2010 Ryder Cup: 10 Not-So-Shocking Reasons Europe Will Win the Trophy
The 2010 Ryder Cup begins this Friday, with both Team Europe and Team USA believing they will be lifting the trophy at the end of competition on October 3rd.
With both Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie leading the charge, it is no wonder why the 2010 Ryder Cup has received so much attention.
Here are the 10 reasons why Team Europe will be the ones lifting the coveted trophy at Celtic Manor.
European Fandom
1 of 10
European fans will be out in full force. They will treat the Ryder Cup as though it was an outdoor rock concert. They will be vocal and relentless.
Even U.S. Team captain Corey Pavin believes that at least 80 to 85 percent of fans who attend the Ryder Cup will be pro-European, giving Colin Montgomerie and crew an edge over the American team.
European Team Plays in Own Backyard
2 of 10
Not only will the Team Europe be playing in front of their "hometown" crowd, but they will be doing so on a course used on the European Tour.
This is like taking an out-of-town friend to your country club and expecting him to know the course as well as you. Not very likely.
How many times do you think Tiger and Phil have caught the red-eye and shot a round at the 'ol Celtic Manor Resort?
I'm sure the American team is hoping two days of practice will be enough.
Why Is Montgomerie Smiling Like He's Getting Away with Something?
3 of 10
Adding to Team Europe's advantage is the fact that Colin Montgomerie gets to set up the course at Celtic Manor any way he chooses.
What do you bet Monty will have some narrow fairways set up for Tiger and company? Monty can actually create a course suited to his players' strengths.
Advantage Europe!
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
There's No Place Like Home!
4 of 10
Team USA has struggled away from home and hasn't won on foreign soil since 1993.
It will be a difficult challenge for the American team to handle the pressure of the Ryder Cup itself, let alone handle the pressure away from home.
Corey Pavin will need to help his team ignore the crowd and focus on the task at hand if they have any chance of banding together and winning at Celtic Manor.
Will the Real Tiger Woods Please Stand Up?
5 of 10
Tiger Woods failed to gain an automatic selection for the U.S. team after having a year he'd most certainly like to forget.
Sure, Tiger Woods is the No. 1 player in the world, but that appears to be on paper only. Woods has not shown the ability to regain his previous "unstoppable" form of golf.
Tiger will need to impress in order to prove it was the right decision to bring him to Wales.
We're Not in Kansas Anymore!
6 of 10
Weather will play a big factor in this year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
The U.S. team shouldn't expect all sunny skies and carefree weather as the Ryder Cup progresses through October 3rd in Wales.
More than likely, they can expect fast-moving, thick, grey clouds, and constant drizzle. Every golfer's dream!
If the U.S. team begins to feel the chill in the weather, they will be hard-pressed to focus on the real task at hand.
Mad Scientist or Mastermind?
7 of 10
It has been reported that Team Europe captain Colin Montgomerie has soundproofed his team's meeting room.
Worried about eavesdropping or simply paranoid, Montgomerie isn't taking any chances.
Not sure if this is crazy or brilliant, but it makes for good theatre at Celtic Manor.
Youth Is Wasted on the Young!
8 of 10
Rory McIlroy is young—very young!
The kid from Northern Ireland is so young he doesn't know what he doesn't know. At 21, he is the youngest player on either team at the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Youth can have its advantages. McIlroy will take chances and doesn't seem to fade under the bright lights of the Ryder Cup stage.
McIlroy was part of the winning European Junior Ryder Cup Team in 2004.
He's simply too young to be intimidated by his surroundings.
Will Self-Obsession Ruin American Ryder Cup Dreams?
9 of 10
The Ryder Cup is about teamwork and buying into your team's style of play.
While that's not exactly Tiger's forte, Montgomerie is busy creating a bond amongst his European team.
Tiger and Phil haven't been known to be the best of friends, and it will be interesting to see how well the rest of the American team bonds together over the next few days.
Who Wants It More?
10 of 10
As with many sports, the 2010 Ryder Cup will most likely come down to who wants it more: Europe or the U.S.?
The Americans are coming off of their 2008 Ryder Cup victory, while Team Europe is still seething about their lopsided loss at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Team Europe had won three consecutive Ryder Cup titles prior to the 2008 loss and appear eager to erase the painful memory of such a lopsided loss.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
