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After a one-year delay, the 43rd Ryder Cup is officially here.
Whistling Straits should provide a stern test for the U.S. and European teams, with the race to 14.5 points beginning bright and early Friday morning. While we still have two more days to dissect pairings and interpret smoke signals from various interviews, our staff is ready to weigh in with their picks - both for who will lift the trophy Sunday evening and which prop bets might present some value.
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Here are our picks for a team clash three years in the making, with odds via PointsBet Sportsbook:
Will Gray
To Win: Europe (+190)
When looking at both teams on paper, there’s no reason the U.S. should lose - which is a terrifying prospect for a team that has lost seven of the last nine Ryder Cups. Yes, this is a younger American team unburdened by the scar tissue of years past, and they feature an unprecedented eight players ranked inside the top 10 in the world. But I don’t think victory will come easily for the home team. I expect rookies like Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry to shine brightly, while seasoned vets like Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter will feast on their perceived underdog status. If you like the U.S., I’d look at alternate spreads (like U.S. -3.5 +350) since it could get out of hand in a hurry if things fall their way. But given the choice I’ll take nearly 2-to-1 on what so often feels like a coin flip.
Top Prop: Xander Schauffele Over 2.5 points (+120)
I’m very bullish on Schauffele this week and was surprised to see a plus-money option on this particular point total. He and Patrick Cantlay paired quite well together at Royal Melbourne, and all indications are a reprisal is in store this week. I expect both men will play at least four and possibly five matches, and a Sunday singles’ win should be more than enough to push Schauffele over the three-point threshold.
Patrick McDonald
To Win: Europe (Live price TBD)
I am very much utilizing the wait-and-see approach this week when it comes to wagering on which team will win the Ryder Cup. Believing the U.S. team will get off to a fast start and unwilling to lay the -190 price, a live add on the Europeans could be in store. Since 2008, Europeans hold a 26.5-21.5 edge in Foursomes and typically get stronger as the week progresses. If the number is right before Session 3 Saturday morning, I will side with the Europeans. But if not, I will happily sit this one out, much to the dismay of those reading this.
Top Prop: U.S. to lead after Day 1 (-120)
Dating back to 2008, the United States has never trailed after the first session of the Ryder Cup, winning five of them and tying in 2012. They have converted these fast, early morning starts into a lead after Day 1 on four of six occurrences, including the last three times on U.S. soil.
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Josh Culp
To Win: U.S. (-190)
The European roster is full of names that are going to poke you into submission, but the U.S. team is loaded with heavy hitters that can knock you out. With a lengthy course and the ability to prep the course in the lead-up, I think the Americans have a hefty advantage in the course fit department. They also have the edge when it comes to overall team depth. While the Europeans have the upper hand in Ryder Cup momentum, I think the final score will look similar to the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine (U.S. 17, Europe 11).
Top Prop: Jon Rahm top European point scorer (+325)
While I prefer the U.S. team to win the entire event, Europe will pick up some points of their own and I think Rahm will be the most likely to put points on the board in all his matches. We may be getting a reduced price due to the fact that he went 1-2-0 in his 2018 Ryder Cup debut. However, it’s important to remember that was played at Le Golf National, a much different style of course than what he’ll face at Whistling Straits. Rahm has also made progress in his overall consistency from week to week, showcasing himself as far and away the top golfer in the world over the last year. I think the Spaniard can pick up three or four points this week for Europe, and that will likely be enough to lead the team.
Lisa Antonucci
To Win: Europe (+190)
They had me at “Seve.” When I hear players like Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood not only share how their first Ryder Cup experiences were touched by Ballesteros but also how their first professional golf experiences period revolved around watching Seve play in Ryder Cup matches, that’s the kind of intangible that speaks to my gut. What’s more, I think the Europeans are inspired by the recent showing by their female counterparts at the Solheim Cup, where Team Europe handled the Americans over three days on U.S. soil, winning 15-13. So I don’t think the whole “no fans” thing will really be a factor. Plus, there’s that cultural thing (lots of experience in match-play formats and rough conditions, as well as obvious camaraderie), coupled with way less drama and fueled by motivation from players like Garcia and Ian Poulter, who are ready to prove why they were Harrington’s picks and appear bursting at the seams in anticipation.
Top Prop: Viktor Hovland top debutant (+500)
Patrick Cantlay currently tops this market at +425, but the 2018 U.S. Amateur champ is not far behind. Not only do I think Hovland is the best bet to rack up the most points among all nine rookies, but I also believe he could be a contender for most points overall. He’s not that far removed from his most competitive match-play year, when he went 6-0 to win the Amateur at Pebble Beach and 3-0 to lead Oklahoma State to the 2018 NCAA title. Plus, Hovland’s poised to potentially play all five matches according to Captain Harrington, and if paired with Rory McIlroy as suspected, he could be Europe’s not-so-secret weapon.
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