The 39^th Ryder Cup takes place between 28^th and 30^th September 2012 and will be hosted by the Medinah Country Club in Illinois, USA. The competition is be played on the number three course which stands at 7,650 yards in length. This will obviously suit the big hitters, but as there are a number in both teams, I can’t see any real advantage where the long course is concerned. The Medinah Country Club has previously hosted the US Open as well as the USPGA Championship and will provide the perfect backdrop for the Ryder Cup.

Team USA are the bookmakers odds on favourites at odds of 8/11 with Betfred. On paper, they arguably have the more impressive and in form side, but the reality is slightly different where the Ryder Cup is concerned. None of the US side actually have a winning Ryder Cup record and while they do have four players making their Ryder Cup debut, it does mean that eight of their team come into this event with a negative record.

The European team not only have the world’s best player in Rory McIlory, they also have some excellent matchplay professionals with a lot of winning Ryder Cup experience. Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter are two names that particularly stand out for me where this type of competition is concerned, and Europe certainly look the value play even though the Americans have home advantage.

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Europe have won three of the last four Ryder Cups and that coupled with the fact backing that underdog in this competition generally proves profitable, they would be my selection at 11/8. There looks to be some value to be had in both top player markets, and Ian Poulter at odds of 8/1 definitely stands out. The Englishman is likely to play in the maximum number of matches and has a great Ryder Cup pedigree. In the top American market, I find it hard to look past Woods at 5s. He come here bang in form and is also the top performer in this event in the American side.

Tipsters Best Ryder Cup Picks

Back Europe @ 11/8 with Betfred

Back Ian Poulter for Top European @ 8/1 with Betfred

Back Tiger Woods for Top American @ 5/1 with Betfred

USA Team - Captain: Davis Love III
1 Tiger Woods
2 Bubba Watson
3 Jason Dufner
4 Keegan Bradley
5 Webb Simpson
6 Zach Johnson
7 Matt Kuchar
8 Phil Mickelson
9 Dustin Johnson
10 Brandt Snedeker
11 Jim Furyk
12 Steve Stricker

EUROPE Team - Captain: Jose Maria Olazabal

1 Rory McIlroy
2 Justin Rose
3 Paul Lawrie
4 Graeme McDowell
5 Francesco Molinari
6 Luke Donald
7 Lee Westwood
8 Sergio Garcia
9 Peter Hanson
10 Martin Kaymer
11 Ian Poulter
12 Nicolas Colsaerts

2012 Ryder Cup Betting Odds (Prices from Betfred)

USA 8/11
Europe 11/8
Tie 9/1

Top European

McIlroy, Rory 4/1
Donald, Luke 13/2
McDowell, Graeme 7/1
Westwood, Lee 15/2
Poulter, Ian 8/1
Rose, Justin 8/1
Garcia, Sergio 8/1
Colsaerts, Nicolas 16/1
Molinari, Francesco 20/1
Kaymer, Martin 20/1
Hanson, Peter 22/1
Lawrie, Paul 25/1

Top American

Woods, Tiger 5/1
Mickelson, Phil 8/1
Stricker, Steve 8/1
Kuchar, Matt 9/1
Johnson, Dustin 9/1
Watson, Bubba 11/1
Dufner, Jason 11/1
Bradley, Keegan 11/1
Simpson, Webb 11/1
Johnson, Zach 11/1
Furyk, Jim 11/1
Snedeker, Bradnt 16/1

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