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final big week of the year in golf is here. lots of guys trending well heading into this week. my big ? is tiger woods. alot of the problem i personally believe in tigers game with team match play, is that his personal game in stroke play events relies so much on his driving. with his approach shots from 150 and in being questionable, his driving of late has been better than usual, however its done with mostly 3woods and irons of the tee. which for him when he hits it off the tee and has say 170-150 in, thats his wheelhouse, as opposed to most other players. the talk heading in this week as far as pairings for tiger, im mostly hearing its either stricker or furyk. both great teammates for match play, but like i just referenced, the 175-150 and in approaches will be the key for those 2 when teamed with tiger. the last 2 years, including this year, stricker is ~t105avg from 175-150 away, however the 3 years before that he was ~t20avg. furyk is definitely more consistent as far stats are concerned for that particular area. both are mostly known for their great putting and ability to get up and down from almost anywhere, that you have to think they are perfect match for a at the moment a still ? tiger woods.

more notes, the rough length from 1st cut further into the rough is shorter than you would see normally at most majors or tougher events, that it almost makes the fairway 20yds wider right and left, big advantage to USA who are definitely longer and may not be as accurate as the european team.  

greens are bentgrass, with no rain, depends on how hot it gets to see if these greens are receptive or not. so far forecast is pretty tame for the rest of the week. guys like mcilroy, westwood, garcia short games to me are the ? for the euro squad. garcia has been great in the playoffs and the weeks before especially with his short game, mcilroy same way, westwoods short game is always a ? but after falling apart last week at the tour championship maybe his short game isn't his only problem at this point. westwood in 7 times playing the ryder cup does have the 6th most pts ever won by a euro team member.

some local guys with history in illinois, z. johnson and stricker did just have a battle royale in mid july on sunday late at the john deere which is held 2hrs away from medinah, and both were big fan favorites there. most know about lukes history and will be hard to root against. tiger has won 7x in illinois, 2 coming at medinah. garcia, most remember his run at medinah in 1999 where he finished 2nd to tiger.

with all of that said, im leaning towards the euro's so far and playing a 1u, still watching #'s. garcia, kaymer, westwood, colsaerts are the wildcards i believe for euro team to pick up extra points, i know westwoods history, he may be able to step up this week but with all the weeks heading into this week he may not be in the best spot right now to play this type of event, but hearing about him and luke shooting 59 together in best ball doesn't hurt. guys like hanson and lawrie will fly under the radar as partners so look out for them too. 1 more group of players that is ? is between bubba and webb. i believe they will be paired together most of the week and after a great start in australia last year winning their first 3matches playing together, they then lost 1 on saturday and both lost their individual matches on sunday. maybe look at them to see if pairings comes out that they can be tough to beat again if paired together again.

individually, i look for guys like garcia, dustin johnson, and think sneakily zach johnson will do well this week. lots of different things to look for this week, only have these official plays up now, not so much concerned with the # at this point that its completely random i would have to say, it just more depends on who you think isn't going to be sitting at all this week and will have a good shot at playing all 5matches this week.

*last thing to add about the coaches, seems like davis love from all the interviews ive seen of him before this week, he is 1 smart cookie. he looks like hes ready for this week to begin already and think he's got this thing planned out to the very end when they are showering the crowds with champagne. however im not sure what to think of olazabal who seems very laid back and says he won't be as committed to being as involved as he said that ballesteros may have been when he was captain. interesting to see if they will break away from any of the previous pairings in the past that may have worked to maybe try something new and also who they will sit during the week.

RYDER CUP(+7.85u)

1.5/1 EURO TEAM points(1u) -- most pts *+1u@1.4/1 *+1u@2.5/1 $$WINNER$$

9.5/1 R. McILROY(.5u) -- top overall scorer L

10.5/1 L. DONALD(.5u) -- top overall scorer L

7.2/1 S. GARCIA(.5u) -- top euro scorer L

16.5/1 S. GARCIA(.5u) -- top overall scorer L

8.2/1 D. JOHNSON(.5u) -- top us scorer W *partial(+.7u)

14.5/1 Z. JOHNSON(.5u) -- top us scorer W *partial (+1.5u)

