Paul Azinger, the U.S. captain for the 2008 Ryder Cup team, has finalized his squad. The biggest missing name is Tiger Woods who won’t play in the 2008 Ryder Cup, set to begin on September 19th.
Still, Azinger feels as if this team could break the terrible losing streak that the U.S. team has been on since 1999. There have been three Ryder Cup tournaments since 1999 and the United States has lost all three. Two of those losses were verifiable blow outs. The Europeans have absolutely dominated and, taking a look at their roster, they might dominate again.
After all, the Europeans are led by Padraig Harrington. Harrington not only won the British Open earlier this year, his second Brit Open victory in a row, but he won the PGA Championship just last weekend by beating another Ryder Cup European star in Sergio Garcia. Harrington is golfing about as well as an individual not named Tiger can golf. With Harrington leading this year’s European Ryder Cup team, what chances do the American’s really have?
From a golf betting point-of-view, the question becomes very important because the United States is a slight online wagering underdog in the BetUS online sportsbook at even money.
The Europeans are the favorites at – 120 to win this year’s Ryder Cup. A tie is at the ridiculous BetUS online golf betting odds of + 1000.
Let’s take a look at each individual team and their true chances in the 2008 Ryder Cup.
United States’ Team
The obvious player on this team is Phil Mickelson. Mickelson went off the online betting favorite in the PGA Championship but in true Lefty fashion played his way out of contention by last Saturday. He will be counted on to lead the American squad, but with the pressure not squarely on his shoulders, Mickelson might just be okay in this year’s Ryder Cup.
The other players on this team have a lot of work to do. After being hotter than an Arizona sun at noon, Kenny Perry has fallen off form. The same can be said about Stewart Cink. Jim Furyk has been on the cusp in a lot of tournaments this year, but he will have to step it up if the U.S. has any chance of winning this Ryder Cup. Justin Leonard has been so-so this year. Ben Curtis played well this past weekend in the PGA Championship, but he will have to keep it going and that might not be easy for Ben to do.
If there is one diamond in the rough on this team, it’s Anthony Kim who has played well in almost every tournament he’s entered this season. Kim could be the one player that keeps the U.S. together in this year’s Ryder Cup. He could be that one surprise player that helps the U.S. end their losing streak.
European Team
This is the BetUS online sportsbook golf betting favorite to win the Ryder Cup at – 120. The online odds are actually very fair for this team.
First, both Sergio Garcia, who finished second in the PGA Championship, and Padraig Harrington, who finished first, are golfing better than anybody on the U.S. team. Harrington can downright dominate and Garcia isn’t that far behind. By themselves, on paper, Harrington and Garcia could whip the U.S. team.
After Harrington and Garcia, definite members are Lee Westwood, Henrick Stenson and Robert Karlsson. All three are better than any player on the U.S. squad with the exception of Phil Mickelson. That makes this team close to dominant. Coach Nick Faldo has about three weeks before deciding on who will make the European squad after the names I’ve mentioned. Whoever else ends up on this team shouldn’t matter. The Europeans looks set for another Ryder Cup victory.
That American losing streak should go to four after the Europeans whip them in the 2008 Ryder Cup.
I suggest making an online wager on the European’s right now in the BetUS online sportsbook to win the 2008 Ryder Cup at the very fair online odds of – 120.
