Home side riding high for Ryder Cup

When the Ryder Cup tournament rolls into Chicago the European team will be facing a United States side with 12 tournament wins and two of the four majors this year. And that's not including the captain's selections yet to be made, writes John McAuley

Bubba Watson, who won the Masters earlier this year, is part of a US Ryders Cup team that has won two of the four majors as well as 12 tournament victories this season.

Four years ago, at Valhalla Golf Club, a misfit collection of United States stars rode off into the Kentucky sunset with the Ryder Cup.

It was their first triumph against Europe since 1999, the five-point victory all the more astounding given the team included the boisterous Boo Weekley, the veteran Kenny Perry - at 48 as old as the captain Paul Azinger - the rookie JB Holmes and a brazen upstart in Anthony Kim.

Underdogs in their backyard the Americans sailed home to register their biggest winning margin in 27 years.

The cup has since been relinquished, courtesy of a Graeme McDowell-inspired win in the Celtic cauldron of Wales, but at Chicago in six weeks' time, the Stars and Stripes appear set to be wrapped around Samuel Ryder's dainty donation once again.

The eight automatic slots for the US team were decided following the conclusion of the US PGA Championship on Sunday, with Tiger Woods leading a prodigious pack that boasts Matt Kuchar, Zack Johnson, Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner and Webb Simpson. That is two major champions and 12 tournament wins on the PGA Tour for this year alone. And consider eighth-placed Phil Mickelson, out of form yet with the pedigree and experience to flourish, especially in the fervent surroundings of Medinah Country Club.

Davis Love III, the US captain, has until September 4 to reveal his four picks, with Hunter Mahan, twice a winner this season, Jim Furyk, close to landing the recent US Open and the WGC-Bridgestone, and a prolific putter, and (Woods's obvious partner) Steve Stricker favourites for inclusion. That presumably leaves Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, two of the greatest young American talents, vying for the 12th spot.

Not a bad dilemma to face.

Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe's captain, could warrant feeling anxious. Aside from the new US PGA champion Rory McIlroy, the defending champions are peppered with problems. Martin Kaymer, despite finding himself eighth in the standings, has had a season to forget; Sergio Garcia, a stalwart of the biennial clash, has fallen outside the top-10 automatic qualifiers; and Lee Westwood has just parted company with coach and caddie after a dismal summer campaign.

Bright spots, however fleeting, are provided by Ian Poulter's tied-third at Kiawah Island and McDowell's continued consistency.

There is, of course, time for fortune to change and form to be restored, but as of now it is very much advantage America.

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