With the Ryder Cup fast approaching, Team USA skipper Steve Stricker has now made his Captain’s Picks for the 2021 edition. One man under the spotlight now is Phil Mickelson who has been named as one of Stricker’s Vice Captains for the tournament.
While it must be seen as an honor, the news also meant that Lefty Phil’s run of 12 consecutive Ryder Cup appearances is now coming to an end. Aside from a history-making win at the PGA Championship, Mickelson hasn’t been in the best of form this season but would Stricker come to rue such a decision?
Poor Record on the Line
While they consistently go into the event as favorites, the United States’ recent record in Ryder Cup competition has been a poor one. They’ve lost nine of the last 13 tournaments and, in that time, they’ve started with the stronger side on the majority of occasions.
It’s tough to know why this keeps happening although there is a theory that European teams perform better as a unit while the Americans represent a bunch of talented, yet disparate individuals.
In these situations, experience can often be key and, in the definite absence of the injured Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson might have seemed a logical choice as one of Stricker’s playing picks. As his absence as a playing force was confirmed, he became the biggest talking point of the day.
Favorites Yet Again
The United States’s position as regular Ryder Cup favorites has been confirmed by the sportsbooks once again. Using odds supplied from trusted betting sites affiliated with asiabet.org, the host side are odds on to regain the trophy that they lost in Paris back in 2018.
That leaves Europe as the outsiders while there are long odds in place for a tie, should the competition finish in a 14-14 draw.
Throughout the tournament, asiabet’s bookmakers will have live betting on the Ryder Cup including a number of prop bets such as Correct Score and Highest Points Scorer for each team. There will be news updates and other articles relating to golf as a whole, so this is a good site to switch on to and follow the competition.
As a back up to those markets, readers will be able to register with any of the recommended sportsbooks if they wish to do so. There will be welcome promotions to take up plus funding options, efficient customer service and the possibility of live streaming some top sporting action.
The neutral sportsbooks have had their say but have they got it right and will Steve Stricker’s decision on Phil Mickelson make a difference?
Dates and Format
The 42nd edition of the Ryder Cup is set to get underway at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin on Friday September 24th. Three days later on Sunday the 26th, the result will be known and the trophy will either remain in the US or it will be traveling back Transatlantic with the European team.
The first two days feature a set of rotating fourballs and foursomes. Two players combine on each team and there are 16 points up for grabs across each of those two days. On the final day, all 12 players from each team will battle it out in a series of 12 singles matches.
The first team to 14 and a half points will win the Ryder Cup but, if the scores are tied at 14 apiece, the trophy will stay with the defending champions.
American golfers are dominating the world rankings right now with eight players from the US inside the top 10. Looking at those tables, it’s easy to see why Stricker added Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth to the names that had already qualified.
It’s a talented team and there is some experience but would it have been right to have handed Phil Mickelson one last Ryder Cup appearance? His criticism of the course in Paris three years ago suggested that he wasn’t a great fan of team golf and he may actually be happier behind the ropes this time. However, the US need a win and Lefty might just have been the man to pull the unit together on the course.
