Clarke plays down Ryder Cup rumours

Darren Clarke admits it would be an honour to captain the European Ryder Cup team in 2014 but has denied that he has already been offered the job (Europe 4/5, USA 5/4 – Win Outright with bet365).

The Northern Irishman was one of Jose Maria Olazabal’s assistants at Medinah a couple of weeks ago as Europe staged a final-day comeback to beat the USA by 14.5 points to 13.5.

The dust had hardly settled on the amazing contest before thoughts turned to who might succeed the Spaniard when the match moves to Gleneagles in Scotland in two years.

Clarke and Irishman Paul McGinley were the two names immediately linked with the post and both have made it clear they would relish the opportunity to take on the Americans at some stage.

Opinion is divided as to when it would be best for Clarke to be handed the reins, with Lee Westwood favouring the 2011 Open champion at Gleneagles and Rory McIlroy admitting that he feels Clarke should do the job when the Ryder Cup returns stateside in 2016.

It seems inevitable that the jovial 44-year-old will captain the European team at some stage in the future but he was quick to point out on Twitter that he has not been approached about 2014 just yet.

“To clarify, I have not been offered the Ryder Cup captaincy,” he tweeted. “It’s not decided by the committee until January but it would be a huge honour if asked.”

Clarke’s form has dipped appreciably since he claimed his only major at Sandwich last year but he will tee it up in this week’s Portugal Masters on Thursday (Clarke 140/1 – Outright Winner).

A couple of Ryder Cup heroes are also in the field, with Martin Kaymer (16/1) and Francesco Molinari (14/1) set for an outing, while South Africa’s George Coetzee (20/1) has been tipped for a big week at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course.

McGinley keen on skipper role

Paul McGinley (10/11 – European captain 2014 with bet365) has put his name into the hat to become the next European Ryder Cup captain following the success of Jose Maria Olazabal last weekend.

Team Europe pulled off one of the most exciting comebacks in the history of the prestigious competition, as they overturned a four-point deficit during Sunday’s singles against the USA to retain the title.

McGinley was a vice-captain to Olazabal at the Medinah Country Club and the Irishman has received the backing of players Rory McIlroy and Peter Hanson to take over from the Spaniard.

The 45-year-old has been flattered by the backing and would be interested in taking the job for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles (Europe 4/5 – Ryder Cup 2014 outright with bet365).

McGinley told Sky Sports: “Listen, it’s a great honour for anyone who becomes Ryder Cup captain, there’s no doubt about that and I’m not going to say otherwise. But ultimately it’s not up to me, it’s for other players to decide.

“Rory came out the other day saying it (backing me), but we’ll just have to wait and see how things evolve over the next few months and down the line.

“All I can say is, I’ve captained Great Britain and Ireland twice before and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Olazabal keeping faith

USA dominated day two of the Ryder Cup to open up a 10-6 lead going into the singles on Sunday but Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal insisted that his side can turn the match around (USA 1/8, Europe 17/2, Tie 16/1 Outright Betting with bet365).

Europe as holders need only tie the match to retain the trophy, which means they need to win eight of the 12 singles matches – and the USA have never surrendered more than a two-point advantage on the final day since the competition began in 1927.

Olazabal admits that it will be a tall order to make history but insists that it is still possible, with a bit of luck for his team.

“We have a tough task ahead, but I believe it’s not over,” said Olazabal. “That’s what I learned from Seve (Ballesteros), and that’s what I’m going to pass to the players.

“Things have not gone our way, especially on the greens, but I believe that momentum will come our way.

“We are trailing by four points and we have to put the players that are playing well up there. If we want to win this match we have to take the big guys down.”

Luke Donald and Ian Poulter were instrumental in Europe sharing Saturday’s fourballs and it is no surprise Olazabal has sent his big guns out early with Donald taking on Bubba Watson in the first match (Watson Evens, Donald 4/5 Match Betting with bet365), while Poulter – who birdied the last five holes to win Saturday’s final point – faces Webb Simpson in the second (Simpson 11/10, Poulter 8/11).

