Ryder Cup Betting / Tareq Quiroz / 26 January 2010 /

As most golfing thoughts start to be on the Ryder Cup, Tareq Quiroz considers some of the outsiders who could yet make the European team, starting with the talented Ross McGowan.

It is great to see that now we are into the swing of the new season, it is the golfers currently playing that are making the headlines. I am sure when Tiger comes back that will all change but in the mea time we need to get on with enjoying the great players currently on show.

Last week's event in Abu Dhabi showcased some of the finest talent Europe has to offer and they didn't let us down. Kaymer, McIlroy and Poulter battled it down the stretch for one of the most entertaining finishes for a long time. It is fair to say that barring injury all three of those are absolute certs for Monty's Ryder Cup team.

You can put Westwood, Harrington, Garcia and Stenson into your nailed-on bag as well. That top seven is absolutely the cream of world golf at the moment. It does however still leave five spots available in the European side. It is fair to assume that a lot of people will think Paul Casey and Ross Fisher are also very short odds to get in. I wouldn't disagree with that but a lot can happen between now and October.

History shows there are always at least one or two surprise faces in each Ryder Cup team. I have no reason to believe that will be any different this time around. So, where are you looking for these shock qualifiers? Well, obviously we are searching for someone who is going to have a decent year on the European Tour.
I don't see consistently reasonable weeks doing the job. I am looking for the type of player who is going to win tournaments. First on my list is the massive hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros. There is no doubt that he will have his off days but he is also a winner. He can tear courses and fields apart with his power game. Every team needs something a bit different in their ranks and he could well be the key ingredient. At odds of around [4.0] to make the team, he looks good value to me.

The European side is almost certainly going to have a strong English influence. I expect at least five English players in the team. After the four I mentioned at the start there are still many more vying for places. Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Simon Dyson and Oliver Wilson will all fancy their chances and not without justification. But the man who might just sneak up on the rails is Ross McGowan.

McGowan is in just his third season on the full tour and is already making a big name for himself. A strong year in 2009 culminated in a win in Madrid. There is no reason to think that he will do nothing but continue to progress through 2010. Should he do just that, then I am pretty sure you will find him teeing it up at Celtic Manor for Europe later this year.

Whilst Quiros and McGowan both have really strong claims I would not rule a slightly less likely candidate in Shane Lowry. The Irishman shocked the tour in May last year when he captured the Irish Open as an amateur. What followed was a pretty dismal streak of performances but that is fairly understandable. The big fella was fourth in Abu Dhabi last week and that might just be a sign that he has matured and is ready to mix it regularly on tour this year. He is certainly worth a small punt to make the team.

Looking down the list of potential members of the European side and you can't help but think this is the strongest side they have ever had. Tiger or no Tiger I am sure it will be Monty's men making the headlines at Celtic Manor in October.

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