PGA DFS Playbook: Ryder Cup

In just his second Ryder Cup, Jon Rahm will be the leader of this European team on the course.  The number one player in the world will have a target on his back.  He’s a player that thrives on the pressure and love the competition.  You’ll see him pump his fist and give damaging high fives to his teammate.  Unlike he did in his first Ryder Cup, I think he plays in all five possible rounds.  The Ryder Cup record is 1-2-0.  I would not consider Rahm for my captain’s spot.  My pairing prediction is Sergio Garcia.  These two make for a very dynamic and powerful team.

Justin Thomas comes into his second Ryder Cup ranked 6th in the world.  He had a fantastic debut in 2018 goes 4-1-0 in his five matches.  We all know that he is best friends with Jordan Spieth and they made a dynamic pairing.  Thomas is another player who lives for the big moment and looks for opportunities to shine.  I doubt that Steve Stricker will take his well-rounded game off the course at any point this weekend.  JT would make a solid captain’s spot but I think he’ll be popular.  My pairing prediction is Jordan Spieth for their obvious chemistry on the course. 

Rory McIlory will be competing in his six Ryder Cup.  He made his debut at the young age of 20 and in his 24 total matches, he’s got a record of 11-9-4.  The 15th ranked golfer in the world has worked with a variety of partners over the years, no one guy has really stood out.  I would not consider him for a captain’s spot.  We know Rory brings premier ball striking especially off the tee and with his irons but he could use some help on the greens.  He’s a fiery competitor like most of the Europeans, especially Ian Poulter.  My pairing prediction is Shane Lowry.  This Irish pairing could be a real force for fellow Irishman and European team captain Padraig Harrington. 

Fresh from his FedEx Cup title, Patrick Cantlay has the hottest hand in the whole field.  The one drawback to Cantlay, this will be his first trip to the Ryder Cup.  He’s one of six rookies competing in the Ryder Cup.  I’m not saying he can’t meet the moment just because he’s a first timer but look at a guy like Jon Rahm, he went 1-2-0 in his debut in 2018.  I don’t want a rookie in my captain spot.  Patrick is also not the most flamboyant golfer on tour but he’s the type that lets his game speak for itself.  He does not have a weakness in his bag. My pairing prediction is Collin Morikawa.  Now, I typically would not want to put two rookies together but these two could be a lethal combination with their ball striking abilities and putting.  Collin is so good, I don’t consider him a rookie.  

What a fantastic season for Jordan Spieth.  Yea, I know the FedEx Cup playoffs was not his best but we saw him return to his best form during the 2020-2021 season.  This will be Spieth’s fourth trip to the Ryder but before last year’s success with Justin Thomas, his record was not stellar.  He currently holds a 7-5-2 mark for his Ryder Cup career.  I would consider Jordan for my captain’s spot because of his performance at the 2015 PGA Championship finishing second behind Jason Day.  My pairing prediction is Justin Thomas for their obvious chemistry on the course. 

Another one of the six rookies on the United States team but an extremely talented one.  This will not be his first time competing for his country as he brought home gold for the U.S. at the summer Olympics in Tokyo.  Top 10 finishes at the Masters, the U.S. Open and the Tour Championship.  Another player who is strong throughout the bag without much of a weakness besides not being able to close out a major championship victory yet.  I would not consider him for a captain’s spot.  My pairing prediction is Tony Finau because I’d want him with a veteran.  Tony had a terrific Ryder Cup debut and I think he can help Xander along in his first trip.

Hovland is one of three rookies on the European team.  He is also the youngest player in the field this weekend which could be an advantage or a detriment.  We’ve seen his ball striking skills on full display, the kid has game but his results have been mixed.  The putter has been his weakness which seems to be slowly trending in the right direction.  He did score a win at the Mayakoba, a runner up at the Farmers, and back to back third place finishes at the Valspar and Wells Fargo.  My pairing prediction is Bernd Wiesberger.  These might not be the most dynamic pairing but both bring their own strengths to the team.  Normally, I’m not a fan of putting two rookies together but there is something to said about pairing two newbies together and letting them work it out. 

