After being delayed for a year, the 2020 Ryder Cup will finally take place starting this Friday. The famous Wisconsin course, Whistling Straits, nestled on the banks of Lake Michigan, will be the venue as Team USA’s star-studded 12-man team attempts to wrestle back the trophy from an experienced Team Europe.
Team captains, Steve Stricker of the United States and Padraig Harrington of Europe have had an additional 12-months to prepare for this event but now it is set to kick off on Thursday with the traditional pre-tournament speeches and introduction to the teams, before the first pairings for Friday mornings foursomes are announced.
Of course, the teams look different now to what they would have looked like 12-months ago, but that will in no way diminish the quality of the event, which is one of the most eagerly awaited sports tournaments of 2021.
Given the popularity of the Ryder Cup, it is little wonder that there is always a rush to enjoy a wager on the event, either in one of the many pre-tournament markets, or In Play when the tournament is in action.
Remember to use your Bet365 Bonus Code if you are going to sign up with Bet365 Sport to enjoy a wager on the tournament and similarly, if you are based in the United States and want quality Ryder Cup betting markets, check out what BetRivers Sportsbook has to offer across multiple states.
Let’s now preview the tournament starting with a quick look back at the history of the event.
History Of The Ryder Cup
The first Ryder Cup was contested back in 1927 and was named after English businessman Samuel Ryder who not only proposed the contest, but provided the trophy which now bears his name. Originally, the competition was between the United States and Great Britain (which did include golfers from Northern Ireland) and in its early years, was a competitive event with both teams landing victories.
However, after World War II, when the tournament resumed, the emergence of so many high quality players across the US tour meant that the US team began to dominate the event, which continued right through until the 1970s, when the Great Britain team became GB and Ireland in 1971.
Even so, USA continued to dominate the event and with interest in the Ryder Cup tailing off, a big change was needed. That came in 1979, when the GB and Ireland team was expanded to encompass all of Europe, ostensibly due to the development of players across Europe such as Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Manuel Pinero.
Even so, it took four attempts for Team Europe as it had now become to win their first Ryder Cup. That came at the Belfry in 1985, when Tony Jacklin’s team secured its first victory under its new name.
Since 1985, Europe has won 11 Ryder Cup tournaments, tied (and retained the trophy once via a draw in 1989). The United States has amassed just five wins in the tournament over that time, the last in 2016 at Hazeltine and all bar one of those wins have come on home soil for Team USA.
The Ryder Cup 2020 Teams
There is a marked contrast between the two teams competing this year. The US team
is much younger in general, and has far less Ryder Cup experience although it is very heavy on star quality with eight of its 12 members ranked inside the world’s top ten and no player ranked below 21st in the world in the team.
In contrast Team Europe cannot call on as much quality, with just one player ranked in the world’s top ten and four in total ranked inside of the world’s top 20. However, the team is blessed with masses of experience including one player who has featured in ten Ryder Cups, one who has played in nine and four players aged 40 or over.
Team USA
- Captain – Steve Stricker
- Vice Captains – Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III
- Playing Team Members – Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger, Scottie Scheffler
Team Europe
- Captain – Padraig Harrington (Ire)
- Vice Captains – Robert Karlsson (Swe), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Luke Donald (Eng), Graeme McDowell (N.Ire), Martin Kaymer (Ger).
- Playing Team Members – Jon Rahm (Esp), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Tyrell Hatton (Eng), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Rory McIlroy (N.Ire), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Paul Casey (Eng), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Lee Westwood (Eng), Shane Lowry (Ire), Sergio Garcia (Esp), Ian Poulter (Eng)
The Ryder Cup Course – Whistling Straits
The Pete and Alice Dye-designed Straits course is one of two courses at Whistling Straits but it offers golfers a stern test. Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, with few trees and being exposed to the elements, it actually resembles more a traditional Scottish, Irish or English links course, rather than an American parkland course. A fact which does seem to be a slight advantage to the European team.
However, it is also a very long course, something that will appeal to the long-hitters in the field, and it has a number of challenging holes. At 7,790 yards, it is going to be a real test for all team members and the course has been used three times for the USPGA Championship.
Signature holes include the 603-yard par 5 fifth, called Snake, as well as the challenging Par 3 12th, Pop Up, and a very tough final four holes; Grand Strand (518 yards, par 4), Endless Bite (569 yards, par 5), Pinched Nerve (223 yards, par 3) and Dyeabolical (520 yards, par 4).
Whistling Straits is the first publicly owned course to host the Ryder Cup in 25 years and it promises to be a hugely exciting venue that will test the best in the world on both teams.
Tournament Format
The Ryder Cup is officially opened with the opening ceremony on Thursday night
which will see both teams in attendance and both captains make a speech introducing their teams. Then the first pairings for the foursomes action on Friday morning will be announced.
Friday and Saturday will see four morning foursomes contests with four teams of two players from each of the teams competing against each other in four matches. This is then followed by a further four teams of two players from each team competing in the afternoon fourball.
Eight points are available across Friday and Saturday and this is then followed by Sunday’s 12 individual pairings, which sees all 12 team members competing to earn a point for their team.
The first team to reach 14.5 points will win the tournament, although if the cup ends in a tie, Team Europe will hold onto the trophy as the current holders.
Ryder Cup – Predictions And Tips
So which team will be the one that lifts the trophy this weekend and which are the best bets to make on the Ryder Cup? Well, bet365 Sport have Team USA as the 1/2 favourites to win the event, comfortably ahead of Team Europe who are the 2/1 outsiders. The tie is a 12/1 shot.
It is hard to argue against those odds given the strength of the United States team and the fact that they are playing on home soil. However Team Europe have been underdogs on many occasions and have still managed to land the win, however this time I do feel Team USA are the sensible bet to make.
The Overall Correct Points Score is an interesting one and after two events where the home team has won by a distance, I feel this Ryder Cup will be a closer affair and I think USA to win 15.5 to 12.5 at 9/1 is a very good option for punters.
The Top Team Points Scorer is another popular market and for the United States, I think Justin Spieth’s fighting spirit make him a very good option at 13/2, while for Team Europe, Tommy Fleetwood showed his fighting spirit in the last event and at 17/2 he looks a good option, although veteran Ryder Cup fans may fancy Ian Poulter, who excels in this tournament and he is a very appealing 12/1 shot to top the European points scoring.
Friday will see the action get underway in what should be a very exciting, dramatic and action packed three days of golf drama and tension and I for one, cannot wait!
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