Ryder Cupdate - Practice Day One

Europe to win Ryder Cup 21/20 (LOST/WON -6.75 - I really thought we could get 5 out of the last 6 points on offer, but hats off to the US - they played better golf. The Lost/Won is the loss of this bet but the winning 5/4 tip of US back in January)

Having seen both teams on the front nine today, I'm taking Paddy Power's 21/20 odds against. Firstly the Europeans are behaving more as a team - all 12 plus Faldo and Olazabal met on the first tee at eight for a little pep talk. Then off for the photo call and lots of joking around from Poulter, Sergio and Westwood. Then finally some golf.

The Yanks seemed to want to keep hitting the big dogs, whereas the Europeans were striking it well off the tee but seemed to spend more time on approaches, bunker shots, chips from the rough and putts to all areas of the greens. Their practice seemed more focussed, and looked to be executed much better.

The Europeans played in 3s - and it wouldn't surprise me if we saw 2 from each 3. That would be Garcia and Westwood, Poulter and Casey, Harrington and McDowell/Karlsson, Rose and Jiminez. Hanson and Karlsson were hitting long balls and both hit the green in one at 4th, and Westwood played the shot of the day into 7th green to leave himself an eagle putt on a very long par 5.

From the US fours, I think we may see Kentucky boys JB Holmes and Kenny Perry together, but Furyk walked on ahead of them and Boo Weekley and on several tees hit his drive while they were still signing autographs. Campbell, Cink, Stricker and Curtis was the middle four - Cink and Campbell seemed happy enough, but Stricker didn't seem too happy with his game. In the last match we might see Lefty (the only player to not sign a single autograph today) and Justin Leonard. Hunter Mahan seemed to be enjoying himself despite his comments a few weeks back, but Anthony Kim didn't come out for the afternoon 9 - preferring to spend time on the putting green.

So yes its a change of opinion, but all the signs are good for another sea of blue on the scoreboard, and with an odds against price available for the first time in months, I'm going for Paddy Power's 21/20 on Europe.