Our Three to Watch
TONY FINAU 7/1
XANDER SCHAUFFELE 6/1
PAUL CASEY 11/1
TOP WILDCARD BET 7/1
Age: 32 World Ranking: 10 Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Ryder Cup record: 2-1
He always seemed a likely captain’s pick, given his prodigious length of the tee and propensity for birdie-binges, but his uninspiring form throughout the summer raised some question marks. Stricker must’ve been pleased, then, to see him end a five-year victory drought at The Northern Trust to open up the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Showed well as a captain’s pick in Paris, going 2-1 and dusting a previously unbeaten Tommy Fleetwood, 6 and 4, in singles. The only question mark is his sometimes-shaky putting, an issue at Royal Melbourne when he went 0-1-3 in the 2019 Presidents Cup. Will likely see action in both four-ball sessions and could well partner with DeChambeau, for there may not be a human being on the planet who cannot get along with Tony FInau.
TOP ROOKIE BET 6/1
Age: 27 World Ranking: 5 Ryder Cup appearances: Rookie
He certainly doesn’t feel like a rookie. Has been a big-time performer in the majors (without actually winning one, of course), got some team-play experience at the 2019 Presidents Cup and took home the gold for the U.S. in the Olympics just a few months ago. Ranked 12th on tour in eagle frequency and 11th in birdie percentage thanks to elite approach play (14th in strokes gained) and elite putting (16th in strokes gained). He’s as well-rounded as they come, and Stricker will likely trot out him and Cantlay without thinking twice about it. You won’t catch him hooting and hollering or putting his fingers behind his ear—playing to the crowd isn’t his style—but he’s a guy any team would be lucky to have, particularly in foursomes, where his short game will become his partner’s best friend.
TOP EURO POINTS SCORER 11/1
Age: 44 World Ranking: 23 Ryder Cup appearances: 4
Ryder Cup record: 4-3-5
Needed a captain’s pick in 2018 to play in his first Ryder Cup since 2008 but had no such stress this time, as he qualified easily thanks to a mid-40s renaissance that has shown no signs of slowing down. A first major championship continues to elude Casey but he’s inching closer in the huge events—this year he was T-5 at the Players, T-4 at the PGA Championship, T-7 at the U.S. Open and T-4 at the Olympics. Remains an elite ball-striker, ranking second on tour in strokes gained/approach and seventh in strokes gained/tee to green. Also finished T-12 at the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits and T-30 there in 2015. Came into the playoffs with four finishes of T-7 or better in his last six starts but struggled finishing T-64 at the Northern Trust and T-38 (out of 70) at the BMW Championship to miss out on East Lake. As such, he’ll be rested and ready to go in what could be his last Ryder Cup appearance.
I can see this year’s Ryder Cup being the tightest we will have seen for quite some time. The US team look so strong on paper but you can never write of the passion of team Europe.
So I am going to bet the draw at 12/1 for the overall match. Even though we have not seen a draw since the 1989 where Europe held the cup after winning the previous at Muirfield Village.
Of course to lift the cup, I will be placing the bet on Europe at 13/8
Another side bet depending on the bookies and the markets is a HOLE IN ONE.
Some of our team have been at the venue for the past couple of weeks and have reported back that we could see a hole in one this week and hole number 12 could be it. I cannot see a market for this as yet but we will be covering it maybe as a request a bet before Friday.
Total out lay as from now is £60 with the Hole in One bet still yet to be placed.
So our five bets for the week are as follows
Top Wild Card
TONY FINAU 7/1
Bet £5EW with PP
Top Rookie
X SCHAUFFELE
6/1
Bet £5EW with PP
Top Euro Points Scorer
PAUL CASEY 11/1
Bet £5EW with PP
Overall Match bet the DRAW 12/1
Bet £10 with PP
Europe to lift the Cup 13/8
Bet £20 with PP
Our Previous betting over the last two Ryder Cups have been:
2016 – Bet £50 Reurned £147.50
- USA Win Day 1 5-3 11/2 (WIN)
- USA 5+ POINTS DAY 1 7/4 (WIN)
- PIETERS TOP EURO SCORER 9/2 (WIN)
2018 – Bet £65 Returned £196
- F MOLINARI TOP EURO SCORER 11/1 (WIN)
- EUROPE TO WIN 2.1/1 (WIN)
