Ryder Cup

Following their close fought victory in the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor, Europe are 10/11 to defend their title (11/10 USA and 11/1 Tie) when the two teams meet in 2012 at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.

Europe were as short as 1/750 to win the Ryder Cup at one point today but a spirited comeback from the USA team saw the Ryder Cup go down to the last match, where Graham McDowell putted out on the 17^th to seal a 14 ½ to 13 ½ victory.

Sky Bet’s senior golf compiler John Rhodes said: “After an enthralling Celtic Manor showpiece, Europe head back across the pond to Illinois to defend the Ryder Cup in 2012. With rising US stars like Rickie Fowler and Anthony Kim and European young guns Rory McIlroy and Matteo Manasserro all vying to be in their respective teams, the 2012 Ryder Cup looks set to be a real classic.” (more…)

Paddy Power have lost their legal battle with Monmouthshire County Council and have been forced to dismantle their giant billboard from a site beside Celtic Manor Golf Course.

The 270ft Paddy Power promotional sign overlooking the Ryder Cup venue landed the bookmaker in Cardiff County Court at noon today to fight an injunction brought by the local council to have the sign removed.

Paddy Power himself was present in court today in a bid to defend his giant structure, the biggest freestanding sign in the world. However, despite an energetic defence by the bookie the Court ruled in favour of Monmouthshire County Council.

Paddy Power himself said “We are clearly the victims of bureaucratic bullies and rich golf course owners but we will respect the verdict of the court. Monmouthshire County Council’s tactic of parking a bulldozer beside the sign this morning was quite threatening but we’re happy that the Court has let common sense prevail and allowed us three days to remove the sign safely”

Unperturbed by today’s decision Paddy Power are now taking bets on where the giant billboard will next appear with the London Olympics emerging as the early 2/1 favourite. Less likely but also on the bookies shortlist is Celtic Manor Golf Course owner, Terry Matthews, at 500/1. (more…)

Paddy Power plc today announced the appointment of Paddy the Psychic Octopus to their senior management team.

Paddy is a first cousin of Paul Oktopus who recently shot to international fame when he correctly predicted all of Germany’s World Cup results. Paddy will be responsible for predicting the outcome of major sporting events for the bookmaking chain from his office at the National Sea Life Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow.

Paddy is expected to arrive in Ireland before the end of July and will undergo a period of “psychic tuning” before being beginning his role with Paddy Power.  It is hoped that Paddy’s first predictions will be around the forthcoming GAA All Ireland Finals and Ryder Cup.

Pat Ó Súilleabháin, director of the National Sea Life Centre in Bray said “We’ve had our eye on Paddy for some time now and we’re delighted that he’ll soon be joining us in Bray. As a full cousin to Paul he has already exhibited an exciting degree of psychic awareness and we’re confident that we can develop his ability to a level similar, of perhaps even greater, than his cousin”

Paddy Power said “Paul the Psychic Octopus cost us a king’s ransom during the World Cup so it really was a no-brainer to get Paddy on the payroll”

To celebrate Paddy’s imminent arrival, top tailor Louis Copeland created a one-off 8-tentacled sweater for Paddy the octopus who is used to the warmer waters of his native Mediterranean.

Louis Copeland said “I’ve fitted out everyone from Bill Clinton and Pierce Brosnan to Ronan Keating and Bertie Ahern but Paddy the Psychic Octopus is the icing on the cake.  The eight tentacled design presented a unique challenge but I’m very happy with the final product”

Paddy the Psychic Octopus will be on public display in the National Sea Life Centre in Bray, Co Dublin from September and his sports predictions will be webcast live from the Paddy Power website.

Graeme McDowell won the Ryder Cup for Europe after a Celtic Manor classic that crowned captain Colin Montgomerie’s golfing career.

US Open champion McDowell’s 3&1 victory over Hunter Mahan gave Europe a dramatic 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 triumph over the United States to regain the trophy.

Not since 1991 at Kiawah Island had the Ryder Cup been decided in such breathtaking fashion by the last of 12 singles matches.

A brilliant putt by McDowell on 16 left Mahan needing to win the last two holes for a half that would have denied Europe, but Mahan scuffed his second shot after firing short of the green off the tee on the par-three 17th.

That meant that at worst McDowell needed to get down in two from the edge of the green under unbearable pressure in front of 35,000 fans, but Mahan then missed his putt, conceded the match, and Europe began wild celebrations.

For a tearful Montgomerie, the most remarkable of Ryder Cup wins arguably compensated for the major title he failed to win during an otherwise title-laden career.

