The U.S. Ryder Cup team finally showed up on Saturday afternoon, winning three of four foursomes matches to shrink the Europeans’ lead to 10.5-5.5. Now just 12 singles matches remain.
Can the Americans rally for an epic comeback and stun Europe? We give our predictions for each match below.
Match 1: Jon Rahm vs. Scottie Scheffler
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): I’ll be contrarian here. A repeat of what Scheffler did last time they played. Point, USA.
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): A rematch of their Sunday singles match at Whistling Straits. I like Scheffler to make it 2-0 against Rahm.
Match 2: Viktor Hovland vs. Collin Morikawa
Sens: Morikawa. I say this because I see some momentum carry over from late Saturday. U.S. will tighten the score but it will be too late.
Melton: Hovland has played like a man possessed this week. He’ll take care of Morikawa.
Match 3: Justin Rose vs. Patrick Cantlay
Sens: Cantlay. Did you see how he finished Saturday? More of that.
Melton: Agreed. After Cantlay’s late charge (and drama) on Saturday, I feel like he’ll carry that momentum into Sunday. Gimme Patty Ice.
Match 4: Rory McIlroy vs. Sam Burns
Sens: McIlroy. Here is where the Europeans start to right the ship.
Melton: Rory all day.
Match 5: Matt Fitzpatrick vs. Max Homa
Sens: Halve. Two scrappy guys battle to a tie.
Melton: Homa has been one of the lone bright spots for the Americans this week and will finish a strong Ryder Cup debut with a win.
Match 6: Tyrrell Hatton vs. Brian Harman
Sens: Harman. He will putt him to death.
Melton: They play to a well-fought halve.
Match 7: Ludvig Aberg vs. Brooks Koepka
Sens. Aberg. In karmic payback, Koepka’s cocky statements come back to bite him.
Melton: BK’s alpha strut won’t phase Aberg. The rookie takes care of business.
Match 8: Sepp Straka vs. Justin Thomas
Sens: Thomas. Further vindicating his selection as a captain’s pick.
Melton: Have we been watching the same JT this week, Sens? He’s been downright bad all week (second-to-last in strokes gained), and the trend will continue on Sunday. Straka wins with ease.
Match 9: Nicolai Hojgaard vs. Xander Schauffele
Sens: Schauffele. His experience in these pressure cookers pays off
Melton: Schauffele’s experience wins out over Højgaard’s youth.
Match 10: Shane Lowry vs. Jordan Spieth
Sens: Lowry. Even Spieth’s scrambling magic can’t overcome his wildness tee to green.
Melton: Spieth’s play this week has been concerningly poor. I don’t see how he figures it out before tomorrow. I like Lowry.
Match 11: Tommy Fleetwood vs. Rickie Fowler
Sens: Fleetwood. Rickie is just too nice a guy for this situation.
Melton: After sitting out all of Saturday, Fowler comes out reenergized but ultimately falls to Fleetwood.
Match 12: Robert MacIntyre vs. Wyndham Clark
Sens: Clark but it won’t matter. Europe will have clinched by now.
Melton: Agreed.
FINAL PREDICTION
Sens: Europe, 15-13.
Melton: Europe, 17-11.
