Sky Bet are offering an unrivalled number of markets on this year’s Ryder Cup, with betting available on everything from top points scorer to biggest singles victory margin to Azinger crying on the 18th green should the US be victorious! (10/1)
You can bet on whether or not the opening shot hits the fairway (1/2 hits, 6/4 misses), how many matches will go down the 18th (12 or more 8/11, 11 or under evens), Europe to break their points record of 18.5 (20/1) and even on which hole the Ryder Cup will be won.
Sky Bet remain a standout 13/10 on the US, with Europe quoted at 8/11 for a fourth consecutive win and the tie priced at 12/1.
Sky Bet’s senior golf compiler John Rhodes said, “Europe have won the previous three Ryder Cups, the last two being landslide victories. I’m confident that their strong team unity and in-form players, who performed well in Germany last week, will see them triumph again. It seems to me that the only way the US will win is by Azinger whipping up the home crowd but their players will need more than that to stop Europe landing a fourth consecutive victory.”
As well as boasting an unparalleled range of Ryder Cup specials, Sky Bet are also offering customers who have a Sky Sports subscription the opportunity to watch all the action from Valhalla for free, live on their PC.
The 37th Ryder Cup, Valhalla, September 19th - 21st
If your selection loses before the 16th hole, Paddy Power will refund your single match bet!
Europe begin their quest for a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup crown at Valhalla Golf Club on Friday as joint favourites with Sporting Index. The spread betting firm cannot split the two sides and offer a spread of 11.5–13 points about both on an index where 25 points are awarded for a victory and 10 points for a tie. Buyers of Europe will be hopeful that Faldo can lead his men to a sixth Cup win in seven attempts, whilst sellers will take encouragement from the fact that the USA hold a better record over time, if not over the last decade. Since 1927, when the first Ryder Cup took place in Massachusetts, the USA have won 24 of the 36 played.
Sergio García holds an exemplary 100% foursomes record in the Ryder Cup, having won all eight of his matches and Sky Bet quote 2/1 for the Spaniard to extend his perfect record in Kentucky to ten foursomes wins from ten.
Lee Westwood has been backed in from 3/1 to 5/2 to partner ‘El Niño’ on the opening day’s foursomes, while debutant Justin Rose has been cut from 10/1 to 4/1 to partner García and Miguel Ángel Jiménez has also been shortened from 9/2 to 5/2.
Sky Bet’s golf compiler, Andy Thorp, said, “No doubt the rumour mill will be working overtime as the players practise over the next few days but my personal preference would be Justin Rose to partner Garcia as they play the same make of ball, which is vital in foursomes golf.”
Garcia and Lee Westwood have been the top European points scorers for the last two events and Sky Bet offer 7/2 and 6/1 respectively for them to be the top-scoring Europeans again this year.
The 2008 Ryder Cup, 19th-21st September
Can Team Europe captained by Nick Faldo make it a 4th straight title in the 37th Ryder Cup. He takes on the might of Team USA with stars such as Paul Azinger, Phil Mickleson and Stewart Cink. Playing at the luxurious Valhalla Golf Course, Louisville, this unique golf tournament creates so much emotion it’s afirm favourite with golf enthusiasts. Watch the action unfold from 19th-21st September and take a putt on the biggest winning margin, the player to get a hole in one or simply the winning team.
UEFA Champions League opening Group match & Premiership - 16th, 17th & 21 September
With the domestic league gathering pace England’s finest turn their attention to conquering Europe. Defending champions Manchester United hope to make a perfect start at Old Trafford against tough Spanish opposition in Villarreal. Likewise Big Phil hopes to keep Roman happy with a victory over Bordeaux but he’ll be without midfield dynamo Michael Essien. Liverpool start away at Olympique de Marseille, can Rafa’s rotation policy get the best out of his players? Also, Sunday sees a clash of the titans when Chelsea take on United at Stamford Bridge.
