Match 1: Patrick Reed (US) v. Rory McIlroy (EUR)
Breakdown: Find a comfortable chair, grab a cold
drink and settle in for what could be an epic match. The two
inspirational, emotional and points leaders on each side battle in a
meeting that will ratchet the on-course intensity from the opening tee
shot. Reed has been the best U.S. player in the last two Ryder Cups,
recording a 5-1-2 record. He defeated Henrik Stenson 1-up in singles in
2014 at Gleneagles. McIlroy, who was sensational in rolling to two
victories Saturday, has a 2-0-1 career mark in the singles with
victories over Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler. McIlroy - who blasted
several drives more than 330 yards Saturday - has a significant
advantage off the tee which means Reed can apply pressure by hitting his
approach shot first. Both have putted beautifully.
Match 2: Jordan Spieth (US) v. Henrik Stenson (EUR)
Breakdown: Spieth and Stenson played in the showcase
matches throughout the first two days, but each struggled with his game
for stretches. Spieth lost in singles to Graeme McDowell in 2014.
Stenson is 1-3 this week and 1-2 in career Ryder Cup singles and might
not be 100 percent as he recovers from a knee injury. He’s also playing
his fifth match of the weekend, so fatigue could be an issue. When his
iron game is sharp, he’s tough to beat.
Match 3: J.B. Holmes (US) v. Thomas Pieters (EUR)
Breakdown: No par-5 will be safe in this battle of
bombers. Holmes made seven birdies in a four-balls victory Saturday and
won his singles match in his lone Ryder Cup appearance - 2008, the last
U.S. victory. Pieters has been a bright light for Europe, teaming with
McIlroy for an unbeaten record. He’s been a terrific putter in the
clutch this week.
Match 4: Rickie Fowler (US) v. Justin Rose (EUR)
Breakdown: Fowler is 0-2-0 in career singles
matches, although he did score his first Ryder Cup match victory in a
foursomes match paired with Phil Mickelson. Fowler didn’t have a
terrific year, failing to make the Tour Championship, and fought his
swing Saturday. Rose, the Olympic champion, is a tough competitor. He’s
2-0-1 in singles matches, beating Phil Mickelson twice. This is a match
Europe must win if it hopes to pull a comeback.
Match 5: Jimmy Walker (US) v. Rafa Cabrera Bello (EUR)
Breakdown: Fun matchup between two relatively
inexperienced smooth swingers. Each has acquitted himself just fine this
week. Walker split two foursomes matches with Zach Johnson, so this is
his first time playing his own ball at Hazeltine. He won his only other
Ryder Cup singles match. Cabrera-Bello, one of six European rookies, is a
consistent ballstriker who wouldn’t look out of place in a Formula One
car or on a movie set. He’s been a cool cat under Ryder Cup heat.
Match 6:Phil Mickelson (US) v. Sergio Garcia (EUR)
Breakdown: Mickelson is playing his 11th Ryder Cup.
Garcia is playing his eighth. Mickelson has a 5-5 career record, but has
won his last two singles matches in international competition. He
looked solid on the greens Saturday afternoon. Garcia has an incredible
team record in the Ryder Cup but is 3-4 in singles, beating Jim Furyk
twice. If he can handle the short putts, he’ll have a chance to beat
another U.S. veteran.
Match 7: Ryan Moore (US) v. Lee Westwood (EUR)
Breakdown: Moore shook off a slow start in his Ryder
Cup debut with a solid performance over his final 27 holes. He’s a
streaky putter who won the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Public Links at match
play in the same year. Westwood, playing on his 10th European side, has
lost both matches this week and missed a 3-footer on 18 late Saturday to
cost his team a half-point. Don’t be surprised if Moore is stingy
conceding short putts.
Match 8: Brandt Snedeker (US) v. Andy Sullivan (EUR)
Breakdown: Snedeker has been a pleasant surprise for
the Americans, pairing with Brooks Koepka to compile an unbeaten
record. He should be fresh after playing two matches and looked loose
while hanging with the Hazeltine Vikings behind the first tee early in
the afternoon. Sullivan, a rookie, hasn’t been seen since early Friday
morning when he and McIlroy blew a late lead against Mickelson and
Fowler. If it reaches this point, Europe will be thrilled.
Match 9: Dustin Johnson (US) v. Chris Wood (EUR)
Breakdown: DJ has a 1-2 record this weekend, but
it’s somewhat misleading. He and his partners have taken on some of
Europe’s strongest pairs and been on the wrong end of the buzzsaw. He’s
2-0 in previous Ryder Cup singles matches. Chris Wood is 1-0 in his
Ryder Cup debut. It’s difficult to decipher how he’ll play. Certainly
nobody outside the Europe locker room expects him to win, which could
work in his favour.
Match 10: Brooks Koepka (US) v. Danny Willett (EUR)
Breakdown: Koepka has generated something of a cult
following in the pro golf world, perhaps because he played several years
in Europe before returning to the States full time. Regardless, he’s
looked right at home this weekend earning praise from teammates and
analysts en route to a 2-1 mark. Willett won the Masters, of course. He
endured unnecessary drama brought on by his brother’s column earlier in
the week and hasn’t made much of an impact on the matches, losing both
appearances.
Match 11: Matt Kuchar (US) v. Martin Kaymer (EUR)
Breakdown: Kuchar has been another surprise for Love
III, contributing to two wins in three matches. His singles record at
the Ryder Cup is less impressive (1-2-0), but he is the 17th-ranked
player in the world, consistent from tee-to-green and started holing
putts Saturday. Kaymer, a two-time major champion, has dipped to 48th in
the world and hasn’t looked worthy of his captain’s pick, dropping all
three matches. He is 2-1-0 in Ryder Cup singles though, and of course
sank the clinching putt at Medinah in 2012.
Match 12: Zach Johnson (US) v. Matt Fitzpatrick (EUR)
The U.S. hopes this match is irrelevant of course. But if it does
come down to these two, Love III can feel confident he has the resident
bulldog Johnson, who has played on four Ryder Cup teams and desperately
wants to experience Sunday night as a winner. Johnson is 2-1-1 in
singles and split two foursomes matches this week. Fitzpatrick, 22, is
the youngest player on either team and has just one foursomes match to
his credit this week. A two-time winner on the European Tour, having the
weight of the Cup on his shoulders could be overwhelming.
Labels: RYDER CUP
