I've had a look at the Europe Ryder Cup team in terms of each man's form this season and his stats. RORY McILROY (Northern Ire...
I've had a look at the Europe Ryder Cup team in terms of each man's form this season and his stats.
High Points:
What a year it has been for Europe’s top player. Additions to his Major haul at The Open and USPGA were coupled with a WGC win at The Bridgestone and victory at the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.
Last Five:
In his last five events Rory has a win, three top 10’s and a worst finish of 22nd at The Barclays.
Best Stat:
Rory’s undoubted top stat is his distance from the tee, where he has averaged well over 300 yards throughout the season. He has also ranked in the top 10 in Greens In Regulation in three of his last five events.
Worst Stat:
Putting continues to be Rory’s one stat which could be improved. He has not figured in the top 10 in putting since The Open Championship.
High Points:
Although winless in 2014, Henrik has amassed six top-5 finishes including a T4 at The US Open and T3 at the US PGA Championship.
Last Five:
After a T19 at the WGC Bridgestone and a T3 at the PGA Championship, Henrik made it as far as the BMW Championship in The Playoffs finishing T38, T26 and T23.
Best Stat:
Henrik is a greens in regulation merchant. He topped the field in that stat at the 2014 US Open and has been in the top 20 in each of his last five starts.
Worst Stat
Henrik has only been in the top-10 putting in one event of his 2014 season to date. That came at the PGA Championship.
High Points
A win in Qatar in January was followed by eight more strokeplay top-10 finishes including seconds at the Travelers, The Open and the WGC Bridgestone during June and July.
Last Five
Three top 10’s in his last five events and an impressive cumulative 29 under par saw the The Spaniard ease his way through The Playoffs.
Best Stat
Sergio in sneaky long and has an incredibly consistent iron game. He has eight top-10 GIR performances to date this season including at the Tour Champioship.
Worst Stat
Though much improved in putting as evidenced by topping the field in Houston and putting on an exhibition at Hoylake, Sergio still leaves several shots after him on the greens.
High Points
Great showings at The Open and US PGA followed a stunning week at the WGC Accenture in the desert and playoff loss at the Nordea Masters.
Last Five
Dubuisson is one of those lightly raced players who seems to be able to turn his form around rapidly. A missed cut on the links in Aberdeen was followed by a T9 at Hoylake and T7 at Valhalla. T29 last time out in Switzerland after four weeks off.
Best Stat
Dubuisson’s game is based on being a huge batter off the tee.
Worst Stat
Though excellent total putting stats in his last two events, the Frenchman still doesn't hold the same share as the world's best..
High Points
Tommy might be winless to date in 2014 but with six top 10’s he’s had a pretty decent season. A T8 at Augusta and a storming first round of 62 at Wentworth were the highs.
Last Five
Returned from a missed cut at Valhalla to a T4 at the highly successful Made in Denmark Open on home soil. Another missed cut at the KLM Open was sandwiched in between two unspectacular weeks in Switzerland and Wales.
Best Stat
One of the best putters on Tour, Thomas has been in the top-20 in total putting 11 times this season. Also if Bjorn starts an event well, he’s highly likely to keep it going and finish strongly.
Worst Stat
Not a big hitter off the tee.
High Points
A big win at the Czech Masters to secure his automatic place on the team. Announced his prowess to the American audience with a T2 at the WGC Cadillac on the nasty new Doral layout.
Last Five
The form dog of the European Team. After a T37 at the WGC Bridgestone and T24 at the US PGA, Jamie has gone win in the Czech Republic, 7th in Switzerland and T4 in Wales.
Best Stat
Has hit about every green he has gone for lately. In the top-30 GIR merchants in his last five events.
Worst Stat
Started the season putting well but has tailed off as the season has progressed. Was T46 in putting even in winning in the Czech Republic.
High Points
Defending the Open de France in a Summer run of five consecutive top-10 finishes.
Last Five
Top-10 finishes at the Canadian Open and WGC Bridgestone have since been followed by solid if unspectacular performances at Valhalla, Ridgewood and Cherry Hills.
Best Stat
Graeme's strength is his accuracy of the tee. Stats have tailed off in his last three starts but still impressive. Also a super solid putter.
Worst Stat
Five over par for the par-3’s in his last five events.
High Points
Winner of the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the season and six top-10’s since.
Last Five
The bad news is Stephen has missed three cuts in his last five starts, the good news is in the other two he finished T7 in Czech Masters and solo third in Italy to convince Paul McGinley he deserved a pick.
