Singles record: Stenson (1-1-0), Reed (0-0-0)
Prediction: Halved. Patrick Reed has arguably been the best golfer on the American side through two days. Unfortunately, he's up against the equally gritty Henrik Stenson, who is 3-0-0 thus far at Gleneagles.
Tally: Europe: 11, United States: 7
Rory McIlroy vs. Rickie Fowler
3 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: McIlroy (1-1-2), Fowler (0-1-3)
Singles record: McIlroy (1-0-1), Fowler (0-0-1)
Prediction: McIlroy wins. While Rory McIlroy hasn't been at his best, it's difficult to see Rickie Fowler being able to topple the world No. 1 as the Ulsterman looked to be coming around in his Saturday afternoon match.
Tally: Europe: 12, United States: 7
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Justin Rose vs. Hunter Mahan
4 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Rose (3-0-1), Mahan (1-2-0)
Singles record: Rose (2-0-0), Mahan (0-1-1)
Prediction: Rose wins. Justin Rose has been the best player in the competition. He is better than Hunter Mahan from tee to green and on the greens in general. Mahan doesn't have a prayer.
Tally: Europe: 13, United States: 7
Stephen Gallacher vs. Phil Mickelson
5 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Gallacher (0-1-0), Mickelson (1-1-0)
Singles record: Gallacher (0-0-0), Mickelson (4-5-1)
Prediction: Mickelson wins. Although Phil Mickelson hasn't been impressive at Gleneagles, spraying the ball all over Friday and sitting out Saturday play, he'll be motivated to redeem himself in Singles. The veteran digs deep and topples the rookie here.
Tally: Europe: 13, United States: 8
Martin Kaymer vs. Bubba Watson
6 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Kaymer (0-1-2), Watson (0-2-0)
Singles record: Kaymer (1-1-0), Watson (0-2-0)
Prediction: Martin Kaymer wins. History repeats itself. Martin Kaymer will again clinch the Ryder Cup for Europe. Bubba Watson couldn't care less about this competition and is playing like it.
Tally: Europe: 14, United States: 8
Thomas Bjorn vs. Matt Kuchar
7 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Bjorn (0-1-1), Kuchar (0-3-0)
Singles record: Bjorn (1-0-1), Kuchar (0-2-0)
Prediction: Kuchar wins. With the Cup firmly in Europe's hands, the U.S. side will be playing for pride at this point. Kuchar is playing like a pig in this competition, but the American is the better player overall. He'll dig deep and beat Bjorn.
Tally: Europe: 14, United States: 9
Sergio Garcia vs. Jim Furyk
8 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Garcia (1-1-1), Furyk (1-2-0)
Singles record: Garcia (2-4-0), Furyk (4-3-1)
Prediction: Furyk wins. For as good as Sergio Garcia is in the Ryder Cup overall, he hasn't impressed in Singles play. The opposite is true of Jim Furyk. With the Cup clinched, Garcia will lay off the gas, Furyk will grind on and win the match.
Tally: Europe: 14, United States: 10
Ian Poulter vs. Webb Simpson
9 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Poulter (0-1-1), Simpson (0-1-0)
Singles record: Poulter (4-0-0), Simpson (0-1-0)
Prediction: Poulter wins. Webb Simpson had no business being on this team and his play thus far shows it. If it were possible to sit him on Sunday, Tom Watson would.
Tally: Europe: 15, United States: 10
Jamie Donaldson vs. Keegan Bradley
10 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Donaldson (2-1-0), Bradley (1-1-0)
Singles record: Donaldson (0-0-0), Bradley (0-1-0)
Prediction: Bradley wins. Keegan Bradley will be fired up after getting benched on Saturday. Expect him to handle the journeyman Donaldson.
Tally: Europe: 16, United States: 10
Lee Westwood vs. Jimmy Walker
11 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Westwood (2-1-0), Walker (0-1-3)
Singles record: Westwood (3-5-0), Walker (0-0-0)
Prediction: Westwood wins. While Jimmy Walker has done well enough in his Ryder Cup debut, stalwart Lee Westwood hasn't done too bad for himself. Walker, a tough competitor, will take the Cup loss hard. It's tough to see him having enough left in the tank. Drained and despairing, he'll fall to Westy.
Tally: Europe: 17, United States: 10
Victor Dubuisson vs. Zach Johnson
12 of 12
Ryder Cup 2014 so far: Dubuisson (2-0-0), Johnson (0-2-0)
Singles record: Dubuisson (0-0-0), Johnson (2-1-0)
Prediction: Dubuisson wins. Victor Dubuisson has played like the second-best golfer on the European side. We saw match-play prowess at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship earlier this year. Expect more of the same in Scotland.
Tally: Europe: 18, United States: 10
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