Hi Everyone

It's been a really funny last 10 days or so waiting to see who would get picked for the RYDER CUP hasn't it??

Certainly in Europe there was lots of talk from the guys who had a chance to get a pick and I found it really fascinating that Poulter didn't travel across to play at Gleneagles when he still had a chance to automatically qualify for the team. It definitely left him 'open' to the observation that he had been given the nod by Faldo.

I know both of them have denied this but my thoughts are that it was a strange decision not to play at Gleneagles and he probably had a strong 'feeling' he was going to get a pick to make that decision. Where he got that 'feeling' from I don't know!!! We could all make a good guess though, couldn't we!!!

Should Monty have got a pick?? Well it was never going to happen, Monty knew he had to automatically qualify for the team 2 years ago because Faldo was never going to pick due to the fact that they don't get on. The simple fact is, Monty hasn't played anywhere near the standard we're used to seeing from him over the last two years and that's why he's not in the team.

Is that the end of Monty and the Ryder Cup as a player?

Well, we know that Fred Funk and Kenny Perry have both made American teams recently and both are older than Monty, so it won't necessarily be his age that stops him but I think it will come down to Monty's desire to make one last Ryder Cup appearance. Will he have the energy and will to make this his major goal in the next couple of years.

I don't think he will, one of the main differences between the U.S and Europe at the moment seems to be the huge amount of young talented golfers coming through in Europe's team. Big, strong golfers with a great desire to improve and play in the Ryder Cup, Monty will be aware, more than anybody how hard he would have to work to get into the next team in front of these guys and that might be harder than he's prepared to work.

So, how do I see the result going in 3 weeks time??

I think the result will depend on a couple of things, I'm of the opinion that the U.S might play quite 'dirty' in this Ryder Cup and really get their fans very vocal and when this happens it's very easy for things to go over the edge!! We all remember 1991 and 1999, where things certainly got out of hand. For the Americans to win I think that they will have to 'put off' and intimidate our guys.

One of the very cleverest of things that Langer did in 2004 was to get the European team to interact with the American fans in the practise rounds, while the U.S team totally ignored their own fans. This seemed to lead to a strange situation where the 'home' fans supported the 'away' team!! Very strange indeed.

What's the score going to be?? I'll take a complete guess and say:

Europe 14 ½ U.S.A 13 ½

With the match being played in a very hostile environment.

Please put your match score prediction on the forum and we can all see who was the 'cleverest' at predicting in a months time.

Good Golfing

Paul