So here we are, one of sports’ most iconic days has arrived, it’s Ryder Cup Singles. To those new to the Ryder Cup, Sunday sees all 12 golfers hit the course with 12 points up for grabs. The captains of each team determine their orders from 1-12 and the players from the corresponding lists will play against each other in search of those valuable points.
This one is pretty much over bar the shouting as Team USA head into the day with a huge 11-5 lead and only needs 3.5 points to regain the Ryder Cup. If Europe were to be successful it would not only be the finest Ryder Cup comeback in history but arguably one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports.
Despite the score being one-sided, the singles can provide some fantastic betting angles where punters can place a variety of singles and multiple bets. Below we preview each match and its respective odds. We will predict each match in the hope we can find you a winner or two
Sunday Singles Matches
Match 1: Xander Schauffele vs Rory McIlroy
ODDS: USA -120, EUROPE +150, TIE +550
European Captain Padraig Harrington has made some change selections this weekend but this might be one of the worst. Rory McIlroy has looked woefully out of touch, being dropped for the first time in his Ryder Cup career and contributing 0 points so far, in matches Europe simply has to win, it’s a huge gamble to have the Northern Irishman lead off.
He plays Xander Schauffele, who is in great form having won all three of the matches he has played. The American rookie looks in complete control of his game, whereas his opponent doesn’t. McIlroy has lost his last two singles matches against Patrick Reed and Justin Thomas, the smart betting would be for that trend to continue here.
PREDICTION: USA win
Match 2: Patrick Cantlay vs Shane Lowry
ODDS: USA -125, EUROPE +163, TIE +550
Harrington will certainly hope with Shane Lowry going second it brings the luck of the Irish to Europe’s slim chances of retaining the Ryder Cup. Lowry has only played twice losing his first match with Rory McIlroy but providing one of the moments of the contest so far, holing a match-winning putt on the 18th to secure a vital win in yesterday’s fourballs.
He faces the man I thought would lead America off in Patrick Cantlay. Cantlay like his good friend Xander Schauffele has been in imperious form all week winning two and halving one of his matches this week. Cantlay will be a tough nut for Lowry to crack in what could be one of the matches of the week.
PREDICTION: USA win
Match 3: Scottie Scheffler vs Jon Rahm
ODDS: USA +210, EUROPE -163, TIE +550
Jon Rahm has been sensational this week, contributing 3.5 of the 5 points that Europe currently has on board. At times the world number 1 has looked like the best player in the entire competition and it’s unfortunate that his efforts will most likely be in vain.
His opponent Scottie Scheffler has had a good weekend winning one and halving the other match he has contested so far. His game has been a bit hot and cold, but Scheffler is a good match-play golfer as his runner-up in the year’s earlier World Matchplay will attest to. This will be a tight match, but one Europe will win.
PREDICTION: Europe win
Match 4: Bryson DeChambeau vs Sergio Garcia
ODDS: USA +100 , EUROPE +125, TIE +550
Once again Sergio Garcia has shown what he is all about on the Ryder Cup stage winning 3 points this weekend alongside fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm. Although Rahm has grabbed the headlines he has been ably supported by the competition’s all-time leading point scorer.
Bryson DeChambeau has been this year’s most compelling figure, finding himself in the rare position of being adored by the vast home crowd, DeChambeau has provided several memorable moments this week as he has gone onto win and half his matches so far this week. DeChambeau has at times been wild off the tee and he will need to bring his A-Game if he is to come out on top against the experienced Spaniard.
PREDICTION: Europe win
Match 5: Collin Morikawa vs Viktor Hovland
ODDS: USA -110, EUROPE +138, TIE +550
Perhaps the match most people would have wanted to see between the two rookie sensations on either side. This weekend has mirrored both of these golfers’ careers to date. Morikawa despite some concerns over the health of his back has been nothing short of sensational and to this writer’s eyes, looks like the man who will dominate the game for years to come. His iron play, putter, and mindset have been ice cold and have contributed to the two-time major winner being undefeated.
Hovland has played all four matches so far, only being able to claim a half across them all. However, that doesn’t tell the whole picture. In each of his matches, he has been by far the best player in the European pairings and has been unlucky not to have won more. This match could be one for the ages, but Morikawa looks in supreme form and we are backing the young American hot-shot to come out on top here.