Olazabal calls for Europe response

Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal has urged his side to step up in order to wrestle back the initiative at the Ryder Cup as they look to reel back USA, who begin day two 5-3 in front (USA 1/3, Europe 7/2, Tie 15/2 To Lead After Day 2 with bet365).

Honours were even after the opening foursomes but the USA have taken early control as they romped to a 3-1 win in the afternoon fourballs with only rookie Nicolas Colsaerts preventing a whitewash.

The Belgian fired eight birdies and an eagle – with no help from the more experienced Lee Westwood – to see off Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker and prevent a session whitewash.

Olazabal has urged his players to improve their performances otherwise they could be kissing goodbye to their chances of glory before the singles even start (USA 2/5, Europe 13/5, Tie 11/1 Ryder Cup Outright 2012 with bet365).

“I’m going to make it clear to the boys that they need to step it up. They need to play better golf, simple as that,” Olazabal said.

“There are no secrets about this game. You have to make more birdies than your opponent and if you don’t do that, you’re going to struggle. We do have to change the momentum.”

Ian Poulter was a surprise omission from the Friday fourballs but he will start Saturday’s play alongside Justin Rose.

Luke Donald partners Lee Westwood, Colsaerts is joined by Sergio Garcia while the Northern Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will bring the team home.

Snedeker ready to batter Europe

United States ace Brandt Snedeker has risked riling the European team ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup on Friday by claiming he wants to “beat their brains in” at Medinah Country Club (US 4/6, Europe 13/8, tie 11/1 – Ryder Cup outright with bet365).

The rivalry between the two camps has begun bubbling away after a sedate start to the week, Europe’s Ian Poulter claiming he is ready to “kill” his great mates from the PGA Tour this weekend.

US captain Davis Love III has also said he expects to clash with European counterpart Jose Maria Olazabal, claiming confrontation is inevitable over the next three days.

With the Chicago crowd likely to create a red-hot atmosphere, Snedeker’s comments on Wednesday are only likely to further any hostilities between the two sets of players.

The 32-year-old is one of four Ryder Cup rookies for the US but says he has embraced the competitive nature of the event as he looks for another successful weekend following his victory in the final $10million FedEx Cup event last Sunday.

“I’m very, very competitive,” said the world number 10. “People don’t get that because I’m polite.

“But I’m going to try to beat their brains in as bad as I can.”

Snedeker went on to say that he felt competing against Europe’s top players on the PGA Tour most weeks will stand him in good stead, especially when it comes to the singles on Sunday.

The Nashville-native 12/1 to be the Top American point scorer at Medinah this weekend, with Tiger Woods 5/1 and Dustin Johnson 8/1 with bet365.

Kaymer back in the swing

Martin Kaymer has given European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal a lift by declaring that he feels back to his best ahead of this week’s renewal at Medinah (Kaymer 20/1 Top European with bet365).

The German ace looked set for big things when he claimed the 2010 USPGA Championship en route to becoming the word number one in early 2011.

The 27-year-old continued to shine last year but has been unable to replicate his form in 2012 and is without a tournament win anywhere in the world.

He has now dropped down to 32nd in the world rankings and scraped into the automatic qualification places in 10th place courtesy of his position in the world points list.

His form has been patchy to say the least over the last nine months and he had managed just three top-10 finishes before securing a share of fifth place at the recent Italian Open.

There were suggestions that the Dusseldorf-born star might even give up his place on the team to allow a more in-form player to participate (USA 8/11, Europe 6/4, tie 11/1 with Outright Winner with bet365).

But he was having none of it and made it clear that, after working hard and making slight adjustments with his coach, he feels he is swinging it as good as he was when claiming his maiden major title.

“The same thing now happens in my swing, the way it was a year and a half or two years ago,” he said.

“So I’m very, very happy that it came along just in time for the Ryder Cup and for the next upcoming events for me. It was a big relief.”

Euro skipper sets marker

Team Europe (7/5 Ryder Cup 2012 outright – bet365) captain Jose Maria Olazabal has admitted his side will have to be at their best if they are to overcome the USA in the Ryder Cup this week.

It was the Europeans who came out on top two years ago at Celtic Manor, with Graeme McDowell sinking the winning putt to claim the famous trophy for the then home team.

