Expert Picks: Which team will win the Ryder Cup?
 
Dec. 12, 2007

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Europe

At this stage in the game, how could anyone pick against Europe? The Americans have been defeated in five of the last six Ryder Cup matches and even when they won -- 1999 -- it required a comeback of historic proportions. Add to the equation that Europe will be captained by the most prolific points-getter in Europe's Ryder Cup history with Nick Faldo and it's hard to think that the U.S. will be able to end its skid. Paul Azinger should make for a great captain for the American squad, and perhaps the U.S. will have an advantage playing on home soil -- though that meant nothing at Oakland Hills in 2004. If Azinger can pull together the same chemistry Jack Nicklaus is able to from his teams at the Presidents Cup then maybe, just maybe, the U.S. has a chance. But, the Europeans absolutely live for this and will win again.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Europe
It's optimistic to think that the U.S. team will finally get another title -- their second time in seven tries -- as the biennial competition returns to American soil. However, based on the rout the European team delivered in 2006, it's hard to believe the U.S. squad will figure out how to emulate the ability of the Europeans to come together as a team and sink putts when it counts. The Europeans will win in a slightly closer match, 15 to 13.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: United States
It's way too easy to pick the Europeans. Yes, they've run the table and beaten America to a pulp lately. And Faldo is, indeed, a worthy captain even if he and Monty butt heads. But we're hoping the Americans learned a thing or two from Captain Jack last fall. They played those matches. They had fun. They laughed. And they won. A novel concept. Zinger should keep them loose, they're playing on a course that Jack built (can you say instant karma?) and, well, isn't it about time? Justin Leonard's putt will always be spectacular but it's so ... 1999.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: United States

The United States. The law of averages says so.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: United States
The U.S. hopes lie in the hands of one of American golf's great champions. Can Captain Azinger turn the tables? The simple answer is maybe. Once again, the Americans will be favored on paper. But something is different this year. The members of the U.S. Team will be on top of their games because of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. In previous years, some of the Stars and Stripes' best players had been idle for weeks coming into the Ryder Cup. With their competitive skills honed, the Americans will win by a point in a Ryder Cup that brings the luster and glamour back to the event.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: United States
As much fun as it is to watch the Europeans celebrate their Ryder Cup victories -- who could forget the champagne spurting from Ian Woosnam's nose at The K Club in 2006? -- I'll go with the good old red-white-and-blue this year. I think the rule change that gives U.S. Captain Paul Azinger four picks rather than two will assure a team that's playing well. And we all saw what a U.S. Team that was playing well could do at The Presidents Cup when it dusted an International unit that featured 11 of the top 20 players in the world.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: United States
The Americans were supposed to get a bounce from the 2005 Presidents Cup, but that never materialized at the '06 Ryder Cup. But the '07 victory over the International contingent in Montreal will better initiate a U.S. resurgence. Europe still has a tremendous collection of talented players and will likely add the likes of Justin Rose to its lineup. But the U.S., playing at home as the underdog and fuming over its recent humiliations, finally can counter with some of its own young guns, like Hunter Mahan and Lucas Glover. What's more, Paul Azinger has four wild-card picks instead of two to load up on hot hands. USA 14.5, Europe 13.5.