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Who will win the Ryder Cup? What the writers and experts say

Padraig Harrington Steve Stricker 2021 Ryder Cup captains

Planet Sport gets the thoughts of 22 journalists from both sides of the Atlantic as the showdown at Whistling Straits looms

The USA are hot 4/9 favourites with PlanetSportBet to win the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Holders Europe are 11/5 to score another victory while it's 12/1 we get the first tie since 1989.

With home advantage and the lowest world ranking of any American Ryder Cup team, it's understandable why the hosts are such clear favourites.
But is that the opinion of some of golf's leading writers?
Planet Sport has polled journalists and experts from both sides of the Atlantic to get their predictions and reasoning on how this week's showdown will unfold.

The view from America

Alex Myers (Golf Digest)

USA 14-14 Europe

"I'm not falling for the same world ranking trap as always, this one is closer than it appears, and what's closer than an overdue tie? I think a lot of US golf fans are going to wonder why Whistling Straits was chosen as a venue after Europe retains the cup there."

Rob Bolton (pgatour.com)

USA 14-14 Europe

"Now that I'm officially in the betting space, I have such a better feel for the label of an underdog because I'm emotionally attached. I've always known that lines are built to keep the house in business, but all of the data, empirical but especially otherwise, begs that you circle the visitors to retain. What a machine."

Jason Sobel (Action Network)

USA 14.5-13.5 Europe

"This won't be an easy win for the heavy favourite by any means, but buoyed by home crowd support and a home-course advantage, the team in red, white and blue will squeak out a close victory. Expect Justin Thomas to emerge as the team leader and Bryson DeChambeau to play well with others, but it's the unassuming tandem of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay who propel them to the title."

Chris Powers (Golf Digest)

USA 15-13 Europe

"The talent mismatch and home-course advantage points to an American romp, but the Euros will find a way to keep it close."

Steve Hennessey (Golf Digest)

USA 13.5-14.5 Europe

"The edge, talent-wise, for the Americans might be big. But looking closer at the important stats over the past 24 rounds, seven Europeans comprise the top 12 of my model this week. I think it's closer than the odds say they are, so there's a little value with the Euro side. The result? One of the tightest, most exciting Ryder Cups in recent memory."

Ben Everill (pgatour.com)

USA 14-14 Europe

"On paper the young vibrant and highly skilled US team looks incredible. But you don't win Ryder Cups on paper. You win them on heart. Guts. Determination. The pressure is on the US to prove their fabled new dawn… but I sense an "ambush" from another champion team out of Europe."

The view from Europe

Phil Casey (PA Media)

USA 16-12 Europe

"Rankings aren't everything but the US team is genuinely strong, six of the last seven contests have been won by the home side and some of Europe's big names have not been in great form."

James Corrigan (Daily Telegraph)

USA 15-13 Europe

"Europe will run them close, but the class of the Americans will tell in the singles."

Ewan Murray (The Guardian)

USA 13-15 Europe

"Pressure is the one element of the Ryder Cup that doesn't have a statistic attached. The US have mountains of it. Europe will capitalise."

Sophie Walker (Sky Sports)

USA 16.5-11.5 Europe

"There is a changing of the guard, with this being the youngest American team. The lack of scar tissue and highest ranked players ever is exactly what is needed to wrestle the cup back from the Europeans."

Michael McEwan (Bunkered)

USA 16.5-11.5 Europe

"No Phil, no Tiger, no Furyk, no scar tissue, no fear... the New-S-A are going to win handsomely."

Martin Dempster (The Scotsman)

USA 13-15 Europe

"The one thing we should all have learned over the past 20 years is that you should never write off Europe when it comes to this contest and, having watched the women overcome a lack of support to win the Solheim Cup in Toledo earlier in the month, the men can certainly do likewise."

Ben Coley (Sporting Life)

USA 17-11 Europe

"With the strongest team, the best form and home advantage enhanced by a lack of European support, the USA have no excuses in the 43rd Ryder Cup, and a 17-11 win should be in the right ballpark at around 14/1."

Nick Rodger (The Herald)

USA 16-12 Europe

"Predictions in golf can be a fool's errand so this fool believes the hosts will capitalise on home advantage and the sheer volume of talent at their disposal. Europe will give it a gallant go, though."

Jamie Weir (Sky Sports)

USA 15.5-12.5 Europe

"I fear the talent gap might just be a bit too big for Europe to bridge this time. The crowd won't be as big a factor and the cold, breezy conditions could somewhat level up the playing field, but the USA team's strength in depth is frightening and their biggest impediment could be the sheer weight of expectation."

Sarah Mulkerrins (Radio 5)

USA 16-12 Europe

"I think the singles will clinch it for the USA with their depth. If the Europeans are up significantly after the first two days, it'll be closer. But I fancy this US side to gel as a team of youngsters with no scar tissue although I'd love it to be close!"

Brian Keogh (Irish Golf Desk)

USA 13.5-14.5 Europe

"Europe to build a slim lead in foursomes and fourballs, then resist a USA charge in the singles with Whistling Straits their big ally. I think Europe are stronger than they look on paper."

Nick Metcalfe (The Metro)

USA 15-13 Europe

"The Europeans have a habit of defying the odds but they'll have their work cut out here. The home team usually wins Ryder Cups nowadays, and there will be hardly any visiting fans present in Wisconsin. The lowest ranked US player is No.21 in the world. And the gargantuan Whistling Straits will suit their big hitters. It's America this time for me."

Philip Reid (Irish Times)

USA 13.5-14.5 Europe

"Could the wind be a factor? Absolutely, and could play into the hands of the European team."

Matt Cooper (Planet Sport)

USA 15-13 Europe

"Whenever I look at the two line-ups I just see the potential flaws in both, rather than their strengths. More than anything, I just hope it goes down to the wire because that's what makes this week so much fun."

Dave Tindall (Planet Sport)

USA 16-12 Europe

"Home advantage is massive in Ryder Cups and as long as the weather doesn't get out of hand, a young American team can regain the trophy on a course where their superior power and strength in depth should prove too great."

Conclusion

The votes have been counted and here are the results:
USA - 14 (64%)
Europe - 5 (23%)
Ties - 3 (13%)
However, there's an interesting split when breaking down the votes by continent.
It seems the home American writers are somewhat twitchy about their team's chances.
Of the five polled, two predict a tie, one goes for Europe while two (40%) call a narrow USA win.
By contrast, of the 16 European writers/experts, 12 (75%) go for the USA (often by large margins) and only four go for Europe.
We also have one neutral, pgatour.com writer Ben Everill, who's a proud Aussie.
Ben is the third expert to go for a 14-14 tie.

READ MORE: Ryder Cup reality: Get a fast start or pray for a miracle

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