Ryder Cup Looming

One week from today, we’ll be anticipating the Sunday singles matches at the Ryder Cup in Ireland. Hopefully, the Americans will have made the matches competitive and we can look forward to the singles matches meaning something. Yes, I know I’m being a little harsh on the guys from the U.S. of A., but it’s only because of their previous matches.

I’m a little curious as to what Lehman’s pairings are going to be beyond the Woods-Furyk, and Mickelson-DiMarco pairings. This squad is so full of unknowns that almost anything is a crap shoot. Do you try to protect your rookies by pairing them with veterans and allow them go gain some insight and experience? Or do you pair the rooks together and just tell them to do their best and enjoy all that goes with the Ryer Cup experience?

And what about Sunday’s singles matches? Do you top-load your squad and send out the big guns early and try to grab points early and often? Or do you wait and send the big boys out late so they can clean up if they have to when the Ryder Cup is on the line? My gut tells me that if the matches are fairly close (Americans within 4 points), you send the A-team guys out early and try to grab momentum. If by chance, the Americans are up by 4 or less, I’d probably hold Woods and maybe Furyk out until late just in case the Euros make a run and have made it close.

Either way, I just want the matches to be competitive and hope they return to the spirit of what the Ryder Cup should really be about.