Tom English's Ryder Cup blog - Sunday

Published on Sunday 21 September 2008 02:53

And so it all comes down to the singles. America ahead by 9-7, Europe in the unusal position of having to play catch-up. They've only done it with success once in the past, thirteen years ago. Here are the pairings and my verdicts on who holds the upper hand.

Anthony Kim versus Sergio Garcia

Kim had a nightmare in his Saturday morning foursomes with Phil Mickelson, spraying the ball wildly off the tee and allowing the Europeans to steal a point they really had no right to. Garcia has been incredibly subdued so far but he showed a little something in the fourballs, a small indicator that he's improving. His singles record is not good, so extra motivation

VERDICT: GARCIA VICTORY. AMERICA 9 EUROPE 8

Hunter Mahan versus Paul Casey

Casey's form has disappeared. Credit to him for holing an important putt on the 18th on Saturday afternoon but his game is not in good order at all. Mahan has been one of the great surprises of the American team. He is unbeaten in four matches.

VERDICT: MAHAN VICTORY. AMERICA 10 EUROPE 8

Justin Leonard versus Robert Karlsson

Leonard has halved both of his singles matches to date and, incredibly, Karlsson has yet to win any of his six matches in his two Ryder Cups. Karlsson, though, finished blisteringly well in the fourballs, closing with five birdies in his last seven holes to claim a vital half.

VERDICT: KARLSSON VICTORY. AMERICA 10 EUROPE 9

Phil Mickelson versus Justin Rose

Mickelson's last three singles matches have brought three defeats, so his ability to win a point here must be questioned. Rose has been playing well so this will be close.

VERDICT: MICKELSON VICTORY. AMERICA 11 EUROPE 9

Kenny Perry versus Henrik Stenson

Perry has had a mixed bag of performances so far, some excellent shots, some absolute howlers. Stenson is struggling to find any kind of consistency.

VERDICT: PERRY VICTORY. AMERICA 12 EUROPE 9

Boo Weekley versus Oliver Wilson

Boo is the go-to man for America and young Wilson will have his hands full in dealing with him and the vast crowd he attracts.

VERDICT: WEEKLEY VICTORY. AMERICA 13 EUROPE 9

JB Holmes versus Soren Hansen

Holmes is a hit or miss kind of player, an all or nothing type of guy. He has not been terribly impressive so far. Hansen is steely, an impressive sort who'll revel in singles play

VERDICT: HANSEN VICTORY. AMERICA 13 EUROPE 10

Jim Furyk versus Miguel Angel Jimenez

Jimenez has not been wholly impressive so far though he's a tenacious battler. The same can be said of Furyk, though.

VERDICT: FURYK VICTORY. AMERICA 14. EUROPE 10

Stewart Cink versus Graeme McDowell

Cink is an excellent singles player with a decent track record at the Ryder Cup but McDowell has been mightily impressive and is so up for this it's frightening.

VERDICT: McDOWELL VICTORY. AMERICA 14 EUROPE 11

Steve Stricker versus Ian Poulter

A tremendous match. As good a putter as Stricker is it would be impossible to bet against Poulter the way he's playing right now.

VERDICT: POULTER VICTORY. AMERICA 14 EUROPE 12

Ben Curtis versus Lee Westwood

Curtis has struggled and so has Westwood. But you have to go for experience here.

VERDICT: WESTWOOD VICTORY. AMERICA 14 EUROPE 13

Chad Campbell versus Padraig Harrington

Campbell has been awful and even though Harrington has not been at his best, he should take care of Campbell easily enough

VERDICT: HARRINGTON VICTORY. AMERICA 14 EUROPE 14

OVERALL: THE MATCH TO END HALVED BUT EUROPE TO RETAIN THE RYDER CUP