The 2018 Ryder Cup: GB&I v. R.O.W?

Last week I tweeted:

So, if we (Britain) leave Europe, will the Ryder Cup be GB v USA? And if so, will USA be favourites to win... in France?!! Thought provoking #golf

David Cameron's long-awaited speech to appease Conservative Euro sceptics did indeed provoke some thought in my grey cells.  Here they are:

The first official Ryder Cup match was played in 1927 between Great Britain & Ireland and the USA. That's the first piece of good news.  If we leave Europe, we can still include Rory and GMac. Bon, as they say in Paris where the 2018 Ryder Cup is scheduled to be played.

Right now, purely based on the current world rankings, the top twelve British & Irish players are: Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Jamie Donaldson, Paul Lawrie, David Lynn, Padraig Harrington, Richie Ramsay, Chris Wood

The US team would look like this:

Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Nick Watney, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickleson, Bo Van Pelt.

I reckon this would make for a pretty good match without our European cousins (which, let's be honest is how Samuel Ryder intended the match to be played in the first place).

On paper, the US team looks stronger but with our proven team spirit and with their inability to win a tight encounter, I'd see this match going down to the wire, with GB&I just edging it on one of our classic links.

Now of course, the likelihood is we will have kissed and made up with France and Germany and the Ryder Cup will be played in Paris between Europe and the US of A ... unless Uncle Sam lose the next two battles, in which case perhaps they will join forces with the Rest of the World to make it more of a contest!   Mmmmmm... more chance Morocco and Albania will join the EU before America contemplates such a move me thinks!

So who will line up at Le Golf National in 2018? Looking into the crystal ball and coming up with the two teams is no easy task but an interesting one nonetheless. For what its worth here are my predictions:

Europe, the twelve:

Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Matteo Manassero, Thorbjorn Olesen, Jonas Blixt, Henrik Stenson, Raphael Cabrera-Bello, Alexander Noren, Bernd Wiesberger

Contenders: Graeme McDowell, Kristoffer Broburg, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Lewis, Joost Luiten, Richie Ramsay

USA, the twelve:

Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, Bill Haas, Jason Dufner, Hunter Mahan, Robert Garrigus, Ryan Moore, Bud Cauley, Russel Henley

Contenders: Harris English, Kyle Stanley, Zach Johnson, Cameron Tringale, Luke Guthrie, Ben Kohle Have I missed anyone obvious?

About me:

Career earnings as a PGA Professional of £328.75 were never quite going to make the grade but my love of golf is as intense as ever. MD of Jenahura, Marketing Director of Bearwood Lakes. Passionate for; life, my wife Lisa, Mum & Dad, a wonderfully diverse array of Friends & Family, a cold beer, fine food, fine wines, traveling the world, sport and music.

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