No mystery players in Ryder Cup
MEDINAH, Ill. - The question used to come up every other year when the Americans began looking ahead to the Ryder Cup.
MEDINAH, Ill. - The question used to come up every other year when the Americans began looking ahead to the Ryder Cup.
"Who's their Peter Baker?"
Europe always had at least one player the Americans didn't know anything about until losing to him. Baker played in only one Ryder Cup, going 3-1 in 1993 and winning a singles match against Corey Pavin, one of the toughest golfers to beat in match play.
Those days are gone. As golf has expanded its borders, the Ryder Cup no longer has any mystery guests.
Eight of the Europeans have joint membership on the PGA Tour, and all eight have homes in Florida. The only Ryder Cup rookie for Europe is Nicolas Colsaerts, the big hitter from Belgium who already has played eight times in America this year.
"Both teams are pretty much even, and it's going to be a close match," European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said. "I don't see any favorites."
When the matches get under way Friday at Medinah, they will feature the two strongest teams in the 85-year history of the Ryder Cup. The entire 12-man team for the United States was part of the 30-man field in the Tour Championship last week in Atlanta, joined by five of the seven Europeans who were eligible.
For the first time, the 24 players from both sides are among the top 35 in the world rankings.
Europe has four major champions and four players who have been No. 1 in the world. Three of the four rookies for the U.S. team have won majors in the last 13 months - Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, and Webb Simpson.
Friday's pairings
Brandt Snedeker won't have to wait long to get his first taste of the Ryder Cup. He will join Jim Furyk in the opening foursomes match Friday against Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, the No. 1 player in the world.
European captain Jose Maria Olazabal sent two of his best teams to the top of the lineup. The second game will feature Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, who are 4-0 in Ryder Cup foursomes. They will face Bradley and Phil Mickelson, who is playing in a record ninth consecutive Ryder Cup for the United States.
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker are together as anchors against Ian Poulter and Justin Rose. Poulter is 8-3 in the Ryder Cup. Two of the losses involved Woods.