2012 Ryder Cup Preview (September 28-30)

As we approach the first tee shot for the 2012 Ryder Cup, the media has presented us with player news conferences, behind the scenes jokes and player antics, Bill Murray trying to steal the Ryder Cup, and one final question mark: What will the pairings be?

Before we dive into that, let’s discuss this year’s venue:  Medina Country Club in Medina,IL.  Medinah has hosted tons of big events, including three U.S. Opens and two of Tiger Woods’ four PGA Championship titles.  Created by course designer Tom Bendelow in 1928, this track has been renovated recently but still measures as the longest course in that major’s history at 7,561 yards.

The Ryder Cup will be played on an even longer track, as they extend the yardage for the 3-day event to 7,658 yards from the tips. The press conferences have been fluttered with the question of, “How will you play the short 391-yard 15th hole”?   This hole will certainly play as a drivable par 4 at least once if not every day of the Ryder Cup.

Captains have not yet declared what their pairings and matchups will be, but we can forecast what we think may happen out there.   We’ve seen Mickelson and Bradley paired up more then once in practice rounds.  They seem to have a good rapport on the course and Phil’s mentor-like partnership with Bradley could create a dominant pairing.

As for other USA potential pairings, we predict a Zach Johnson and FedEx Cup winner Brandt Snedeker pairing, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Tiger Woods paired with Steve Stricker, and Bubba Watson with Webb Simpson.

In our opinion, these matchups for Team Europe are not far fetched: Donald-Garcia, McIlroy-Mcdowell, Rose-Poulter, Westwood-Kaymer, Colsaerts-Lawrie, Molinari-Hanson.

The weather should not be a factor in this week’s Ryder Cup tournament.  Most of the rain should be out of there before tomorrow’s tee-off.