e're just over 24 hours from the Opening Ceremony, but tonight sees the first official function as Louisville welcomes the teams at the Muhammed Ali Center. I've been down there myself and its an impressive combination of museum, gallery and education centre about the career, life, influences and influenced of The Greatest, Louisville's most famous son. And with what I'm hearing Kenny Perry and Paul Azinger say, Louisville's second most famous son is expected to be in the first foursome to tee off on Friday morning.
The US played in the same fourballs as yesterday this morning, suggesting JB Holmes and Perry may well get their wish, but it did little to change my mind on a European victory. The Americans practised with more focus today - almost as if someone had seen what the Europeans did yesterday, however they all stayed in the clubhouse after 9 holes and lunch, with the exception of Justin Leonard who went out alone to complete his round. Quite bizarre he couldn't find a single partner from his 11 teammates willing to play a few more practice holes. The no show by the US left a lot of spectators confused and frustrated that they hadn't seen their heroes - another few grains of sand shifted in the Europeans favour.
The Europeans meanwhile played in fourballs today, and they added some competition to it today, giving a cleare picture on Faldo's thoughts. Westwood and Casey played Wilson and Hansen, Spain took on Ireland, and England took on Scandinavia in the last. So with the course 'set up for bombers' as Azinger was quoted as saying, I'm expecting to see the Europeans three biggest hitters tee it up in Thursday's morning foursomes. Lee Westwoos has been out first both days, and so I'll be looking for him and Casey to take on the Kentucky boys first up, followed by an engine room of Garcia and Jiminez and the Irish connection of Harrington and McDowell. The last pair is a tough call, but I'm going for the slight surprise of Karlsson and Stenson, keeping Rose and Poulter fresh for the fourballs.
And 'squad rotation' could be a key factor this week. Its hot out there on the course and is forecast not to ease up. That maybe why the US guys didn't come out, but I prefer the European approach of getting out there and getting used to it. Azinger has already said he's going to play all 12 players on day one, which is more strength to yesterday's European win prediction, but one that may be necessary. It could be the case that few players play in all five rounds, and those who do may run out of gas on Sunday after 72 holes in two days, unless some big victories can be recorded.
So out of today, I have two more tips. Paul Casey has only lost 1 match of the 6 he has played in his previous 2 Ryder Cups - and that was his singles match as a rookie. He evened that up with a win and a hole-in-one at the K Club. So he has taken 4 points from a possible 6, and this time, with his experience, I can see him playing three of the four paired matched before the singles - his long driving being a useful tool in the foursomes, starting with a fiercely strong teaming up with Lee Westwood. I can see him getting 2 or 2.5 points from those three and at least a half in the singles, so 3-3.5 points in total, which should be good enought to get him into the top three Europeans and at 10/1 with 1/4 odds for the first three, he can be backed each way. (LOST -7.75 - Casey didn't play well and only played three times, registering just one point, although this left him joint 6th)
The second bet is for JB Holmes to hit the first shot for the US. He's only 8/13, but there have been a lot of hints and comments by Azinger about JB and Perry, and Azinger is keen to try to get any edge or perception of edge he can. And this will fire up the crowds from shot one. JB is more likely to hit first and play the odd holes as that means he will tee it up on the 600 yd 7th and the 350yd 13th where he drove the green yesterday. That will leave Perry with the other two par 5s, but the run down to the 1st green shortens that from its 594 yards on the card, and the tee shot from the top of the hill to the fairway below will allow JB to go for the green with his second on 18. So 8/13 JB to tee it up first for the US. (LOST -8.75 - Azinger threw us all a dummy then sent out his hotshots Kim and Mickelson and it was Lefty who hit first)
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