Ryder Cup 2014 - Gleneagles, Scotland

No just regular toilet paper, & only when I leave evidence.

Hardly stacks up against Sandy Lyle - Open Champion and US Masters Champion and played in 5 Ryder Cups.

All eyes on the Italian Open this week, guys.

Jamie Donaldson secured his place with victory at the Czech Open last weekend and I think the likes of Stephen Gallacher could still nip in with a victory in Italy.

The three wildcard positions will be announced this day week.

I think Poulter and Westwood are lock picks but I’m not sure about the final one.

What do you reckon? @carryharry[/USER] [USER=1520]@Faldo[/USER] [USER=183]@Sidney[/USER] [USER=53]@Juhniallio[/USER] [USER=1074]@Sandymount Red et al.

I think Paul McGinley will likely give the other wild card to Luke Donald, just ahead of Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Eamonn Darcy, Christy O’Connor Junior and Jimmy Heggarty.

I don’t think Luke Donald is playing well enough to merit a pick. What do you reckon? @Fran[/USER] [USER=366]@Special Olympiakos[/USER] [USER=1580]@The Burner

McDowell cheering on David Howell at home. If Gallacher can get 2nd he overtakes McDowell for the automatic spot. Word is that McGinley will pick his fellow Irishman anyway along with Poulter.

A gallant effort by Stevie G in Italy but he came up agonisingly short of securing the last automatic Ryder Cup place and will now rely on a captain’s pick.

The safe selection would be the all English trio of Poulter, Donald and Westwood but Gallacher has been playing very well and Scotland doesn’t currently have a player on the team.

While Donald’s form this year is poor, he has a smashing record in team events. A 10-4-1 Ryder Cup and 7-1 Walker Cup record and he’s never played on a losing team in either. That’s 6-0 in team events and a 17-5-1 individual record. His driving accuracy also makes him an ideal foursomes player.

I’d actually leave out that fat bastard Lee Westwood. What do you reckon, chaps?

Just thinking, the fact I’ve changed my mind about Luke Donald in the space of 6 days shows what a tough and critically important decision this will be for the captain. But this job is too big for Paul McGinley.

Poulter, Donald and Gallacher for me, fuck Westwood.

Westwood’s form is surely as good as Donald’s this year. Gallagher should be picked but McGinley won’t have the balls to do so.

I shall be backing the Americans regardless.

On his own maybe yes, but Des Smyth is there to guide him.

Do you know who else is assuming a vice-captain role? Will Donegal advancing to the final rule out Jim McGuinness?

Sam Torrence.

Please tidy up your Scottish golfer spellings, mate.

I’d like to see Paul Lawrie involved in the backroom team.

Monty’s too big a character to play a behind the scenes role.

Sam Torrance as has been said. Jim McGuiness and Mickey Harte were certainly mooted at one stage to be part of the backroom team. The All Ireland Final is on Sunday 21st and the Ryder Cup doesn’t start until Friday 26th. Golfers don’t usually assemble until the Monday before the tournament gets under way so that shouldn’t be a problem. Might have to skip the All Ireland homecoming. The one thing that would throw a spanner in the works is a draw. I seem to recall back in 1988 when Meath and Cork drew, Liam Hayes was meant to be covering the Olympics in Seoul with the Irish Press but had to stay behind and go into camp with Sean Boylan and the lads for the replay.

Interesting to note according to this old piece in the Indo, Jim had no experience of a golf tournament until he went to the Irish Open at Royal Portrush just over two years ago. It really would be a meteoric rise if within two years he’s part of a Ryder Cup backroom team, which a US Masters and Open Champion Sandy Lyle and an all time Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomery were both overlooked for on their home patch.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/mcginley-plans-ryder-cup-role-for-mcguinness-28961129.html

Poulter - NAP
Westwood - NB
Gallacher

[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1009911, member: 377”]Sam Torrance as has been said. Jim McGuiness and Mickey Harte were certainly mooted at one stage to be part of the backroom team. The All Ireland Final is on Sunday 21st and the Ryder Cup doesn’t start until Friday 26th. Golfers don’t usually assemble until the Monday before the tournament gets under way so that shouldn’t be a problem. Might have to skip the All Ireland homecoming. The one thing that would throw a spanner in the works is a draw. I seem to recall back in 1988 when Meath and Cork drew, Liam Hayes was meant to be covering the Olympics in Seoul with the Irish Press but had to stay behind and go into camp with Sean Boylan and the lads for the replay.

Interesting to note according to this old piece in the Indo, Jim had no experience of a golf tournament until he went to the Irish Open at Royal Portrush just over two years ago. It really would be a meteoric rise if within two years he’s part of a Ryder Cup backroom team, which a US Masters and Open Champion Sandy Lyle and an all time Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomery were both overlooked for on their home patch.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/mcginley-plans-ryder-cup-role-for-mcguinness-28961129.html[/QUOTE]

I think that 5-day gap between the final and the 26th is too short for Jim to be involved. Ideally he’d need to be in the midst of all the strategic preparations already. How short to cut the rough? What pairings to go with? What colour outfits to wear on each day?

Jim’s mind games could unsettle Tom Watson and the Yanks.

One thing Jim shares in common with the Yanks is a passion for college football.

Hadn’t realised the veteran Thomas Bjorn qualified for the team. Should make for an interesting team room given he was part of the players’ committee cabal that sought to usurp McGinley’s captaincy bid at the 11th hour and parachute Monty in. Speaking of Monty, he’d have the guts to omit home favourite Stevie G. The three English Lions is the way to go - all three have stunning Ryder Cup records. I don’t think McGinley will go for them though. The job is way too big for him.