But Corey Pavin’s United States team pushed Europe to the limit, taking the singles by a 7-5 scoreline after trailing 9-1/2 to 6-1/2 overnight.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – world number one and two – finally found their form to claim emphatic victories over Francesco Molinari and Peter Hanson respectively.

Europe, though, prevailed thanks to wins by McDowell, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez, plus the priceless halves gained by Rory McIlroy and Edoardo Molinari.

Tiger Woods today suffered the heaviest match play defeat in his professional career as the rain-delayed Ryder Cup resumed at Celtic Manor.

Woods and Steve Stricker had won both their previous matches this week, and four out of four in last year’s Presidents Cup, but were thrashed 6&5 by Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the first foursomes match.

The European pair resumed this afternoon four up and Westwood effectively ended any faint hopes of an American fightback by immediately holing from 35ft for a winning birdie on the 10th.

“It was good for us to go five up because we lost the last hole last night and the momentum could have swung and it was good for the team as well,” Westwood said.

And Donald added: “We felt confident even though we had never played together before. We were both playing well, we felt good and it was a great point to get on the board. We got up early and big and it sent a great message back to the guys.”

Woods’ previous heaviest defeat was a 5&4 fourball loss with Jim Furyk against Stuart Appleby and Vijay Singh in the Presidents Cup in 2007, but the off-form world number one was too much of a burden for Stricker to carry again.

It was Westwood’s sixth win in seven Ryder Cup meetings with Woods, while Donald has now played six foursomes matches in the contest and won all six.

That made the overall score 6-5 to the United States, but Europe continued to lead in all five matches now out on the course.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were three up on Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan in the other foursomes contest after 11 holes, while Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer were also three up after seven on Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

There was some good news for the Americans however, with impressive rookie Jeff Overton holing his approach to the eighth for an eagle two to get back to one down to Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez, which prompted an ear-splitting bout of screaming and shouting from him and partner Bubba Watson.

Another lengthy rain delay this morning ensured the 12 singles matches would take place on Monday for the first time in the event’s 83-year history.

McDowell, the US Open champion, holed a superb 18ft putt for a birdie to halve the 15th and stay three up with three to play, but Johnson then holed from almost twice the distance on the next to keep the match alive.

The sea of European blue on the scoreboard had finally been broken as well, Kuchar’s birdie on the 10th getting he and Cink back on level terms with Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.

McDowell and McIlroy must have thought back to yesterday’s action when they had victory over Cink and Kuchar snatched from their grasp over the closing stretch, but there was to be no repeat this time.

After a superb tee shot from McDowell on the 17th, McIlroy holed from 20ft for a birdie two to seal a 3&1 victory over Johnson and Mahan, Mahan’s first defeat in seven Ryder Cup games.

That made the overall score 6-6, but not everything was going Europe’s way as Fowler holed a bunker shot on the 11th for an eagle three to close within one hole of Kaymer and Poulter.

“This session is huge,” McIlroy said.

“If we can go 8-8 into the singles that’s huge compared to 9-7 down, and after going out 6-4 behind if we can get any sort of lead it would be massive.”

As yet more rain fell on the sodden Twenty Ten course, the US went ahead in a match for the first time since Kuchar and Cink won the opening hole yesterday, the same pairing edging one ahead of the Molinari brothers on the 13th.

Harrington and Fisher were gifted the 14th to go two ahead with three to play, while Hanson and Jimenez were still clinging to a narrow lead over Watson and Overton.

Fisher was growing in stature by the minute and fittingly sealed a 2&1 victory with his sixth birdie of the round on the 17th.

That put Europe 7-6 ahead overall and there was even more good news behind as the 46-year-old Jimenez birdied the 16th to go one up on Watson and Overton, who missed from 10ft for a half.

It was soon 8-6 to the home side as Jimenez and Hanson, Europe’s last two automatic qualifiers, held on for victory over Watson and Overton in the first match of the session to reach the 18th.

Latest Ryder Cup Odds

Europe 1/6 – Tie 14/1 – USA 6/1

The Ryder Cup scoreboard shows America 6-4 ahead overnight – but Europe were the ones with the clear momentum when play ended at Celtic Manor.

Incredibly, Colin Montgomerie’s side lead in all six games of the third session – two foursomes and four fourballs because of the need to make up time lost due to Friday’s rain.

It was still the early stages in some of them, but the first point of the fightback will surely come in the morning from Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker may have won their opening two games, making it six out of six when you add in last year’s Presidents Cup, but they trailed by four after going to the turn in a sorry 40.

