Ryder Cup Betting / Steven Rawlings / 20 September 2008 /

Things are looking good for US backer Steven Rawlings, but they would have been so much better were it not for Boo and JB's stupidity...

In the morning foursomes Europe flew out of the gates, and they were soon backed down to as low as [1.74] to win the event. But this is the Ryder Cup and sure things are never 'sure' until they walk off the 18th, hands held aloft - as I discovered to my own cost betting on the event yesterday.

I had two bets in the foursomes, the first being on Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim @ [2.2] to beat Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson in the first match up. Kim really struggled on the front nine and it was left to Mickelson to keep things together but the Europeans eventually edged clear and soon opened up a three shot lead. Kim did manage to get himself together and Lefty played some inspired stuff to level the match with two holes to play. Both teams then had chances to win but the match was halved.

My other foursome bet was successful though. I backed Hunter Mahan and Justin Leonard @ [2.68] to beat Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson. Despite bogeying the first two holes and going two down straight away, they went on to win comfortably 3 & 2.

The third match was also won by the US, Chad Campbell and Stuart Cink came from three back to mug Ian Poulter and Justin Rose on the last hole.

And there was carnage in the market with the last morning match. Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry somewhat surprisingly controlled their match against Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood and were dormy two and matched at [1.01] but they managed to mess it up, or at least Perry did when his drive found the water off the tee on the 18th hole.

The afternoon four balls are announced and off before you have time to make a cuppa, so you haven't got long to make your selections! Again just two picks, and again Mickelson and Kim were one of them, this time to beat Graeme McDowell and Harrington @ [2.08]. They yet again put themselves under pressure, when they slumped to three down through four holes but they dragged themselves back in to it and when Lefty drained a lengthy putt on the 17th they hit the front and held on up the last.

In the next two matches, one went the way of the Europeans, when Poulter and Rose made up for their morning mishap when they defeated a very poor Ben Curtis and an uninspiring Steve Stricker 4 & 2. Mahan and Leonard followed up their morning win with a comfortable 4 & 3 over the Spanish pair of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Garcia.

My second bet was in the final match, taking [2.48] about Boo Weekley and JB Holmes to beat Westwood and Soren Hansen in an encounter that ebbed and flowed and then really sparked and fizzed on the 16th. Already one up, Boo hit his approach stone dead and it looked all over and the American pair were matched at [1.07] but then Hansen miraculously chipped in to half the hole.

Some brilliant golf was played up the 17th and both Holmes and Westwood made kick in birdies so they went to the last with the American pair one up.

Then somewhere in between the 17th green and the 18th tee both Americans seemed to lose any brain cells they had. First up was Boo who did a 'Perry' and smacked his tee shot straight in the water. Then unbelievably and inexplicably Holmes followed him straight in and yet another ½ point was frittered away up the last.

With the Americans leading 5 ½ to 2 ½ I'm obviously fairly happy. But I'm still a bit miffed with dumb and dumber costing me in the last match, I'd have been nicely in front had their respective grey matters not gone AWOL on the 18th tee.

Oh well, my top USA and Euro scorer bets are still in with a chance so it was a decent enough start.

Looking at the foursomes today my first reaction was that the European pairings look weak and I can't quite believe Nick Faldo has left out Westwood, who was arguably the best European player yesterday. I can only imagine Westwood has asked to be rested.

Whatever the reason it's a strange call and I can't see the USA losing any ground in the first session and rather than backing any matches I've had a modest bet on the USA to win the foursomes @ [2.5].

So Uncle Sam's has got his nose in front, maybe even his entire upper body and there's no doubt Europe are very much up against it but this is the Ryder Cup so anything can happen today.

I'll post an update again tomorrow.

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