(( * RYDER CUP * ))

Matty FITZ v ??? - a win for USA !

no such thing as a cert but can only see a home win this time around

Same thing is often said before recent ryder cups.

The US team looks like being the same guys who keep losing only Koepka will be a newbie.

Bubba, Rickie, Kuchar, JB Holmes, Furyk all going to need a wildcard as it stands.

A lot depends on who plays well over the three days.

Europe have a few rookies this time but in fairness they have qualified on merit. Knox is needing a wildcard and is currently 6th in the fed ex.

The septic tanks are probably favourites with home advantage but it could easily go either way. Not many American's in great form.

home team well up for this one,as someone pointed out before that even when europe had a strong team any win for europe was still very hard got,some clown shouted out usa when stenson was taking a shot at the recent uspga so that probably says a lot and theyll be hell bent on winning this time,also only a couple of months ago usa were even money,then 5/6 but when jimmy walker won a few weeks best available was 8/11,now its 4/6 8/13 can see america going off 1/2,im sure people will be lumping on

I can't see Europe winning this time round, but the stats say Europe have only been behind twice going into the singles since 1981 (and they won one of those in 95). Lay makes alot of sense.

Am struggling to get my head round the prices for wildcards - there's sense in going for experience, but can't see why Shane Lowry is 16/1 - he's won WGC events, and has started to turn up at majors and seems Europes next player to step up and win one

Lowry dosen't deserve to be picked as he couldn't bother playing for Ireland in the Olympics they are better off without him

Some pretty dodgy betting in the lead up. Not sure how Knox doesn't get a start, and something clearly wrong in how the spots are tallied before the captains picks for him not to already be on. Ranked 22 places above Sullivan, 28 above Fitzpatrick. Broken system imo.

Imagine the hat throw if Europe win a thriller and he sank the winning putt.

I fancy westwood bottom of table ryder cup points

For anybody wondering why Knox wasn't picked, here's a good reason why -

At the beginning of last week, an interview with Knox was published in Golf Digest magazine. That, too, probably damaged his case for a pick. Knox displayed an alarming sense of entitlement. It would have been understandable had Clarke harboured grave doubts about Knox's ability to fit into a team once he read that interview.

"As I said to someone recently, my big problem was not getting the points for winning in China," said Knox of his victory in Shanghai.

"I'd be in if they counted. So there is a moral obligation to pick me, I guess. I don't want Darren to pick me because of that, though. His goal is to pick the three best players who did not make the team. And I have a hard time not thinking I am one of those right now."

Moral obligation? This was a player dictating to a captain - and no good ever comes of that. It was a bizarre approach from Knox; it was utterly self-defeating when Pieters was already laying down a huge case for inclusion.

Knox went on: "If all he [Clarke] does is list those he thinks are playing the best right now, I don't know how I can't be in the top 12. I know people are assuming I am the third of the three picks if he goes for Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer. But I should really be the first."

The first? It smacked of arrogance.

Knox has only recently become a member of the European Tour, but ticking a box is not enough. He has not shown the commitment to playing in this part of the world that his captain would want.

knox is a pathetic choking sweaty..wouldn't be a pick for the Solheim

Personally I would have picked Knox as one of the wildcards but I can see why Clarke hasn't.

The team is very inexperienced which has helped Kaymer and Westwood.

Peters performance in the last three weeks has shown him to be a player in great form. His finish in Denmark was excellent.

I don't think Knox has been helped by basically being a US Tour player who joined the euro tour after his win. Not sure whether he was eligible to join prior to his win in China but if it was it begs the question why he didn't join earlier. Knox didn't help himself by not playing in the Wyndham where he could have got points to qualify automatically.

One thing is that the course is quite long and Knox might have struggled - tho I can't understand why he didn't play either of the last two pga events - they were ideal courses for him and one decent finish would have got him in.

Westwood confirming , if needed , that he is splaying woeful.

Fitzpatrick has earned his way on, goodness knows how.

Sullivan, a great wee player but been struggling since playing well in USA.

Kaymer, I just cannot have him at all. I honestly think his nerves are  shot to bits.

Is the USA not a moral certainty.

The US are definitely certainties.

Westwood should have been named as vice-captain ages ago. He will be hoping to find a partner like Colsaerts in 2012 who carried him to a win. There is no chance he will stand up to the pressure as he has been dire all year when he's been in contention. If he had any honour he would stand down.

Kaymer is not the player he was either.

The Ryder Cup has always been an old pals act in Europe. Torrance, James, McGinley, Clarke, Westwood etc. Knox should have made the team for sure but he's not part of the inner circle.

I would have picked McDowell as at least he can putt and proved himself in the last two Ryder Cups.

can't we have a 1 player brexit wild card

Fowler, Holmes and Kuchar are the Captain's picks.

I thought he might have gone for some new blood, Berger, Thomas etc.

must something wrong with the world rankings if they're so out of the date the world number 7 doesn't get in the first 11 picks

Clerkmore, Westwood has proven time and again he has the minerals for the Ryder Cup and he is a hugely popular and influential figure in the dressing room. Kaymer is a double major winner and a popular figure who again is a fine matchplayer who has all the experience and pedigree needed.

My only qualms are with the auto qualifiers - Fitzpatrick, Wood and Sullivan are the weakest looking links and think they won't get many points between them. Not a lot the selection panel can do about that. Pieters looks the real deal. So I am 100% behind the European picks.

The US picks don't strike me as good ones. Holmes is not an ideal foursomes player and think he lacks bottle. Fowler has yet to win in 8 matches at the Ryder Cup and Kuchar also has a losing record.

Kuchar has an overall losing record as do Sneddeker and Walker of the auto qualifiers. I think Reid/Speith and DJ look like scoring plenty of points and fancy Koepka will step up to the plate.

As Mighty Whites has pointed out this US team is primarily comprised of players with moderate records in the event and matchplay generally.

The US have home advantage but have the mental scars to overcome. I think it will be very, very close and couldn't have the US as any more than a marginal favourite.