Europe to rule at the Ryder Cup

Friday 28 September 2012

Europe to rule at the Ryder Cup

I WILL be plonking myself down on the sofa today, opening a nice bottle of red and telling my good lady: "Sorry, but I'm not moving for the next three days!"

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By DEREK JOHNSTONE

Yes, it's the start of the Ryder Cup. I have been looking forward to the match between the United States and Europe getting underway at Medinah for weeks now.

It's just a fantastic spectacle, one of the greatest sporting showdowns on the planet. I love the way the crowds are filled with real patriotic fervour. And with it being held in Chicago – a sports-mad city – you can be there will be fireworks.

The pressure on players is far greater in the Ryder Cup than it is in individual events, even the Majors, because, unusually, they are not just competing for themselves.

They are playing for their side, for their team-mates and for their fans as well. The expectations on them are great. It is a wonderful tournament for spectators.

I'm not surprised that Davis Love III's team are favourites. Playing on home soil, in front of passionate crowds, is a huge advantage in this event.

But I still fancy Europe to retain the trophy they won at Celtic Manor in 2010. They have four of the top five players on the planet on their team and know how to win in the States.

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