The Americans are clear favourites at Hazeltine, but the final score promises to be closer than many predict...
{ODDS:111010508:7/1} – Dustin Johnson to be top points scorer
This Ryder Cup feels like it is set up to be Johnson’s.
The 32-year-old has had an excellent year, winning his first major at the US Open in June and two times on the PGA Tour.
And with nine top-five finishes since January, he has consistently played at a high level all season.
The world No. 2 has won four matches and lost three in his two previous Ryder Cup appearances, and has won both of his singles matches to date.
With Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson out of form, Johnson is unquestionably the leader of the American team, who are favourites to lift the trophy.
Given that he is the best long-ball hitter in golf, his game is perfectly suited to Hazeltine – a 7,678-yard par-72 with four long par-fives.
{ODDS:105212284:7/2} – Rory McIlroy to be top European points scorer
No need to overthink this one.
McIlroy is comfortably the best player on the European team, and is on fire at the moment.
The Northern Irishman nailed shots that no other player would even attempt at the Tour Championship last weekend, and did so under tremendous pressure in three play-off holes.
That was his second win in three starts – landing the three-time Ryder Cup winner the FedEx Cup.
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson are the other main contenders to lead the Europeans.
Both have impressive records in this tournament, but the former has been in patchy form, while the Swede has problems with his knee.
A confident McIlroy is a formidable proposition, particularly in the singles, where he has never been defeated.
{ODDS:105213310:9/2} – Matt Fitzpatrick to be top European rookie
The biggest knock against Fitzpatrick is his age, but the 22-year-old will not be overawed by the occasion at Hazeltine.
By now, he is used to being in the limelight.
The Yorkshireman has earned European Tour wins at the British Masters and Nordea Masters in the past 12 months, and was twice the top amateur in majors before then.
His T7 finish at the Masters in April proved his talent, and he needs a savvy veteran partner to bring the best out of him in the opening two days.
Lee Westwood – with whom he shares a management company – seems an ideal and likely choice.
Of course, should any rookie pair up with McIlroy, they will be at an automatic advantage in this market.
But Fitzpatrick has both the class and the steely determination to enjoy a memorable Ryder Cup debut.
{ODDS:111003411:3/1} – J.B. Holmes to be top American wildcard
Holmes is just one of two players in the US team who took part at Valhalla in 2008 – the last time the Americans lifted the trophy.
It was an excellent Ryder Cup debut in his home state of Texas – he finished unbeaten, earning one-and-a-half points in the fourballs and another in the singles.
The 34-year-old’s record trumps that of fellow wildcard pick Ricky Fowler – who has never won a match in this event – and the steady but unspectacular Matt Kuchar.
Like Johnson, Holmes is a long hitter, and the short rough at Hazeltine won’t penalise him for his occasionally erratic driving.
He averaged 314.5 yards with the driver this year – the highest mark of any player on either side.
{ODDS:108534928:9-1} – USA to win 14.5-13.5
Much has been made of Europe’s six rookies, but experience has actually had little effect on the results of recent Ryder Cups.
In fact, the team with fewer rookies has only won three times in the past nine events.
That bodes well for Europe, who have also have six previous winners within their ranks.
On paper, though, the USA simply have a better team this year, while their home advantage will surely also play an important role when the pressure intensifies late on.
The Americans’ greater overall talent should see them win for the first time since 2008, albeit by a finer margin than many are predicting.
In 1997, the USA had one rookie in their team to Europe’s seven, but only won by a point. A repeat of that result looks like likeliest outcome at Hazeltine.
