In the grand scheme of things, Rory McIlroy is hardly going to lose much sleep over losing out to Lewis Hamilton in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last night. He will be aiming to win far bigger things in his career, like The Masters in April next year where he will aim to complete golf's Grand Slam of Majors by the age of just 25.
And Hamilton too has a world title to defend in 2015. Last night's award was a welcome bonus to him in a year when he has responded in the best possible fashion to critics.
However, Hamilton winning was the wrong result in the celebration of 2014 in sport. Let me put a few things straight first of all. I don't hate Formula One. I'm not an avid fan but I have always been a keen follower of something I wouldn't hesitate to call a sport. And Lewis Hamilton's achievements in winning a second World Title are something to be celebrated by British sports fans. And I accept that last night that it was a public vote and the public made their voice heard.
But for him to beat McIlroy by a considerable distance last night (Hamilton earned 209,920 votes to McIlroy's 123,745) was a baffling endorsement by those who voted. Hamilton may have shown critics this season that he could win in a Mercedes Car, but McIlroy also kept his critics quiet this year after a 2013 in which he struggled for form (he only won one tournament all year) and also got himself involved in legal battles and even walked off course during a tournament.
If that was McIlroy's worst year as a professional, then he returned in 2014 with a bang and became completely unplayable no matter how good his challengers were playing. In the same week he split from fiance Caroline Wozniacki, he won the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Cha at Wentworth, coming from seven shots behind on the final day to win.
And then came his unbelievable performances over the summer, starting at The Open Championship at Hoylake. He led the field from start to finish, holding off challenges from two world class golfers in Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia on the final day which showed for all his brilliant play on the first three days, he had the capabilities mentally to win golf's oldest prize as well.
Many people would have rested on their laurels after winning an Open Championship, but not the man from Northern Ireland. After a week off, he again overhauled Garcia, this time at the World Golf Championship event at the Firestone Club in Ohio. Trailing by three shots going into the final round, McIlroy was at his imperious best on the final day shooting a 66 to win his maiden World Golf Championship event.
And the week after that, McIlroy completed one of the most remarkable spells in golfing history by winning the US PGA Championship for a second time in three years. Again, he faced the stiffest competition on the final day from Fowler, five time major champion Phil Mickelson and the player of 2013 Henrik Stenson who all passed him on the Sunday as McIlroy faltered on the front nine. However, an eagle on the tenth hole sparked him into life and seemed to put the jitters on the other contenders playing ahead of him.
Two more birdies at 13 and 17 followed by a par on the last sealed a second Major of 2014 for McIlroy which led Jack Nicklaus, the winner of 18 Majors to say that he has the opportunity to win 15 or 20 Majors in his career.
He capped an incredible year by playing a vital talisman role as Europe defended their Ryder Cup trophy at Gleneagles in September. He delivered three points for his team, including an incredible 5+4 singles win over Fowler, a match in which he was six under par through the first six holes.
Add in that he returned well and truly to the top of the World Rankings, won the money lists on both the PGA and the European Tour and won the PGA Tour Player of the Year, then you have to wonder what more McIlroy had to do to win the public over last night.
Hamilton is clearly a supremely talented driver, but his only true competition was his teammate Nico Rosberg, whereas McIlroy has to contend with challenges throughout the year from numerous brilliant golfers.
McIlroy's clubs help him to a certain degree, but certainly not to the extent Hamilton has in having the best car on the grid every time he lines up for a race.
Clearly Hamilton's achievements were more fresh in the voting public's mind than McIlroy's but it is hard to argue with those who say that if he has another stellar year in 2015, McIlroy should consider appearing via video link like 2013 winner Andy Murray did.
So for those who feel Hamilton was the worthy winner last night, I ask what more did McIlroy did need to do in 2014 to get you voting for him? Did he have to win all four Majors?
Or is it a case this year, that the misleading word "personality" in the award's title really did come into it for once?
Monday 15 December 2014
Friday 5 December 2014
Why Ally McCoist must do walking away
I take no pleasure in writing this article. Ally McCoist was one of my early footballing heroes and I loved his cheeky chappy persona on programmes like A Question of Sport.
However, like many other Rangers fans I have now reached complete breaking point with Ally McCoist, the football manager. Wednesday's 3-2 defeat against Alloa was the latest in a long, long line of results that have embarrassed a club which still has the second highest wage bill in Scotland since McCoist took over as manager in 2011.
The manner of defeat at Alloa was nothing short of a disgrace. To lose a match against a team of part-timers, who had been working during the day with a comfortable lead with 15 minutes to go, shows the lack of confidence and standards that have been built into this McCoist Rangers team. To start the ball rolling on why he must go, consider the fact that Rangers have had three years of opportunities to win the Challenge Cup in various guises, and have failed every time.
The main problem right now is that due to the clubs perilous financial state, Rangers cannot afford to sack McCoist and coaches Kenny McDowell, Ian Durrant and Jim Stewart. So that's why one of the all time greatest Rangers players and a man who held the club together during the dark days of administration and liquidation in 2012, must walk away for the good of the club.