The John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup Festival – 18th - 20th September
The Ayr Gold Cup 2008 is one of the most eagerly awaited spectacles of theseason as a huge field of sprinters prepare to battle it out on September 20. With 22 races over three days it’s going to be a betting bonanza. With the best horses, jockeys and trainers it’s sure to have all the ingredients of a top quality meeting. Ayr Gold Cup odds reflect the open nature of the race as the massive field of classy handicappers charge down the six-furlong straight course.
Sky Bet have released two new markets ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup, who will partner Europe’s Sergio Garcia in next Friday’s foursomes and also who will partner Phil Mickelson for America on the first day’s foursomes. It’s 11/4 for it to be an all Spanish affair with Miguel Angel Jimenez partnering Garcia, 11/4 for England’s Lee Westwood to partner Garcia and 9/2 for the Open champion Padraig Harrington to be Sergio’s companion.
It’s 3/1 for the 2008 Wachovia Championship & AT&T National winner Anthony Kim to partner Phil Mickelson on Friday’s foursome, 4/1 for Justin Leonard, and 12/ for Kentucky’s home favourite Kenny Perry to be paired with the World number 2.
The Windy City Open Player’s Championship event takes place on Sunday and last year’s winner Ronnie Baxter is 8/1 to retain his title. It looks to be an ultra competitive event with 3 co-favourites at 7/1, Andy Hamilton, Colin Lloyd and form man Alan Tabern. It is also the last event counting towards the North American Order of Merit, so expect top players Gary Mawson (66/1), Darin Young (100/1) and Bill Davis (150/1) to be very tough opposition for the European raiders.
With the Ryder Cup only ten days away, Sky Bet are offering prices on individual players points for all twenty four competitors with Europe’s Sergio Garcia 8/13 to score 3.5 points or more. In the European team it’s 4/6 for Lee Westwood to score 2.5 points or less (11/10 Westwood to score 3 or more points), 1/2 for Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez to score 1.5 points (6/4 to score two or more points), 8/13 for Paul Casey to score two or more points (6/5 Casey to score 1.5 points or less) and 5/4 for wildcard entry Ian Poulter to score 2 or more points (4/7 Poulter to score 1.5 points or less).
In the American team it’s 4/7 for Phil Mickelson to score 2.5 points or less (5/4 Mickelson to score 3 or more points), 1/2 for wildcard entry Chad Campbell to score 1.5 points or under (6/4 Campbell to score 2 or more points), evens for the 36-year-old Texan Justin Leonard to score 1.5 points or less (8/11 Leonard to score 2 or more points) and 6/5 for Anthony Kim to score 2 points or less (8/13 Kim to score 2.5 points or over).
Europe are the 8/13 favourites to win their fourth Ryder Cup in a row and it’s 13/10 for the Americans to lift the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. (more…)
Sky Bet have opened a book on which Ryder Cup contender will perform best in this week’s BMW Championship and make Europe’s Sergio Garcia, 7/2 favourite. Padraig Harrington, the only other member of Nick Faldo’s team to compete in Missouri, is quoted at 8/1. Of the US wildcard picks, Steve Stricker is available at 12/1, with fellow Ryder rookies Hunter Mahan and J.B Holmes quoted at 16/1 and 40/1 respectively. Chad Campbell, the only one of Azinger’s wildcard picks with Ryder Cup experience, is priced at 20/1.
Sky Bet have also produced a variety of first round mythical 2 ball match-ups, pitting Europe’s Garcia (evens) against America’s Mickelson (11/10, tie 8/1) and Harrington (21/20) against Furyk (21/20, tie 8/1).
The European Ryder Cup side has been finalised, with captain Nick Faldo picking Paul Casey and Ian Poulter as his wild card choices over the likes of Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie. Sky Bet quote 10/1 for Casey to gain the most points for the European team and Poulter is a 16/1 chance to do the same. Casey is quoted at 25/1 to win all five matches in the Ryder Cup. Sergio Garcia heads the points scoring market for the Europeans at 9/2 and will want to add to his fantastic record of 14-4-2 at Valhalla. Europe are aiming for their fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory and the 4/6 favourites are 20/1 with Sky Bet to break their record by scoring 19 points or more. Sky Bet are a standout 7/5 about the USA, with the tie quoted at 12/1.