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07/06/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In roughly six weeks, the eight automatic members of the United States Ryder Cup team will be finalized. Two weeks after that, the nine automatic guys for the European squad will be known.
It's getting down to it now.
Corey Pavin's American team features the usual suspects to this point. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim are all but locks.
Lucas Glover, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker are in now, but by no means safe.
It's pretty amazing that Woods just gets slipped into the equation. He is sixth in points, but was non-committal about the Ryder Cup when he was asked at his first real press conference during Masters week.
"Well, as of right now, I'm not on the team, am I? I'm not on the team point- wise. So I have a long way to go," Woods said a few months back.
When asked if he would like to play, his response was, "Would I like to play in it? If I qualify."
So if he doesn't get a top-eight spot, he's not going to Wales? Could be. Pavin alluded a few weeks back that Woods wasn't even guaranteed a captain's pick anyway.
Jack Nicklaus was in Madrid and asked by reporters about Pavin's statements.
"He'd (Pavin) need a brain scan if he left Tiger out of the team," Nicklaus said. "Of course he should pick Tiger. The truth is that Tiger is going through some personal problems, which I've nothing to say about, and he's also got some problems with his game, which he's going to have to resolve himself. But Tiger will be in the team, I have no doubt."
A brain scan wouldn't be enough. Pavin might be a double-agent if he doesn't take Tiger. If Woods doesn't want to go, there's nothing the Americans can do. If Pavin doesn't even offer him a spot, well, Pavin is Kevin Costner's character in "No Way Out." Pavin might just show up at press conferences using a French accent or something.
Yes, the American team won the Ryder Cup in 2008 without Tiger. That's the exception, not the norm. True, Woods has been on five Ryder Cup teams and the U.S. only captured one of them, but he's going to go down as the greatest player ever and if he's not there because of Pavin's choice, then, no matter the outcome, Pavin's the worst Ryder Cup captain EVER.
Woods isn't the only question mark at this point.
Kim had thumb surgery, hasn't played since Quail Hollow in early May and withdrew from the British Open. Stricker has been hurt. Glover, Johnson and Kuchar would be rookies and sadly, maybe Capt. Pavin can't count on Johnson when the heat is turned up.
Pavin could bring maybe a Stewart Cink, a Hunter Mahan or a Scott Verplank or two players who are hot heading into the Ryder Cup. Ben Crane is close. So is Jeff Overton, but are those names that'll scare Padraig Harrington on the first tee Sunday?
Of course not.
Truth be told, there aren't going to be many names that'll scare the European side.
Their point system is semi-complicated. The top-four names come from a world points list, loosely based on the world rankings. The next five come from a European points list which has more to do with performance on the European Tour.
Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter have the top four places. Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross McGowan, Francesco Molinari and Luke Donald are in as of now.
Jimenez just won in Europe last week. The top-four players have all won in the U.S. this year. Basically, this team is loaded.
Colin Montgomerie has three spots available to him.
Among his pool is Justin Rose, who has won twice on the PGA Tour this summer and should've had a third title; Padraig Harrington, who won three majors in 13 months not that long ago; Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, a pair of Swedes with Ryder Cup experience and top-30 resumes; and Paul Casey, a top-10 player in the world.
We didn't even mention Sergio Garcia. His game has gone downhill in a giant slalom fashion, but he's a Ryder Cup star and Monty all but said he's got a spot if he doesn't make it on points and barring a British Open/PGA summer of love, Garcia won't.
So Monty's team is missing four players inside the top 30 in the world rankings. Pavin has to decide between Bo Van Pelt and Brian Gay.
The scariest thing is that the European side can get better. Who's missing from the American squad that needs to get there? Cink? He's got one top-10 since February. Zach Johnson? He won Colonial, but has exactly zero top-10s since or before. Rickie Fowler? He's still a kid with no experience and has yet to even win.
Monty's best nine before he has to pick could be: Westwood, McIlroy, Donald, Rose, Casey, Poulter, Harrington, Kaymer and McDowell. Let's just say that there is some serious depth on the European side. In fact, its B squad would be competitive at the moment.
Six weeks remain for the Americans to get going with their games. Honestly, their best chance might rest on all of the great Europeans not making the team.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- My hunch says Aronimink gets a major sooner rather than later or Philly gets a full-time tour stop.
- If I was a gambling man, it would be very hard for me to not put some loot on Cristie Kerr at the U.S. Women's Open. Remember this, though: Jiyai Shin lost the No. 1 ranking when Ai Miyazato went crazy, then she got hurt and Kerr took the top with the best major performance by anyone since Tiger's dominant run in 2000.
- Movie moment - Saw "Toy Story 3" and I have to say we have our first Best Picture nominee. Amazing story, amazing animation, amazing voice acting. Just awesome. In my generation's history, I believe the "Toy Story" films will go down as the most historic, not just for Pixar animation, but the stories and the beauty of them.
<< Raptors sign first-round pick Davis
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors on Tuesday signed forward
Ed Davis, their first-round pick in the 2010 draft.
Davis, the 13th overall selection, suffered a broken wrist during his second
season at North Carolina las
<< Tigers' Boesch named top AL rookie for June
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch has
been selected as the American League's top rookie for the month of June.
Boesch lead all AL rookies with eight homers, 23 RBI, 35 hits and 17 runs
scored. H
<< Twins' Thome earns AL weekly honor
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins designated hitter Jim Thome
has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending
July 4.
The slugger posted an MLB-best 1.150 slugging percentage and tied for
<< Fish, Mahut advance in Newport
Newport, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded American Mardy Fish and
Wimbledon marathon man Nicolas Mahut were a pair of opening-round winners
Tuesday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.
Fish swam past journeyman fellow American Micha
Furcal takes home NL weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael
Furcal has been named the National League Player of the Week for the
period ending July 4.
The 32-year-old Dominican native led all of baseball last
Red Wings sign Miller >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Drew
Miller to a one-year contract on Tuesday.
Miller, whose brother Ryan is a goaltender with Buffalo, began last season
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Sub over Stud? Making the case for Joey Votto >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Another MLB All-Star game and another year
of not sending the most deserving players to the Midsummer Classic. Among the
more glaring omissions this year is Canadian Joey Votto, the Cincinnati Reds'
power-hitt
Legends Classic matchups set >>
Princeton, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Legends Classic has announced its lineup
for the upcoming season, with Syracuse, Michigan, Georgia Tech and UTEP each
hosting a pair of regional round games in late November.
The early season tournam
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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