However the home advantage will be on the side of a highly rated USA (7/10 Ryder Cup 2012 outright – bet365) outfit this time around at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois and Olazabal knows his team will have to be on their metal if they are to retain the Ryder Cup across the Atlantic.

He told Sky Sports News: “It’s going to be difficult, we’re going to have to play really great golf, there is no guessing in that regard.

“The US team is a really strong one so that’s why I think we’re going to have to play our best to have a chance of bringing that trophy back.”

The action at Medinah gets underway on Friday and Olazabal will be looking to use all his experience to inspire Europe to glory.

Donald eyes home comforts

Luke Donald is hoping the fact that he lives in the Chicago area might help to get some of the American fans on his side during next week’s Ryder Cup (USA 7/10, Europe 7/5, tie 11/1 Ryder Cup Outright with bet365).

Donald will be part of captain Jose Maria Olazabal’s 12-man squad at Medinah between September 28-30 as the Europeans look to defend the title they won under the guidance of Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor two years ago.

The latest renewal of the biennial contest has been billed as one of the closest ever with few weaknesses on either side and a stunning array of talented stars.

Home advantage is always key in the prestigious event but Europe have managed to pull off victories across the pond on three occasions since 1985.

Donald would love to make it four this time around and the former world number one is hoping that the locals might see him as one of their own and give him at least a little cheer during the three days of action.

“I’m excited to have it come to a place that I’ve kind of considered home the last 15 years,” he said. “If I can drag away even just 1% of the crowd’s support on to my side or the European’s side then it’s an advantage.

The Hemel Hempstead-born star has won eight and lost only two of his 11 games in the event, and in foursomes is a perfect six out of six (Donald 6/1 Top European with bet365).

Furyk, Johnson among US Ryder Cup wildcards

Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker have been named as United States (8/11 – Ryder Cup Outright with bet365) skipper Davis Love III’s four Ryder Cup wildcard picks for this year’s eagerly-awaited Medinah showdown.

Speculation had been mounting over who the American captain would select for the competition, which begins in Illinois at the end of the month.

And now Love has confirmed seven-time Ryder Cup veteran Furyk, 45-year-old Stricker, 28-year-old Johnson and debutant Snedeker have made the team to take on Europe (11/8 – Outright).

Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler and Nick Watney are the unlucky trio who were in contention for wildcard places but missed out in the final reckoning.

The four wildcard picks join big names Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar in the US side after those eight had qualified automatically.

Jose Maria Olazabal, meanwhile, had chosen Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts as his two wildcards last week and they go into the European team alongside the 10 players who qualified: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer.

The Ryder Cup starts, with Europe hoping to defend the crown they won by just a point in Wales in 2010, on September 28. The draw is on offer with bet365 at 11/1 – a result which would also be enough for Europe to retain the coveted trophy.

Gallacher backs Olazabal choice

Former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher says Jose Maria Olazabal was right to overlook Padraig Harrington and believes the Spaniard has picked the strongest team possible to take on the Americans (USA 8/11, tie 11/1, Europe 11/8 with bet365).

After months of speculation, Olazabal decided to go with Ian Poulter and rookie Nicolas Colsaerts (18/1 Top European points scorer) as his two wildcard picks, a decision that means the resurgent Harrington will miss the biennial event for the first time in 13 years.

Much has been made of the skipper’s decision to omit the Irishman, with some pundits reasoning that the Spaniard didn’t want the 40-year-old on his team due to an alleged personality clash between the two.

Despite the furore over picks, Olazabal has always said that he’d base his wildcards on who had done well on the points list and Gallacher believes Harrington’s desire to add to his three majors has cost him dear.

“It’s a very strong side. They are the best 12 players in Europe – it’s perfect, Gallacher said. “Padraig has three majors under his belt but he’s probably tried to concentrate more on doing well in the majors rather than in regular tournaments week in, week out where you earn your Ryder Cup points.

“In a way he’s a bit unlucky there but Jose Maria gave clear signals throughout his captaincy he was going to stick very much to his qualifying list,” he added.