Having won the long ninth with a birdie, the American stars will cling to the hope that they can still get something out of it.

But if the home pair win it would be Donald’s sixth win out of six in Ryder Cup foursomes and, almost unbelievably, Westwood’s sixth in seven games against Woods at the event.

Behind them, Padraig Harrington and Ross Fisher stood one up after eight against Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson, Harrington having earlier ended a horror run of 10 cup games without a win.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are three up on Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan – a real confidence-booster for McIlroy after a day of real highs and lows – and Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez will resume two ahead of Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton.

Francesco Molinari chipped in just before the close to put himself and brother Edoardo two up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, while Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer have a two-hole advantage over Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler after four holes of the bottom game.

Montgomerie said: “None of these games are finished, but we are in a very, very strong position suddenly.

“It was not going well at lunchtime to be honest with you. It was a bit stale, but I asked for more passion and they showed it.”

Game-by-game analysis on the opening day of the Ryder Cup:

FOURBALLS

LEE WESTWOOD and MARTIN KAYMER 1 UP ON PHIL MICKELSON and DUSTIN JOHNSON (12 holes)

Westwood put Europe two up with a six-foot birdie putt on the long second and then a par at the 461-yard next, where he plugged in a bunker, but was allowed a free drop and splashed out of sand to two feet.

The suspension came after Kaymer had driven into the lake at the sixth, but Westwood won another when Johnson three-putted there before coming back with an eight-footer at the short seventh to cut the deficit to two again.

Kaymer’s putt from the same distance saved a half in birdie on the long ninth before Mickelson started for home with two more birdies. The first won the hole, but with Kaymer matching it on the 562-yard 11th the Europeans will resume one up with six to play.

Latest Betting

Westwood & Kaymer 1/2 – Tie 10/3 – Mickleson & D.Johnson 7/2

RORY McILROY and GRAEME McDOWELL 2 DOWN TO STEWART CINK and MATT KUCHAR (11 holes)

McDowell needed two woods to find the first green, but a par four took the hole with the Americans both having to lay up from the rough.

Cink birdied the 189-yard third with an 18-foot putt, but he and his partner fell behind again at the fourth after McDowell almost sank his bunker shot.

Further brilliant putts by Cink of 50 feet and 25 feet at the fifth and seventh turned things round after the rain delay, McDowell won the long ninth, but just before play ended Cink had further birdies at the 10th and 11th – both for wins and for a two-hole lead overnight.

Latest Betting:

McIlroy & McDowell 11/2 – Tie 7/2 – Cink & Kuchar 2/5

IAN POULTER and ROSS FISHER LEVEL WITH STEVE STRICKER and TIGER WOODS (10 holes)

Fisher’s opening drive landed in an umbrella, but after taking a drop he found the green and his par won it with both Americans in trouble off the tee.

Woods pitched to three feet to win the second before Poulter rolled in a 30-footer at the third. On the resumption the first four holes were shared, but Stricker birdied the eighth and Woods the ninth.

That put the visitors one ahead, but on the last hole of the day Poulter made a morale-boosting 15-foot birdie putt to square things up again.

Latest Betting:

Poulter & Fisher 6/4 – Tie 10/3 – Stricker & Woods 6/5

LUKE DONALD and PADRAIG HARRINGTON 1 DOWN TO BUBBA WATSON and JEFF OVERTON (8 holes)

Overton holed a 30-footer from off the green to win the first – after Harrington had hit his ball into the group ahead – and Watson’s three-foot putt for another birdie gave the two American rookies a two-up lead.

That was far as they got in an hour before going in, but Watson then missed a three-footer at the fourth and Donald failed with a 12-foot attempt to take the fifth.

The next three were shared as well, but Donald birdied the eighth from six feet and that brought it back to one down.

Latest Betting:

Donald & Harrington 11/5 – Tie 7/2 – Watson & Overton 4/5

Latest Ryder Cup Outright Betting:

Europe 4/6

Tie 9/1

USA 6/4

A poll of golf writers at this week’s Ryder Cup overwhelmingly points to Europe winning back the trophy on Sunday. Out of 31 writers, 28 went for Colin Montgomerie’s side to triumph at Celtic Manor. But if Tiger Woods does face Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s singles, 19 go for Woods to win, nine tip the 21-year-old Ulsterman and three predict a halved match.

Woods has not been left out of a session in his cup career, but 19 of the 31 journalists – not the same 19 – think Corey Pavin will bench him at some stage. As for the top scorers on either side, Woods and Martin Kaymer are the most popular picks, although 19 of the 24 players received at least one vote.