Best Stat
Bouncebackability. Stephen has followed pairs of missed cuts with a pair of high finishes on three separate occasions already this season. One of the top players “combined” across all the major stats.
Worst Stat
Eight missed cuts this season.
High Points
“The Postman” had his usual strong performance in China and a T6 at the St Jude Classic.
Last Five
There’s no point trying to hide that Poults hasn’t been on form. Two missed cuts in his last five include at The Open and The Barclays. However there was a glimmer of hope at the Deutsche Bank with rounds of 67 and 66.
Best Stat
Was -7 for the par-4’s in his last start in Boston reversing an over par trend of six events.
Worst Stat
Length of the tee makes it more difficult for Poults to compete on some of the bigger courses.
High Points
Got his first win since 2012 at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Last Five
Arrested a run of four missed cuts in a row up to and including The Open with top-20’s at the WGC Bridgestone and US PGA. T57 at The Barclays and T60 in Wales after a final round of 76.
Best Stat
Very solid all around in stats across driving, irons and putting.
Worst Stat
26 over for the par-3’s played to date this season.
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RORY McILROY (Northern Ireland)
Age 25. Caps 2. Record Won 4 Lost 3 Halved 2. Majors 4.High Points:
What a year it has been for Europe’s top player. Additions to his Major haul at The Open and USPGA were coupled with a WGC win at The Bridgestone and victory at the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.
Last Five:
In his last five events Rory has a win, three top 10’s and a worst finish of 22nd at The Barclays.
Best Stat:
Rory’s undoubted top stat is his distance from the tee, where he has averaged well over 300 yards throughout the season. He has also ranked in the top 10 in Greens In Regulation in three of his last five events.
Worst Stat:
Putting continues to be Rory’s one stat which could be improved. He has not figured in the top 10 in putting since The Open Championship.
HENRIK STENSON (Sweden)
Age 38. Caps 2. Record W2 L3 H2. Majors 0.High Points:
Although winless in 2014, Henrik has amassed six top-5 finishes including a T4 at The US Open and T3 at the US PGA Championship.
Last Five:
After a T19 at the WGC Bridgestone and a T3 at the PGA Championship, Henrik made it as far as the BMW Championship in The Playoffs finishing T38, T26 and T23.
Best Stat:
Henrik is a greens in regulation merchant. He topped the field in that stat at the 2014 US Open and has been in the top 20 in each of his last five starts.
Worst Stat
Henrik has only been in the top-10 putting in one event of his 2014 season to date. That came at the PGA Championship.
SERGIO GARCIA (Spain)
Age 34. Caps 6. Record W16 L8 H4. Majors 0.High Points
A win in Qatar in January was followed by eight more strokeplay top-10 finishes including seconds at the Travelers, The Open and the WGC Bridgestone during June and July.
Last Five
Three top 10’s in his last five events and an impressive cumulative 29 under par saw the The Spaniard ease his way through The Playoffs.
Best Stat
Sergio in sneaky long and has an incredibly consistent iron game. He has eight top-10 GIR performances to date this season including at the Tour Champioship.
Worst Stat
Though much improved in putting as evidenced by topping the field in Houston and putting on an exhibition at Hoylake, Sergio still leaves several shots after him on the greens.
JUSTIN ROSE (England)
Age 34. Caps 2. Record W6 L3 H0. Majors 1.
High Points
Back to back wins at the Quicken Loans National and Scottish Opens on either side of the Atlantic were the highlight of Justin’s season but he has been incredibly consistent since with a 35th place his worst finish in his six events since.
Last Five
Having not shot a round worse than 72 in his last 20 has helped Justin to T4 finishes at the WGC Bridgestone and Tour Championship. Ironically his last poor round of 74 came in the first round at Congressional when he won!
Best Stat
Up there with the best this season in driving distance, Rose’s strength also lies in his consistent greens in regulation performances. T7 in greens hit at The Tour Championship.
Worst Stat
Though he lead the field in putting at Sawgrass this season Rose has averaged 28.5 – 29.0 putts per round in his last five events. Still quite impressive!
MARTIN KAYMER (Germany)
Age 29. Caps 2. Record W3 L2 H1. Majors 2.
High Points
Signalled his comeback with a win at The Players and backed it up with a second Major at Pinehurst.
Last Five
Paul McGinley might have been concerned when Martin missed consecutive cuts at the US PGA in Valhalla and The Barclays but he has since found form again with a T7 at The Deutsche Bank, a T16 at the BMW Championship and T23 at The Tour Championship.