PREDICTION: USA win
Match 6: Dustin Johnson vs Paul Casey
ODDS: USA -163, EUROPE +210, TIE +550
Being the oldest player on his team seems to have fuelled Dustin Johnson with the usually languid American being all fired up winning every match he has played convincingly this week. Johnson has had a bumpy 2021 but here he looks back to his very best and is in complete control of his game.
He comes up against a man who simply can’t buy a putt in Paul Casey and the experienced Englishman will be disappointed in his game and returns this week. Casey has an uphill task here and simply needs to discover his touch on the greens if he is to have any chance of hanging with Johnson.
Prediction: USA win
Match 7: Brooks Koepka vs Bernd Wiesberger
ODDS: USA -175, EUROPE +225, TIE +550
The competition’s highest-ranked player Bernd Wiesberger comes up against four-time major winner Brooks Koepka in what looks like a one-sided match on paper. With questions coming into the week regarding his passion for the event, Koepka has been fiery and has looked well up for the fight but has only been able to win one match so far this weekend.
He comes up against Wiesberger who despite not having the results to show for it hasn’t looked out of place on this grand stage. Although the European will have a tough time trying to stay with the big-hitting American this match will be a competitive one and closer than the odds suggest.
Prediction: USA win
Match 8: Tony Finau vs Ian Poulter
ODDS: USA -125, EUROPE +163, TIE +550
Coming into this weeks Ryder Cup, Ian Poulter was the European talisman but this has looked like one Ryder Cup too far. Being partnered with Rory McIlroy in his two matches, there can be no question that he has been the better player but this is a beast of a course that is clearly stretching his game to its limits.
Tony Finau hasn’t played as much as I anticipated. One of the stars of the show for the Americans in a losing effort back in 2018, the popular American played some seriously good golf on Friday but wasn’t as good on Saturday. Poulter proudly has never been beaten in singles but this will be his toughest test yet.
Prediction: USA win
Match 9: Justin Thomas vs Tyrell Hatton
A man I expected to go higher up the order was Tyrell Hatton. Behind the Spanish duo of Rahm and Garcia, Hatton has been one of Europe’s positives this weekend, his spiky and fiery attitude being perfect for this stage.
Justin Thomas hasn’t looked wholly at ease this week but has been fighting all the way. The most pumped of all the Americans it is clearly a stage that the man from Kentucky loves and thrives in. Thomas is bound to get the crowd involved and Hatton although playing some great golf will face a tough task. This is another match that will be closer than the odds predict but it’s another match I see going America’s way.
Prediction: USA win
Match 10: Harris English vs Lee Westwood
ODDS: USA -110, EUROPE +138, TIE +550
Coming into the event this week, the focus was on whether Lee Westwood had the game to compete on this brute of a course and the answers so far have been no. Playing two foursomes matches with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, Westwood has been soundly beaten in both matches he has played.
He would have been fearing the worst, but in Harris English, he comes up against an opponent who won’t crush him off the tee. The 32-year-old rookie American has been his usual solid self this weekend, winning one and losing one of his two matches this week. Usually, you would back the experience of Westwood to come out on top here but he just looks out of sorts.
Prediction: USA win
Match 11: Jordan Spieth vs Tommy Fleetwood
ODDS: USA -110, EUROPE +138, TIE +550
Another US golfer who could have gone higher up the order is Jordan Spieth who has coupled his usual moments of brilliance with some moments of madness. Spieth has played better than his results have suggested and he has to start as the heavy favorite here.
Tommy Fleetwood has endured a tough year on the PGA Tour failing to qualify as part of the 125 for the season-ending FedEx playoffs. You can see the Englishman is fighting his game as his putting and driving have been wayward. This could be a good game that has its special moments but there could also be some holes that have us all scratching our heads.
Prediction: USA Win
Match 12: Daniel Berger vs Matthew Fitzpatrick
ODDS: USA -110, EUROPE +13, TIE +550
The final match of this year’s competition sees two players who have only played in the morning’s foursomes with Daniel Berger taking on Matt Fitzpatrick. Both of these players have played ok this week and can count themselves unlucky to not have played more.
This should be a tight game that in all reality shouldn’t mean anything as the tie should be done and dusted before these two players reach the meaningful holes. In trying to add some respectability to the score we will back the European man to come out on top.
Prediction: Europe win
Passionate writer about golf and the PGA Tour, you won’t find me on the fairway but instead hacking my way round the course. Terrible driver of the ball, even worse putter.
Love all sports but have decided to make my sporting life as miserable as possible by supporting Tottenham Hotspur and the Dallas Cowboys, who between them have gone almost a century without a major league title.
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