Tour News
Who has the Ryder Cup advantage?
By Greg Moore
GolfWRX Staff
Medinah Country Club is the host site of the 39th Ryder Cup and will be played at the famed No. 3 course Sept. 28-30.
The course has been the venue for three U.S. Opens (1949 — Cary Middlecoff); 1975 — Lou Graham and 1990 — Hale Irwin), two PGA Championships (1999 and 2006, both won by Tiger Woods), as well as a U.S. Senior Open in 1988 (Gary Player).
Tom Bendlow originally designed No. 3, with Roger Packard making substantial changes to the course in 1986. Rees Jones reworked the course in 2006, extending the yardage to 7,561, which made it the longest golf course in major championship history at the time.
The 39th Ryder Cup marks the first time the match has been contested in the state of Illinois, as well as the first time since 1971 that the event will be played on U.S. soil outside the Eastern Time Zone. With the late September dates it will be interesting to see if weather plays any part in the final outcome.
Historical says the daytime highs generally run in the high 60s to low 70s, with the nighttime lows averaging in the mid to high 40s. Perfect football golf weather and really better than the hot, humid weather that the players endured during the summer.
Does this weather favor either team or any particular player(s)? I think not. With as much golf as these world-class players have played in their globe-trotting careers, they will be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at them (and yes, the U.S. Team’s rain suits have been thoroughly tested). I think most every player will welcome the cooler temps.
Which team should be considered the odds on favorite? Based on World Rankings, the Euros on paper might seem to have the slight edge once again but looking at the current standings, the U.S. players have narrowed that chasm. Also when you consider how the European team seems to gel a bit better in the team competition, along with their record since 1985 (the European team is 8-4-1), Jose Maria Olazabal’s team might be worth putting a few Dollars, Pounds or Euros on (where gambling is legal, of course). Olazabal’s captain’s picks only add strength to his team. Ian Poulter adds veteran experience and energy to an already seasoned and passionate squad, and Nicolas Colsaerts, although a rookie, provides the driving distance and ball striking skills that could impact a match.
But hold on just one second — Captain Love’s squad has a very strong list of players who have automatically qualified. Tiger leads the way with three wins, Bubba with a win at The Masters, Webb Simpson winning the U.S. Open, Keegan Bradley with a win at WGC Bridgestone the week before the PGA Championship (and then a strong defense at Kiawah of his PGA win from 2011) and Jason Dufner with two wins. In fact, all eight automatic qualifiers have at least one win.
What is going to be tough for DL III is making that phone call to tell a couple of players they have been left off the team. With Davis still playing against his potential team members out on the PGA Tour, he will have a very good idea as to who is ready and who is not.
I’m not sure how some guys will take being left off the U.S. Team and then teeing up with Davis at a Fall series event!
Davis’ choices run so deep down the standings, he might be going as far down the list as the 15th, 16th or 17th place for one of his picks, based on how a player is playing at the time (though it sure would make his decision more palatable, if guys in the 9th through 12th-and-13th places were to win during the FedEx Cup events). Nick Watney certainly has given Captain Love reason to consider him with his win of The Barclays at the brutal setup of Bethpage Black.
All in all, this 39th Ryder Cup is showing all signs of being a very exciting event. Will it be one where some of the old guard is left off the U.S. roster in favor of getting some of the new blood playing experience? Or will the roster be loaded with veteran’s being given one last opportunity to shine?
Only a few more weeks until we all will know. Below are the current Ryder Cup team standings as of The Barclays.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
1 | Tiger Woods | 6,014.184 |
2 | Bubba Watson | 5,815.054 |
3 | Jason Dufner | 5,697.302 |
4 | Keegan Bradley | 5,551.206 |
5 | Webb Simpson | 4,635.500 |
6 | Zach Johnson | 4,491.544 |
7 | Matt Kuchar | 4,448.942 |
8 | Phil Mickelson | 4,233.108 |
9 | Hunter Mahan | 4,082.228 |
10 | Steve Stricker | 4,015.069 |
11 | Jim Furyk | 3,369.616 |
12 | Rickie Fowler | 3,313.338 |
13 | Brandt Snedeker | 3,176.787 |
14 | Bo Van Pelt | 3,152.315 |
15 | Dustin Johnson | 3,040.020 |
16 | Robert Garrigus | 2,604.580 |
17 | Bill Haas | 2,546.017 |
18 | Ben Curtis | 2,457.284 |
19 | Scott Piercy | 2,416.346 |
20 | Kyle Stanley | 2,341.219 |
*Bold denotes players already qualified
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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James Lythgoe
Aug 28, 2012 at 7:01 pm
The Americans have the home field advantage in that they will have the fans supporting them. But, typically, Ryder Cup is simply a hard won battle between two groups of very talented golfers who are fiercely loyal to their cause. In the end, the spectator benefits because such a foundation from which to base the competition makes for some of the best theatre we will see in sport this year.
All I can say, I prefer not to armchair quarterback the outcome, I prefer to watch every minute and enjoy the TV telecast.
The Medinah Country Club is a wonderful golf course and will view very well on TV.