Matt Kuchar and the 2016 Ryder Cup Thread

[GTJT622]

The Ryder Cup cranks up on Friday morning on U.S. soil at Chaska, Minnesota. The weather looks like it will be awesome. Clear throughout, crisp mornings and highs in the upper 60's.

USA Captain, Davis Love III, and European Captain, Darren Clarke, will be announcing later today (Thursday) the four-ball teams for Friday morning's matches. Friday afternoon's four-ball teams will be announced after the morning's rounds.

Tiger Woods is one of Love's "assistants" this week so you will see him roaming around the course with earplugs in and relaying information. Other "Vice Captains" (should the word "vice" be used in reference to sex addict, Tiger Woods?) for the U.S. team include Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, and Bubbles Watson.

From the Ryder Cup site... http://www.rydercup.com/

...here's the bio snippet on our Kooch:

One of the most consistently solid players on the PGA Tour – 76 top 10s from 2007-2016 – Kuchar will make his fourth start in a Ryder Cup this September. In three previous appearances, Kuchar has a 4-5-2 record. The seven-time PGA Tour winner is also hoping to be a member of a winning Ryder Cup team for the first time in his career. His strong suit is the four-balls format, where he has gone 2-1-2. Kuchar won the bronze medal in the Rio Olympics, the only American in men's golf to make the podium. Kuchar was selected by Davis Love III as a Captain's Pick on Sept. 12.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch is paired with Dustin Johnson in Friday morning's 4-ball match teeing off at 9:20amET/8:20amCT. They will face the European twosome of Lee Westwood (England) & Thomas Pieters (Belgium).

 

[Texwood]

The US is favored to win this on the books at -185

 

[GTJT622]

Tempting to lay a unit on the Europeans getting chalk.

FWIW, Leaderboard link: http://www.rydercup.com/scoring

 

[GTJT622]

Let's see if my Good News Jinx by Posting Updates thingamajig is still working...

...Kooch & Johnson up 2 after 2 holes early.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch and Johnson up 5 at the turn. WOW! BANANA SPLITS

 

[Texwood]

Kooch and Johnson look to close this out at the 14th up 5!! US is up 2 in two other matches with just a few holes remaining in each. Mickelson and Fowler just scored to climb back to down 1 in the other match. Looking good at the moment for the USA.

 

[BornAJacket]

sounds like a good team this year.

 

[GTJT622]

Americans sweep the morning matches. Kooch & Johnson win 5&4.

Kooch & Johnson pair up again in afternoon matches against Rory McIlroy & Thomas Pieters with tee time of 2:15pmET/1:15pmCT.

Glad I didn't lay any money down on the Euros.

 

[BornAJacket]

Just sink the putt and pick up the cash

 

[GTJT622]

Europeans coming back in the afternoon matches. Leading 3 of 4 by at least 2 holes. Kooch+Johnson down by 4 thru 8. Ugh.

 

[GTJT622]

It's fun when Kooch nails an approach tight to the pin and the crowd goes...

...KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH!

He has to love that. The fun of the Ryder Cup as much as anything is the crowds are raucous and actually encouraged to be so. On my bucket list.

 

[GTJT622]

Europeans win 3 of 4 afternoon matches to cut the American lead to 5-3 heading into Saturday morning's foursome matches. Kooch will not be playing Saturday morning.

 

[Texwood]

These are some compelling matches this morning with tension and momentum swings. Too bad they won't be done before the Jackets kick it off.

 

[GTJT622]

Looks like they are going to split the morning matches...which, is OK. Americans should have a 7-5 lead heading into the afternoon 4-ball matches. 2-2 in the afternoon would be just fine. 3-1 and we are in great shape to take the cup back for the first in a long time.

 

[GTJT622]

One more thing... kudos to Snedeker and Koepka. Those guys have been hot as a firecracker and MONEY for Team USA.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch is paired with Lefty in the afternoon 4-ball. Going up against Kaymer & Garcia. On the course now.

6.5-5.5 lead for the U.S. We blew the last morning foursome as Europe won 3 of the last 4 holes to get the tie.

Fun stuff.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch birdies the first 2 holes, but Kaymer & Garcia each get one as well. AS thru 2.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch & Lefty win 2 & 1. USA takes 3 of 4 afternoon matches. Now up 9.5 to 6.5. USA needs to win 5 (of 12) individual matches tomorrow...or add up some ties to get to 5 pts however needed.

Woohoo!

NBC coverage starts at noon eastern tomorrow.

 

[GTJT622]

Kooch is in the next-to-last pairing tomorrow. Hopefully, the U.S. will wrap it up before it comes down to his match. He will face Germany's Martin Kaymer. Tee time is scheduled for 1:54pmET.

 

[Texwood]

Agree with all that, but there is a part of me that would love to see the issue still in doubt when Kooch makes the turn.

 

[Texwood]

Looks like Europe front loaded these matches rolling out their best early while placing the 3 rookies in the last four. There is a chance the issue could still be in doubt while Kooch is on the back nine.

 

[GTJT622]

Absolutely. The U.S. lead is far from insurmountable. Smart move by the Euro Captain, Clarke. Hope to build early momentum that will carry over to the back end of their lineup along with putting pressure on the back end of the U.S. team in the process...whose a-holes might tighten up big time with the threat of losing this decent-to-good lead heading into the final day. Well, that's his hope.

I like our front load too.

 

[Texwood]

A little early momentum for the Euros who are up in 6 matches compared to 2 for the USA. All are just one stroke differences though except Cabrera Bello who is 2 up.

Kooch is all square in his match after 2.

 

[Texwood]

Momentum shifted with USA up in 6 matches to 3. And Kooch is 1 up after 5!! However, all USA leads are only 1 stroke. Euros have leads of 3 strokes and 2 strokes in their 3.

 

[Texwood]

Kooch is now 2 up after 6!! Scored on back to back holes.

 

[Texwood]

KOOOOOCH!! 3 up after 7 now. Hit an approach shot that got to within a foot for that one.

 

[Texwood]

In the first six parings, the Euros are up in 4 matches and all square in one other. Only Reed has a lead over Rory among the first six. All close.

 

[Texwood]

Spieth goes down 3&2. Reed is 1 up on the final hole against McIlroy.

 

[Texwood]

Two pairings are in the clubhouse with the USA winning one and the Euros winning one....but the Euros lead or are all square in the next 5 pairings heading home. Will know shortly how much pressure Kooch will be facing on his back 9.

Kooch has dropped back to 2 up through 9.

 

[Texwood]

Looking really good for the USA now with leads in 7 of the remaining matches. Only need to win 4 of those to take it.

 

[GTJT622]

It's conceivable that Kooch could clinch it for the U.S.

 

[Texwood]

USA is in great shape to win this going away, but Kooch has dropped three straight holes to fall back to 1 down.

 

[GTJT622]

Well done, Team USA and Davis Love III.

Nice to get the Cup back home. Hope we can keep it here for a while. The 3 days were entertaining to watch to say the least.

 

[GTJT622]

What a great year for Matt Kuchar representing the U.S. He wins a bronze medal at Brazil and is part of the Ryder Cup champions. Nice! A few pics to celebrate 2016 for who is one of Tech's greatest ambassadors...

 

[BornAJacket]

well done!