RYDER CUP: Your ultimate betting guide

TOP EUROPEAN POINTS SCORER

There are three obvious candidates here with Poulter leading the way in the last two matches (Donald was joint top scorer at Celtic Manor) while Westwood and Garcia topped the European list in both 2004 and 2006.

Only three players were involved in all five matches in 2008 – we can forget 2010 due to the rearranged schedule of matches – and they were Poulter, Mickelson and Mahan.

To top score for Europe you will most likely need someone who is going to feature in at least four matches so there isn’t much value in the likes of Colsaerts, Molinari, Hanson or Lawrie.

McIlroy is the jolly in this market after his FedEx heroics but we prefer Poulter’s chances given that he will play as many times as anyone and has won seven of his last eight outings.

SUGGESTED BET: Ian Poulter 8/1

TOP AMERICAN POINTS SCORER

In recent matches no American has amassed four points so the net widens a little in terms of a surprise winner. The players who would have paid out in the last few matches are Stricker and Woods (2010), Mahan (08), Woods (06) and DiMarco (04).

So while we all labour under the misapprehension that Woods is a busted flush at the Ryder Cup he would have paid out in two of the last four meetings and he didn’t play at Valhalla four years ago.

The World No 2 is the clear favourite with his likely partner Stricker next on the list but we like the look of Dustin Johnson who can play all day long and will enjoy the length of the course. Ignore his efforts at Celtic Manor, Illinois will seem like light years from Wales.

SUGGESTED BET: Dustin Johnson 10/1
So while we all labour under the misapprehension that Woods is a busted flush at the Ryder Cup he would have paid out in two of the last four meetings and he didn’t play at Valhalla.

CORRECT SCORE

The one thing all the experts agree on is that it is going to be close and this is one market where we might be able to do some damage.

Since 1987 there have been 12 matches. Of those, eight have finished 15-13 or even closer.

So were you to back all five permutations: 15-13 and 14.5-13-5 either way plus the draw you would get at least 10-1 on each which would mean you could more than double your money.

For a little bit of insurance you could add 15.5-12.5 both ways and still make a clear profit.

SUGGESTED BET: Back all seven scorelines and keep your fingers crossed it’s close!

HOLE IN ONE SPECIALS

Some companies will offer the carrot of betting on there being a hole-in-one, don’t take it. There are four short holes at Medinah including the 17th where plenty of matches won’t reach. At the very most there will be 72 tee shots at the par 3s all week and, since 1973, there have been six aces in total.

We can also tell you that the par 3s at Medinah are all long, tough and remarkably similar – so the chances are that there will not be a hole-in-one.

SUGGESTED BET: Leave it alone!

WINNER

Interestingly, and good news for European fans, the favourites tend to be worth opposing. In the past 10 matches the fancied team have been surprised no less than six times. And of those last 10 meetings Europe have won six times.

The first time Europe were made favourites was in 2006 when they won by nine points at the K Club but then the first time they were fancied to win on American soil, two years later, they were upset by Paul Azinger’s men, minus Tiger, at Valhalla.

For the glass-half-empty character Europe have only won three times in the States. But the glass-half-full punter will look to six wins in the last eight meetings.
Plus a team with just one rookie and three of the top four in the world.

SUGGESTED BET: Europe to win 8/5