To put it simply, Ally McCoist is just not cut out to be a football manager. He played a vital role with Walter Smith, firstly with Scotland and then when the pair returned to Rangers as a coach. He was the one players could turn to when they needed a boost in their spirits. But not all assistant managers have what it takes to take the step up to be the main man and McCoist falls into that category.
The demotion to division three offered Rangers and McCoist a wonderful opportunity to rebuild the club and implement a new footballing strategy at the club. Instead he signed many SPL players on high wages, rather than giving youngsters the chance of a lifetime to give their all in a Rangers jersey and compliment them with players that knew what the likes of Division Three was about. Signing a Brazilian defender (Emilson Cribari) to play in the lowest tier of Scottish football sounded like the start to a bad joke.
Whilst McCoist can argue that he won the first two stages of the journey back to the top with ease, it is with respect to these teams that anyone could have led Rangers to the Division Three and League One titles. What was remarkable was the amount of slip-ups Rangers had on the way to the titles and the amount of games where the team scraped over the line against part-time opposition. In Division Three, Rangers didn't win an away match until the end of October and went through a spell of only two wins in six matches at one stage.
Home losses to Annan and Peterhead occurred and there was only one win in four matches against Stirling Albion (McCoist lost to a Stirling Albion side in October 2012 who didn't have their manager on the touchline as he was getting married). The home defeat to Annan showed how poor Rangers fitness was even against part-time players and the lack of effort to try and avoid a humiliating home defeat was hardly there. That result occurred in March 2013. Watching the game on Wednesday night, that attitude hasn't changed the club and that stems from McCoist.
Whilst many blame the board for staying away from Ibrox, I can't help but think that McCoist's style of play is also ensuring that fans are not turning up to the stadium in their droves. To put it mildly, Rangers have been consistently tough to watch under McCoist during his time in charge. A couple of wins over Celtic, fine cup performances against Motherwell and Kilmarnock and a couple of thumpings in the lower leagues aside there haven't been many enjoyable performances to view under McCoist. He has no concept of implementing a style and just thinks his players will go out and win a game.
His tactics are outdated and clueless in the modern age. Long balls were bread and butter for lower league defenders and the fact that fans are continuing to see those 'tactics' in the Championship against better sides, shows McCoist's inability to change a game. And as for his gold-medal attempts at arm folding on the touchline when a game is going wrong, I find that truly remarkable for someone who loves the club as much as someone sitting in the stands.
Where is the reaction to get the players going again? Where is the rage at conceding a soft goal? Sometimes there is barely any show of emotion when the opposition concede which is unacceptable.
McCoist may have managed to beat three top flight sides in cup competitions this season but overall his big game record is awful. As mentioned earlier, he's had three opportunities to win the Challenge Cup and he's failed every time with the worst moment coming in the final against Raith Rovers this year when he started players who were clearly unfit and he paid the price as Raith won 1-0.
Cup games against Dundee United (twice), Inverness and Hearts (twice) and Hibs also show his inability to pit himself against the best and truly get the best out of his players when it matters. That was prevalent when many senior players lost their discipline at Tynecastle when Hearts won 2-0 a couple of weeks ago. The ill discipline of many players at the club shows that they feel they can get away with a lot of things under McCoist. Look at Ian Black even betting against Rangers. Would that have happened under Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness, or even Ally's mentor Walter Smith? I very much doubt it.
Right now, Rangers are a shambles on and off the park. McCoist is largely responsible for the mess that has been created on the park this season which leaves the side nine points behind Hearts before Christmas. For me, McCoist is now in a similar position as to which David Moyes was at Manchester United last season.
Rangers may well go on an eight game winning streak again like they did after the loss to Hibs in September, but McCoist is always one bad result away from a crisis now. A draw and defeat to Alloa and a defeat to Hearts in the last three weeks has now multiplied the anger ten fold. When a manager knows he is in that position with the fans, then it is going to be uber hard to turnaround those feelings and a deficit in the league.
I met McCoist once and I have no problem in admitting I was slightly starstruck even at the age of 20. I found him to be nothing but a gentleman and countless others have told me similar tales.
But it takes more than being a nice gentleman to be a successful football manager. I'm afraid McCoist is becoming more and more like a modern day John Greig. A legendary player but not cut out to command respect in a dressing room.
That soundbite in the days after administration; "We don't do walking away" has become a noose around McCoist's neck. It's time he loosened its grip and shows a bit honesty towards the fans and say "I'm just not up to the job."
If he did that, then he will protect his legacy which is in some danger of being ruined currently.
However, like many other Rangers fans I have now reached complete breaking point with Ally McCoist, the football manager. Wednesday's 3-2 defeat against Alloa was the latest in a long, long line of results that have embarrassed a club which still has the second highest wage bill in Scotland since McCoist took over as manager in 2011.