11.5/1 W. SIMPSON(.5u) -- top us scorer L

DAY 1(-.2u)

donald/garcia(-135) / bradley/mickelson(.5u) -- morning match 4some L

dufner/z. johnson -.5(-106) / westwood/f. molinari(.5u) -- morning match 4some W

poulter/rose(+525) / woods/stricker(.5u) -- morning match 4some halved L

mcdowell/mcilroy(-129) / furyk/snedeker(.5u) -- morning match 4some W

EURO TEAM +140(.5u) -- day 1 foursomes winner P

EURO TEAM +130(.5u) -- day 1 leader L

mcdowell/mcilroy(-125) / mickelson/bradley(.5u) -- afternoon match 4ball L

d. johnson/kuchar(-160) / rose/kaymer(.5u) -- afternoon match 4ball W

westwood/colsaerts(+120) / stricker/woods(.5u) -- afternoon match 4ball W

DAY 2(+4.57u)

bradley/mickelson -.5(+103) / westwood/donald(.5u) -- morning match 4some W

rose/poulter(-105) / simpson/watson(1u) -- morning match 4some W

colsaerts/garcia(+111) / dufner/z. johnson(.5u) -- morning match 4some L

furyk/snedeker(+116) / mcilroy/mcdowell(.5u) -- morning match 4some W

day 2 4somes tie +240(.5u) L

day 2 4ball tie +270(.5u) W

day 2 tie +475(.5u) L

mcilroy/poulter -.5(-125) / z. johnson/dufner(1u) -- afternoon match 4ball W

garcia/donald(+125) / woods/stricker(.5u) -- afternoon match 4ball W

watson/simpson(-160) / rose/f. molinari(1u) -- afternoon match 4ball W

DAY 3(-1.62u)

poulter -.5(-109) / simpson(.5u) -- W singles match *simpson's swing can get off kilter when the pressure is on and there will be plenty of it sunday. 

woods -.5(-146) / molinari(.5u) -- L singles match *molinari can win this, but later holes seems like woods is real comfortable with and i dont see how he goes ofer this week. 

kuchar(-140) / westwood(.5u) -- L singles match *westwood's short game looks real bad. all i need to say. with the greens the way they are i dont see him being able to hang.

kuchar -.5(-109) / westwood(.5u) -- L singles match

mcdowell(EV) / z. johnson(1u) -- L singles match *z johnson was carried by dufner saturday though that can be said of mcdowell as well. think mcdowell is the better putter, slightly, but enough to win. z. johnson has looked shaky, though i would think he would have advantage because of the greens being faster.

mcilroy(-140) / bradley(1u) -- W singles match *wary of this # beacuse of #1 player in the world going up against the hottest player so far in the week. bradley has made every putt hes seen, but that has been skillful planing by either him or mickelson, because it seemed like alot of the putts he's made have been left in good spots with no break in em. think its different without phil and mcilroy hasnt been able to buy a putt all week.

donald(-120) / watson(1u) -- W singles match *night and day what watson shows up for sunday, think watson inconsistent putting will do him in. 

rose(-105) / mickelson(.5u) -- W singles match *rose full game is solid and has been very laid back and besides poulter, he's the only other guy that has helped carry this euro team up to this point. 

colsaerts -.5(+127) / d. johnson(.5u) -- L singles match *colsaerts adjusts putting, otherwise this will be a good 1, close to putting $ on halve, im sure both are the same type of guy that this means more to them personally beating the other guy than it does for team. can be said for all matches, but these 2 are a different breed.

lawrie(+145) / snedeker(.5u) -- W singles match *really curious why snedeker didnt get a chance to play in the 4ball, that makes me ? if his full swing game can withstand 18holes, could be way off.

kaymer(+155) / stricker(.5u) -- singles match

stricker -.5(-137) / kaymer(1u) -- L singles match *as shaky as stricker has been, there is a reason why kaymer has only played in 1match before sunday.

furyk(+110) / garcia(1u) -- L singles match *not thrilled with sergios game, though seemed to get it back in the afternoon 4ball w donald.

dufner -.5(-109) / hanson(.5u) -- W singles match *50/50 where this can go, whether its a close dufner win or a blowout by dufner. i personally believe in the blowout, but think if hanson is cool enough he can easily keep this close, just think its a matter of that pressure of being out there in the middle of it late that hanson will just sort of give up if the US closes it out early. may put another .5u.

*looking to add more units, may keep what i have. bol to everyone betting tomorrow, should be a good way to have some action ride on not only with the cup riding on these singles matches, but the personal pride of these guys as well. you'll definitely be getting all that these players can offer tomorrow.

**card complete for the ryder cup