Fourball Pairings Heat up Ryder Cup Bets

The Ryder Cup starts today at the Celtic Manor Golf Course in South Wales as America attempt to retain their hold on the trophy after recent European domination. 

European Captain Colin Montgomerie and his American counterpart Cory Pavin announced their respective pairings for the first fourball rounds and immediately started the betting hotting up again. Stan James on an American victory went from 7/4 to 2/1 and the odds on European success were listed as 8/15. 

The respective pairs are:-

Lee Westwood & Martin Kaymer vs Phil Michelson & Dustin Johnson

Rory McIlroy & Graeme McDowell vs Stan Cink & Matt Kurchar

Ian Poulter & Ross Fisher vs Steve Sticker & Tiger Woods

Luke Donald & Padraig Harrington vs Budda Watson & Jeff Overton 

Charlie McCann, Stan James’s Head of PR felt that the Europeans were likely favourites in three of the four pairings and believed that leaving out Jim Furyk was a major mistake. 

Westwood and Kaymer who lead off the Europeans challenge have been given the best odds of starting their campaign successfully at odds of 11/10. Michelson and Johnson are 7/5 for a victory, with the match tied quoted as 4/1. 

William Hilll are firmly gambling on an opening European win making them even money favourites to take the first matches. They expect in the region of #50 million to placed over the course of the Ryder Cup and it could be costly for them if Europe do win as almost three quarters of punters betting are putting their money on the home team.