The former number one player in the world has had mixed results in his Ryder Cup career.  This is his 5th time earning a spot on the U.S. team and has a record of 7-9-0.  He is not the type of player who wears his emotions on his sleeve on the course, the most you’ll get out of him is a fist pump.  He may be my favorite play on the weekend because of his history at Whistling Straits.  He should have won the 2010 PGA Championship if it weren’t for that controversial club grounding on the 72nd hole.  He also finished Top 10 at the 2015 PGA Championship as well.  He would definitely be a candidate for the captain spot for me.  My pairing prediction is Ryder Cup rookie Daniel Berger because of their similar demeanor on the golf course and both have really well rounded games’.  Also, I personally like pairing a veteran with a rookie in this format.  I could also see Brooks Koepka as well. 

Bryson had a rough rookie experience at the Ryder Cup finishing 0-3-0 in 2018.  I truly doubt that he goes winless this time around but only time will tell.  The part that scares me about Bryson is he doesn’t play well with others. We’ve all seen the drama between him and Brooks but Koepka’s not the only player whose patience has worn thin on the young superstar.  The 7th ranked player in the world got there with his driver as we all know but he’ll have to know when is the right time to break out the big dog at Whistling Straits.  I am not considering him for my captain’s spot.  My pairing prediction is Ryder Cup rookie Harris English because of his ability on the greens to compliment Bryson’s power.  

Tommy was an unstoppable force at the 2018 Ryder Cup.  In his appearance on the European Ryder Cup team, he went 4-1-0 paired perfectly with Francisco Molinari.  Since Francisco didn’t make the team this year, he’ll have to find that magic with someone else.  I love him for the captain spot because his putter is so clutch especially in events like this one.  He did not have a great 2020-2021 season overall but the WGC Match Play was one of his better finishes.  My pairing prediction is Lee Westwood.  The fellow Englishman has a wealth of Ryder Cup experience and a competitive edge that will help push his superstar partner. 

Who doesn’t love Collin Morikawa?  The kid is already the best ball striker in the world and it really isn’t close.  The kid already has two major championships at the age of 24. This will be his debut at the Ryder Cup but you should have no worries about rostering him.  Steve Stricker will be expecting a lot from the youngster but he’s up for the challenge.  The only reason I’d consider him for the captain’s spot is because I know he’ll play every round possible.  My pairing prediction is Patrick Cantlay.  They could be a lethal combination with their combinations of ball striking and putting. 

One of the best competitors on the world golf stage.  No one holds a grudge better than Brooks.  The difference is, he uses those grudges as motivation especially when it matters the most.  This will be Brooks’ 3rd Ryder Cup experience and he holds a career record of 4-3-0.  Despite finishing 5th at the 2015 PGA Championship, I will not put Brooks into my captain spot.  He has been paired with Dustin Johnson a lot in the past but that team hasn’t worked out as well as most would have hoped.  Everyone wants to see Bryson and Brooks paired together but it is just not going to happen.  My pairing prediction is Scottie Scheffler.  They are similar players and Brooks can be a guiding hand through this experience. 

I simply love Tony Finau’s game and it’s a shame that he doesn’t have more wins under his belt at this point in his career.  Collin Morikawa has as many majors as Finau has career wins, two.  Finau looked good in his Ryder Cup debut in 2018 finishing 2-1-0.  I actually think it was a mistake by Jim Furyk not using him more but I’ll get over it and hope Stricker doesn’t make the same mistake.  Tony finished Top 10 at the 2015 PGA Championship and I’d consider him in my captain’s spot but he’ll have to have the right partner.  My pairing prediction is Xander Schauffele because I’d want Tony to be a good veteran influence on the rookie.

There are very few players in the world I’d trust more than Sergio in the Ryder Cup format.  He is second only to Lee Westwood in Ryder Cup appearances of all 24 players competing this weekend.  Garcia has a stellar record of 22-12-7 in his nine previous editions.  This is another guy who it doesn’t matter how he played this season because he takes it to another level at the Ryder.  I would definitely put Garcia into my captain’s spot but I have a feeling that the sharps will have the same idea.  My pairing prediction is Jon Rahm.  The fellow countryman were paired together in 2018 and while they didn’t have great success, Rahm is a better player now.

Paul will never be known as a fiery competitor but he has the skills to do some damage this weekend at the Ryder Cup.  He does not have the best record at this event, just 4-3-5 over his 4 previous editions.  What you get with Casey is someone cool, calm and collected on the course.  One bad hole will not put him on tilt and ruin the rest of his day unlike a lot of pros out there.  A final round 74 at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits cost him a Top 20 finish.  I would not consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Matthew Fitzpatrick.  It’s a lot like why I put Berger and DJ together because their style and approach to the game are very similar.

