How Europe and USA compare ahead of the Ryder Cup

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  • The Ryder Cup gets under way in two weeks time as Europe and USA go to battle at Le Golf National in Paris.

    Here, we compare the two sides ahead of golf’s prestigious biennial event on September 28.

    RANKING

    Team USA: 11.75
    Team Europe: 18.5

    Justin Rose’s second place finish at the BMW Championship last weekend saw the Englishman become the World No1 for the first time in his 21-year professional career.

    However, that is where the positive news ends for Thomas Bjorn’s side as six of the top 10 spots in the world are occupied by American players, with Europe holding the other four.

    Remarkably, America’s lowest ranked player is Phil Mickelson at World No25, while Ian Poulter and Thorbjorn Olesen at No34 and No44 respectively increase Europe’s average.

    Advantage: Team USA

    MAJOR WINS

    Team Europe: 8
    Team USA: 31

    America hold the advantage in major wins by a considerable margin with Tiger Woods (14) and Mickelson (five) sharing 19 victories between them.

    In fact, American players have dominated majors in recent years, with Sergio Garcia (Masters 2017) and Francesco Molinari (Open Championship 2018) the only two European players to win in five out of the last eight major events.

    Seven European players have not won a major, while only three Americans have not sealed one of golf’s most prestigious events.

    Advantage: Team USA

    RYDER CUP RECORD

    Team Europe: 72.5
    Team USA: 67

    Justin Thomas, Tony Finau and DeChambeau are the only rookies on Team USA, while Bjorn has to manage Tommy Fleetwood, Thorbjorn Olesen, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Alex Noren qualifying for the first time.

    The experienced Woods (14.5) and Mickelson (21.5) have collected a scintillating 36 of USA’s 67 points, with Bubba Watson registering a paltry three points from three Ryder Cup appearances (2010, 2012 and 2014).

    For Europe, Sergio Garcia tops the points chart with 22.5 from eight tournament appearances stretching back to 1999. Poulter (13), Rose (12) and McIlroy (11) share 36 points from their four-plus Ryder Cup caps each.

    Advantage: Team Europe

    FORM IN 2018

    Team Europe: 13
    Team USA: 15

    Dustin Johnson, Watson and DeChambeau have three wins each in 2018, with the latter clinching victory in two out of his last three tournaments.

    Four of America’s players – Rickie Fowler, Woods, Spieth and Finau – have yet to win this year, but Finau has been among the most consistent in world golf, with an impressive 11 top-10s on the PGA Tour.

    From the Europe team, only Henrik Stenson and Hatton have not tasted victory, with Garcia carrying the worst run of form of either team into the Ryder Cup with a horrific eight missed cuts.

    Rose is the most consistent players on Bjorn’s side following his eight top-10 finishes in 2018, including a stunning win at the Fort Invitational in May and back-to-back runners-up finishes.

    Advantage: Team USA

    GREENS IN REGULATION

    Team Europe: 52.8
    Team USA: 49.6

    With the tight and tricky greens of Le Golf National, both teams will be looking for accuracy off the tee.

    Stenson is the top ranked player in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour, hitting 74.25 per cent of greens from his 936 holes played.

    His team-mate Molinari is the only other European player ranked inside the top-20 at eighth, while USA’s Finau (12), Spieth (14), Johnson (16) and Dechambeau (19) occupy places in the top-20.

    Incredibly, eight of America’s players are ranked inside the top 50 for greens in regulation, while only four European players make the cut.

    Reed is the highest ranked American player at 149th, hitting just 64 per cent of greens. As for Europe, McIlroy needs to improve off the tee as he is ranked 108th at 66 per cent.

    Advantage: Team USA

    DRIVING ACCURACY

    Team Europe: 74.7
    Team USA: 130

    Again, Stenson tops the charts on driving accuracy, hitting 74.79 per cent of fairways from his 60 rounds played on the PGA Tour.

    For America, this is an area they struggle, with Rickie Fowler (54) the only player ranked inside the top-60.

    In contrast, Europe have four players apart from Stenson ranked inside the top-60, with Rose (35), Poulter (37), Molinari (51) and Fleetwood (59) occupying the various positions.

    Mickelson is third from bottom on driving accuracy at 192nd, while McIlroy is 156th with a meagre 56.68 per cent accuracy off the tee.

    Advantage: Team Europe

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