Writers see a European success

A poll of golf writers at this week’s Ryder Cup overwhelmingly points to Europe winning back the trophy on Sunday.

Out of 31 writers, 28 went for Colin Montgomerie’s side to triumph at Celtic Manor.

But if Tiger Woods does face Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s singles, 19 go for Woods to win, nine tip the 21-year-old Ulsterman and three predict a halved match.

Woods has not been left out of a session in his cup career, but 19 of the 31 journalists – not the same 19 – think Corey Pavin will bench him at some stage.

As for the top scorers on either side, Woods and Martin Kaymer are the most popular picks, although 19 of the 24 players received at least one vote.

The five who did not register? For Europe it is Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ross Fisher and for the Americans Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson.

JAMES CORRIGAN (The Independent): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

MARK REASON (Daily Telegraph): Europe 15 1/1-12 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell, Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&1

PETER DIXON (The Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington, Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DEREK LAWRENSON (Daily Mail): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

NEIL SQUIRES (Daily Express): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter, Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID FACEY (The Sun): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Stricker. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

NEIL McLEMAN (Daily Mirror): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

PETER HIGGS (Mail on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

JAMES MOSSOP (News of the World): Europe 17-11. Top scorers: McDowell, Mickelson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

ANTHONY WOOLFORD (Western Mail, Wales): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

DOUGLAS LOWE (The Herald, Scotland): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

MARTIN DEMPSTER (The Scotsman): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Donald, Mickelson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

JOCK MacVICAR (Scottish Daily Express): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2, Top scorers: Donald, Zach Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

TOM ENGLISH (Scotland on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

CRAIG SWAN (Daily Record, Scotland): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Zach Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHILIP REID (Irish Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

KARL McGINTY (Irish Independent): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell, Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

CHARLIE MULQUEEN (Irish Examiner): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID SMITH (Evening Standard, London): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Poulter, Woods. Woods to play all five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DOUG FERGUSON (Associated Press): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

STEVE DIMEGLIO (USA Today): United States 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

ART SPANDER (San Francisco Examiner): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter, Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

STEVE ELLING (cbssports.com): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Hanson, Mahan. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

GARY VAN SICKLE (Sports Illustrated): United States 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Kaymer, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

JASON SOBEL (espan.com): Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2. Top scorers: the Molinaris, Fowler. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

LARRY DORMAN (New York Times): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Harrington, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

CHRIS CLAREY (International Herald Tribune/New York Times): United States 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

ROBERT LUSETICH (foxsports.com): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES (Reuters): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McIlroy, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&2

MARK GARROD (Press Association Sport): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Kaymer, Mickelson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHIL CASEY (Press Association Sport): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Westwood, Cink. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

Match-by-match analysis of the opening fourballs at the Ryder Cup:

LEE WESTWOOD and MARTIN KAYMER v PHIL MICKELSON and DUSTIN JOHNSON

Europe’s two highest-ranked players – Westwood is third in the world and Kaymer sixth – have been paired together in the opening game.

Westwood, winning his seventh cap, has not played competitively since August 6 because of a torn calf. Uncapped Kaymer, only the second German to represent Europe, has won his last two tournaments, including the USPGA.

Mickelson, going out first just as he did two years ago (in Tiger Woods’ absence, of course), 2004 (with Woods), 1999 and 1997, equals the American record with his eighth cap.

Johnson, who broke the head of his driver in yesterday’s practice, is his 12th partner. The big-hitting debutant could have won the US Open and USPGA this year, but shot a closing 81 at Pebble Beach and incurred a two-shot penalty on the last hole at Whistling Straits.

Westwood and Mickelson have clashed four times, with Westwood edging it with two wins, one half and one loss.

GRAEME MCDOWELL and RORY McILROY v STEWART CINK and MATT KUCHAR

Not out first, as most would have predicted, but still together – US Open champion McDowell on the course where he won the Wales Open in June and 21-year-old fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy.

They won three out of four together for Great Britain and Ireland last year, all at the top of the order, and now McIlroy becomes the youngest player in the match since 19-year-old Sergio Garcia in 1999.

Cink, last year’s Open champion, is a wild card pick for the third time in four matches. Kuchar is one of five debutants.

IAN POULTER and ROSS FISHER v STEVE STRICKER and TIGER WOODS

Poulter and the uncapped Fisher hold golf’s two World Match Play titles and were partners at the World Cup last November.

Two years ago Poulter top-scored with four points out of five, three of them with Justin Rose alongside him.

Stricker becomes the 12th partner for Woods. They won four points of four at the Presidents Cup and are currently ranked first and fourth in the world.

Woods played the first shot of the match on his last appearance four years ago - but hooked it into water. At least there is no lake to find this time.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON and LUKE DONALD v BUBBA WATSON and JEFF OVERTON

Harrington has not won any of his last nine games, but having been given a wild card ahead of Paul Casey and Justin Rose the three-time major winner was always likely to start.

The same goes for Donald after his second place in America last weekend – even though he was omitted from three out of four fourball sessions in his two matches.

Big-hitting Watson and Overton, who qualified despite not winning a tournament, are both cup rookies. Watson, left-handed like Mickelson, is the player who lost a play-off to Martin Kaymer at the US PGA Championship last month.