The five who did not register? For Europe it is Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ross Fisher and for the Americans Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson.

JAMES CORRIGAN (The Independent): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

MARK REASON (Daily Telegraph): Europe 15 1/1-12 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell,
Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&1

PETER DIXON (The Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington, Mahan. Woods to
play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DEREK LAWRENSON (Daily Mail): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods. Woods
to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

NEIL SQUIRES (Daily Express): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter,
Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID FACEY (The Sun): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Stricker. Woods to
play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

NEIL McLEMAN (Daily Mirror): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Dustin
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

PETER HIGGS (Mail on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Furyk. Woods
to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

JAMES MOSSOP (News of the World): Europe 17-11. Top scorers: McDowell,
Mickelson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

ANTHONY WOOLFORD (Western Mail, Wales): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

DOUGLAS LOWE (The Herald, Scotland): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

MARTIN DEMPSTER (The Scotsman): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Donald, Mickelson.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

JOCK MacVICAR (Scottish Daily Express): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2, Top scorers:
Donald, Zach Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

TOM ENGLISH (Scotland on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

CRAIG SWAN (Daily Record, Scotland): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Zach
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHILIP REID (Irish Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Dustin Johnson.
Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

KARL McGINTY (Irish Independent): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell,
Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

CHARLIE MULQUEEN (Irish Examiner): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington,
Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID SMITH (Evening Standard, London): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Poulter,
Woods. Woods to play all five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DOUG FERGUSON (Associated Press): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Dustin
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

STEVE DIMEGLIO (USA Today): United States 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk.
Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

ART SPANDER (San Francisco Examiner): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

STEVE ELLING (cbssports.com): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Hanson, Mahan.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

GARY VAN SICKLE (Sports Illustrated): United States 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Kaymer, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

JASON SOBEL (espan.com): Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2. Top scorers: the Molinaris,
Fowler. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

LARRY DORMAN (New York Times): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Harrington,
Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

CHRIS CLAREY (International Herald Tribune/New York Times): United States 14
1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods:
McIlroy 2&1

ROBERT LUSETICH (foxsports.com): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES (Reuters): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McIlroy, Furyk. Woods
to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&2

MARK GARROD (Press Association Sport): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Kaymer, Mickelson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHIL CASEY (Press Association Sport): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Westwood,
Cink. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

Outright Cashback Special – Offer valid until the conclusion of Saturday afternoons Foursomes
If an Irishman sinks the winning putt in the Ryder Cup, Boylesports will refund losing single bets(as a free bet) on the following markets:

* Tournament Outright
* Correct score

Match Cashback Special
If the player(s) you back is leading after 9 holes & goes on to lose the match, Boylesports will refund bets(as a free bet) on that player(s).

Not only that, but Boylesports are going best industry price on Europe at 8/11 from 9am on Thursday, 30th September!!

TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

Ahead of the start of the 2010 Ryder Cup, Sky Bet are seeing some good support on Europe at 4/6 to lift the trophy (USA 13/8 and Tie 12/1). Colin Montgomerie’s men have so far attracted over 70% of the total bets placed on the outright and have also been well supported to win with a handicap of -1.5 at evens (8/11 USA +1.5).

Sky Bet are offering a host of markets ahead of the start and make Europe’s Ryder Cup debutant Rory McIlroy and USA Wildcard pick Tiger Woods the 10/1 joint favourites to be the top overall points scorer. The Ulsterman heads the betting to be Europe’s top point’s scorer at 11/2 and he’s also the 6/5 favourite to be the top Irish player (13/8 G McDowell and 11/4 P Harrington).

Woods, who has had a turbulent year, with a loss of form as well as personal issues, is the 11/2 joint favourite along with Steve Stricker to be the USA top point’s scorer. It’s 4/7 that the current world number one goes on to win his singles match and it’s 16/1 for Woods to gain maximum points (5) throughout the tournament (7/2 no points).

Amongst the many specials on offer, it’s 6/1 for Woods and Mickelson to be paired together, 5/6 for Woods to play in all five matches (5/6 plays 4 or less) and 4/1 for any player to hit a hole in one.

With rainfall predicted for the next three days, Sky Bet are offering 4/1 that the competition is delayed and runs into next week (1/7 Sunday finish).

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “From the bets placed it looks like there will only be one outcome, a European victory. We cut Montgomerie’s men from 8/11 to 4/6 at the beginning of this week but it hasn’t stopped the support. If the one-way flow of money continues to come for Europe the 4/6 won’t last much longer.” (more…)