Ryder Cup 2012 - Pointscoring previews

The top scorer betting for the Ryder Cup is a hugely competitive affair, although there’s one key fact that can be used to instantly eliminate quite a few players – who plays the first sessions of foursomes and fourballs. With this coming at the tee time off the third fourball, we already know who’s playing who and we can eliminate everyone who’s not in the four matches taking place at the moment.

After that, the key decision is now who will be suited by Medinah, the long sweeping venue used for the 1999 and 2006 USPGA tournaments. Back then the course was typical of an American major layout. Long, tough and sharp. And today it still is, except for the massive modifications made by Davis Love III which have completely changed the outlook of the course as we know it. With several of the US team so good with the drivers, Love has demanded that all the rough on either side literally be cut down to such a level that even I could get out of it – and anyone who has seen me on Clifton Hill’s driving range will testify that I’m not exactly impressive - with only 20 yards of a very light first cut on either side of the fairway creating an 40 extra yards of hitting space.

Good putting – as with any form of golf – is a must although especially more so on these sharp greens, but big drivers will be at an extra advantage and tee to green specialists even more so. Of the Europeans playing now, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald would be my choices to get a full five games here and with both having course form – they were sixth and ninth in the USPGA at Medinah in 2006. Donald has never been on the losing side in a Ryder Cup and his staggering 77% success rate tells us all we need to know, while Poulter will get 5 games and also has never lost a singles match.  He can also outscore Steve Stricker, which is a no brainer given the pair’s records.

A happy Garcia is usually a winning one 

Sergio Garcia is good enough if on form but has lost four singles matches and makes far more appeal for the top continental European, where his other opponents haven’t got the games this morning. He currently trades at 4/5 on Betfair and looks to be yet another banker to add to our portfolio. In any case, this is Nicolas Colasterts’s first Ryder Cup and Peter Hanson isn’t in the same class.

For the US, things are less clear cut, but if there’s one man who should get all 5 games (barring Woods, who started awfully in the morning) then it may be Dustin Johnson, who has been in excellent form during the Fed Ex Cup and has the fairways wide open to suit him.

Advice – Top Pointscorer

1 pt each/way Luke Donald (12/1 general)

1 pt each/way Ian Poulter (18/1 Boylesports)

1 pt each/way Dustin Johnson (14/1 general)

Advice – Top European

1 pt each/way Luke Donald (6/1 general)

1 pt each/way Ian Poulter (8/1 general)

Advice – Top American

1 pt each/way Dustin Johnson (9/1 general)

Advice – Specials

4 pts Sergio Garcia top Continental European points scorer (4/5 Betfair)

4 pts Ian Poulter to beat Steve Stricker (4/5 Bet365)