Sep 03

U.S. Ryder Cup Hopes Will Rest on Hot Pairings

Much can change with the Ryder Cup still 2 weeks away, but based on current form the United States team will need to find a couple of very strong pairings if they are to have a serious chance of winning. There are actually a handful of guys playing very well right now, although none are playing quite to the level of noted Ryder Cup ace Sergio Garcia. But as Tiger Woods can attest, fourballs and foursomes make even the very best golfers quite vulnerable.

Looking at the first two FedEx Cup events, there were five Americans who finished in the top 30 in both. Quietly, Justin Leonard has shown the best form of all with a pair of 7th place finishes. Jim Furyk has been nearly as good with a 12th and a 7th. Steve Stricker is rounding nicely into form with a 19th and a 13th, while Ben Curtis has continued his strong Summer with a 4th and a 27th. Young, budding talent Anthony Kim is also still a force to be reckoned with, finishing 12th and 27th. Captain Azinger needs to find the right veteran partner for Kim to allow him to freewheel, much like Garcia has done during the past 4 Cups. Even Hunter Mahan is shaping up with a 31st and a 15th. There are good teams to be made but they need two really hot ones. Long knocking birdie machine and local boy J.B. Holmes will likely make a tremendous fourball partner for somebody as he also has the benefit of knowing Valhalla better than anyone else playing. Excellent ballstriker Chad Campbell will make an obvious foursomes specialist.

You say that isn’t much to pin hopes on? Well, until very recently Europe has always hopped on the backs of a hot few, while hiding those not playing so well. And some of europe’s finest may be cooling off. Garcia’s incredible play aside, compare that to two-time Major winner Padraig Harrington and Captain’s pick Ian Poulter missing back-to-back cuts the last two weeks. Then, the other Captain’s pick Paul Casey followed his 7th place finish with a missed cut.

Even still, what probably worries Captain Azinger most is the recent lackluster play of World No. 2 Phil Mickelson and Kenny Perry, who spent the entire year in an effort to play here in his home state. If those two can get it going as well, the U.S. team will definitely have a chance in the friendly confines of Kentucky.

« U.S. Must Neutralize Sergio Garcia to Have a Chance in Ryder Cup

Questioning European Ryder Cup Captain Nick Faldo »

8 comments

§ Kiel Christianson® said on : 09/03/08 @ 14:20
Funny--when I first read this headline, I was going too fast and thought it said "Hot Paintings." I thought, for a split second, Zinger was going to try to buy off the Euros with stolen Monets.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/03/08 @ 14:22
Oh no, they're playing for pride, not Monet.
§ Wendy (UK) said on : 09/04/08 @ 14:58
Nice one both.
§ Ron Mon® said on : 09/05/08 @ 18:29
From the less witty, here are my "hot pairings":

JB Holmes and Kenny Perry, GOBs
Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan, Pimps
Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell and Boo Weekley
Justin Leonard and Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson and Ben Curtis
§ Oliver Sudden said on : 09/06/08 @ 21:28
I'll make 2 predictions (1) Kim and Weekley will be paired together, and (2) we will win the Ryder Cup.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/08/08 @ 07:46
Nice mix, ron Monster. Holmes/Perry would probably be limited to fourballs only, while Campbell/Weekley would be just playing foursomes. I'd like to try Stricker/Mahan, Curtis/Leonard and Furyk/Kim.

Captain Azinger must be absolutely delighted at the results of the BMW Championship. All who've been playing well continued to play very well. Even Mickelson is finally showing signs of life.
§ Ron Mon® said on : 09/09/08 @ 20:23
If I'm Phil, I take the biggest back seat in the world. I let Stewart be the voice of experience, Kenny be the voice of old guys, and Boo be the voice of WTF! These guys have such an opportunity to have a gooood old Kentucky BBQ and laugh their way to victory.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/10/08 @ 07:37
I don't know if Phil is capable of doing that, but I definitely agree with you. Excluding the Deutsche Bank, he has played very solid golf since winning at Colonial but the putter has kept him out of the winner's circle. How about a Mickelson/Holmes tandem for fourballs?

A bit of a mystery man will be Stewart Cink. He has played extremely well the last Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup but has not played any inspiring golf since June. I don't see him playing more than once each day.