Best Stat
When Martin plays well he hits greens in regulation like shelling peas. He has been in the top-20 in the GIR stats 11 times to date in 2014.
Worst Stat
The German’s best putting weeks this year came at Pinehurst and TPC Boston a few weeks ago. But there’s lots of room for improvement.
VICTOR DUBUISSON (France)
Age 24. Caps 0. Majors 0.High Points
Great showings at The Open and US PGA followed a stunning week at the WGC Accenture in the desert and playoff loss at the Nordea Masters.
Last Five
Dubuisson is one of those lightly raced players who seems to be able to turn his form around rapidly. A missed cut on the links in Aberdeen was followed by a T9 at Hoylake and T7 at Valhalla. T29 last time out in Switzerland after four weeks off.
Best Stat
Dubuisson’s game is based on being a huge batter off the tee.
Worst Stat
Though excellent total putting stats in his last two events, the Frenchman still doesn't hold the same share as the world's best..
THOMAS BJORN (Denmark)
Age 43. Caps 2. Record W3 L2 H1. Majors 0.High Points
Tommy might be winless to date in 2014 but with six top 10’s he’s had a pretty decent season. A T8 at Augusta and a storming first round of 62 at Wentworth were the highs.
Last Five
Returned from a missed cut at Valhalla to a T4 at the highly successful Made in Denmark Open on home soil. Another missed cut at the KLM Open was sandwiched in between two unspectacular weeks in Switzerland and Wales.
Best Stat
One of the best putters on Tour, Thomas has been in the top-20 in total putting 11 times this season. Also if Bjorn starts an event well, he’s highly likely to keep it going and finish strongly.
Worst Stat
Not a big hitter off the tee.
JAMIE DONALDSON (Wales)
Age 38. Caps 0. Majors 0.High Points
A big win at the Czech Masters to secure his automatic place on the team. Announced his prowess to the American audience with a T2 at the WGC Cadillac on the nasty new Doral layout.
Last Five
The form dog of the European Team. After a T37 at the WGC Bridgestone and T24 at the US PGA, Jamie has gone win in the Czech Republic, 7th in Switzerland and T4 in Wales.
Best Stat
Has hit about every green he has gone for lately. In the top-30 GIR merchants in his last five events.
Worst Stat
Started the season putting well but has tailed off as the season has progressed. Was T46 in putting even in winning in the Czech Republic.
GRAEME McDOWELL (Northern Ireland)
Age 35. Caps 3. Record W5 L5 H2. Majors 1.High Points
Defending the Open de France in a Summer run of five consecutive top-10 finishes.
Last Five
Top-10 finishes at the Canadian Open and WGC Bridgestone have since been followed by solid if unspectacular performances at Valhalla, Ridgewood and Cherry Hills.
Best Stat
Graeme's strength is his accuracy of the tee. Stats have tailed off in his last three starts but still impressive. Also a super solid putter.
Worst Stat
Five over par for the par-3’s in his last five events.
STEPHEN GALLACHER (Scotland)
Age 39. Caps 0. Majors 0.High Points
Winner of the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the season and six top-10’s since.
Last Five
The bad news is Stephen has missed three cuts in his last five starts, the good news is in the other two he finished T7 in Czech Masters and solo third in Italy to convince Paul McGinley he deserved a pick.
Best Stat
Bouncebackability. Stephen has followed pairs of missed cuts with a pair of high finishes on three separate occasions already this season. One of the top players “combined” across all the major stats.
Worst Stat
Eight missed cuts this season.
IAN POULTER (England)
Age 38. Caps 4. Record W12 L3 H0. Majors 0.High Points
“The Postman” had his usual strong performance in China and a T6 at the St Jude Classic.
Last Five
There’s no point trying to hide that Poults hasn’t been on form. Two missed cuts in his last five include at The Open and The Barclays. However there was a glimmer of hope at the Deutsche Bank with rounds of 67 and 66.
Best Stat
Was -7 for the par-4’s in his last start in Boston reversing an over par trend of six events.
Worst Stat
Length of the tee makes it more difficult for Poults to compete on some of the bigger courses.
LEE WESTWOOD (England)
Age 41. Caps 8. Record W18 L13 H6. Majors 0.High Points
Got his first win since 2012 at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Last Five
Arrested a run of four missed cuts in a row up to and including The Open with top-20’s at the WGC Bridgestone and US PGA. T57 at The Barclays and T60 in Wales after a final round of 76.
Best Stat
Very solid all around in stats across driving, irons and putting.
Worst Stat
26 over for the par-3’s played to date this season.
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