What doesn’t Daniel Berger do well on a golf course?  There isn’t much and it is only a matter of time before he brings home his first major championship.  Ranks Top 15 in Strokes Gained Approach and Tee to Green, as well as Greens in Regulation.  This will be his first Ryder Cup experience and it is on a course that he missed the cut on back at the 2015 PGA Championship.  I will not hold that against him too much because he’s a much better player than he was 6 years ago.  Being that it is his first time and his course history, I would not consider him for a captain’s spot.  My pairing prediction is Dustin Johnson because they have similar demeanors and styles of play on the golf course.  I also love the idea of pairing someone as experienced as DJ with a rookie like Berger. 

What Tyrrell will we see at Whistling Straits this weekend?  That’s the question, will it be the polished iron artist or the head case who can’t get out of his own way?  He’s a phenomenal talent and could be a big problem for the U.S. this weekend.  Like a lot of rookies, Hatton had a rough first appearance at the Ryder Cup going 1-2-0 over his three matches.  He got that first one under his belt and now he’ll be out for blood in his second go round.  I would not consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Ian Poulter.  My thought is that his fellow Englishman will bring out that fire inside Hatton and turn it into a positive instead of a negative.

There is no one more built for the Ryder Cup than Ian Poulter.  He lives for this competition every two years and the United States would like to see him fade at the age of 45.  He brings passion with every stroke and whoever plays with him has to match him.  Ian makes his name on and around the greens which is where it all comes down to in the end.  I would definitely consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Tyrrell Hatton.  Tyrrell has his own fire burning deep down and I hope that Ian brings that out in a positive way.

The Irishman is one of just three rookies on the European team.  Most of this squad I know what I’m going to get from them in this competition but Lowry is a bit of a wild card.  We know his skill set being a strong ball striker and iron player.  Ranks Top 20 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Greens and Tee to Green.  He is a major championship winner which tells me he doesn’t shrink on the biggest stages.  I would not consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Rory McIlory.  I think it would be a smart move by Padraig to pair his fellow countryman together.

He was the biggest surprise pick of captain Steve Stricker for the 2020 Ryder Cup squad.  We were told that his runner up performance in the WGC Match Play is what put him over the edge to making the team.  He also has good relationships with multiple players on the squad.  This will be his first appearance but don’t get it twisted, this dude can ball.  He finished Top 30 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Around the Green and Tee to Green.  I would not consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Brooks Koepka.  Brooks is an experienced veteran who could provide some levity to a rookie.

Fitzpatrick did not make a splash in his first appearance, participating in just two matches and losing both of them.  I really doubt he gets shut out again with his talent but it’ll all come down to his partner. He’s a world class driver, ball striker and putter which all should lead to success in this competition.  I would not consider him for a captain spot.  My pairing prediction is Paul Casey.  The two Englishman are not dynamic personalities but will provide a strong level of consistency. 

I think this was an extremely smart pick by captain Steve Stricker.  You can never have enough good putters on your Ryder Cup team and he ranked Top 15 on the tour this season.  He is another one of the six rookies on this year’s team.  Harris has been consistent over the second half of the season scoring Top 30 finishes in 6 of his last 10 starts.  I would consider him for a captain spot because I believe he could surprise people but it will all come down to his pairing.  My pairing prediction is Bryson DeChambeau.  He brings accuracy and consistency which you don’t get with Bryson at times. 

Lee Westwood is 48 years old and comes into the event as the most experienced man in the field.  No one on the United States team has participated in even half as many Westwood who will be playing in his 11th.  He has a career record of 20-18-6 over his long Ryder Cup career.  Experience matters in this event and he's got a wealth of it.  I would not consider him for a captain’s spot.  My pairing prediction is Tommy Fleetwood.  These two Englishman could make magic happen at Whistling Straits this weekend.

The lowest ranked (63rd in the world) and lowest Q rated player on the European team.  That does not mean this Austrian can’t hang with these other players.  While he doesn’t have any PGA Tour victories, Wiesberger has 10 international victories under his belt.  He won’t wow you off the tee but he’s accurate and ranks Top 20 in Greens in Regulation.  I would not consider him for a captain’s seat.  My pairing prediction is Viktor Hovland.  They were never be known as a dynamic pairing but both bring strengths that pair nicely with each other.  Normally, I’m not a fan of putting two rookies together but there is something to said about pairing two newbies together and letting them work it out.