The manner of defeat at Alloa was nothing short of a disgrace. To lose a match against a team of part-timers, who had been working during the day with a comfortable lead with 15 minutes to go, shows the lack of confidence and standards that have been built into this McCoist Rangers team. To start the ball rolling on why he must go, consider the fact that Rangers have had three years of opportunities to win the Challenge Cup in various guises, and have failed every time.
The main problem right now is that due to the clubs perilous financial state, Rangers cannot afford to sack McCoist and coaches Kenny McDowell, Ian Durrant and Jim Stewart. So that's why one of the all time greatest Rangers players and a man who held the club together during the dark days of administration and liquidation in 2012, must walk away for the good of the club.
To put it simply, Ally McCoist is just not cut out to be a football manager. He played a vital role with Walter Smith, firstly with Scotland and then when the pair returned to Rangers as a coach. He was the one players could turn to when they needed a boost in their spirits. But not all assistant managers have what it takes to take the step up to be the main man and McCoist falls into that category.
The demotion to division three offered Rangers and McCoist a wonderful opportunity to rebuild the club and implement a new footballing strategy at the club. Instead he signed many SPL players on high wages, rather than giving youngsters the chance of a lifetime to give their all in a Rangers jersey and compliment them with players that knew what the likes of Division Three was about. Signing a Brazilian defender (Emilson Cribari) to play in the lowest tier of Scottish football sounded like the start to a bad joke.
Whilst McCoist can argue that he won the first two stages of the journey back to the top with ease, it is with respect to these teams that anyone could have led Rangers to the Division Three and League One titles. What was remarkable was the amount of slip-ups Rangers had on the way to the titles and the amount of games where the team scraped over the line against part-time opposition. In Division Three, Rangers didn't win an away match until the end of October and went through a spell of only two wins in six matches at one stage.
Home losses to Annan and Peterhead occurred and there was only one win in four matches against Stirling Albion (McCoist lost to a Stirling Albion side in October 2012 who didn't have their manager on the touchline as he was getting married). The home defeat to Annan showed how poor Rangers fitness was even against part-time players and the lack of effort to try and avoid a humiliating home defeat was hardly there. That result occurred in March 2013. Watching the game on Wednesday night, that attitude hasn't changed the club and that stems from McCoist.
Whilst many blame the board for staying away from Ibrox, I can't help but think that McCoist's style of play is also ensuring that fans are not turning up to the stadium in their droves. To put it mildly, Rangers have been consistently tough to watch under McCoist during his time in charge. A couple of wins over Celtic, fine cup performances against Motherwell and Kilmarnock and a couple of thumpings in the lower leagues aside there haven't been many enjoyable performances to view under McCoist. He has no concept of implementing a style and just thinks his players will go out and win a game.
His tactics are outdated and clueless in the modern age. Long balls were bread and butter for lower league defenders and the fact that fans are continuing to see those 'tactics' in the Championship against better sides, shows McCoist's inability to change a game. And as for his gold-medal attempts at arm folding on the touchline when a game is going wrong, I find that truly remarkable for someone who loves the club as much as someone sitting in the stands.
Where is the reaction to get the players going again? Where is the rage at conceding a soft goal? Sometimes there is barely any show of emotion when the opposition concede which is unacceptable.
McCoist may have managed to beat three top flight sides in cup competitions this season but overall his big game record is awful. As mentioned earlier, he's had three opportunities to win the Challenge Cup and he's failed every time with the worst moment coming in the final against Raith Rovers this year when he started players who were clearly unfit and he paid the price as Raith won 1-0.
Cup games against Dundee United (twice), Inverness and Hearts (twice) and Hibs also show his inability to pit himself against the best and truly get the best out of his players when it matters. That was prevalent when many senior players lost their discipline at Tynecastle when Hearts won 2-0 a couple of weeks ago. The ill discipline of many players at the club shows that they feel they can get away with a lot of things under McCoist. Look at Ian Black even betting against Rangers. Would that have happened under Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness, or even Ally's mentor Walter Smith? I very much doubt it.
Right now, Rangers are a shambles on and off the park. McCoist is largely responsible for the mess that has been created on the park this season which leaves the side nine points behind Hearts before Christmas. For me, McCoist is now in a similar position as to which David Moyes was at Manchester United last season.
Rangers may well go on an eight game winning streak again like they did after the loss to Hibs in September, but McCoist is always one bad result away from a crisis now. A draw and defeat to Alloa and a defeat to Hearts in the last three weeks has now multiplied the anger ten fold. When a manager knows he is in that position with the fans, then it is going to be uber hard to turnaround those feelings and a deficit in the league.
I met McCoist once and I have no problem in admitting I was slightly starstruck even at the age of 20. I found him to be nothing but a gentleman and countless others have told me similar tales.
But it takes more than being a nice gentleman to be a successful football manager. I'm afraid McCoist is becoming more and more like a modern day John Greig. A legendary player but not cut out to command respect in a dressing room.
That soundbite in the days after administration; "We don't do walking away" has become a noose around McCoist's neck. It's time he loosened its grip and shows a bit honesty towards the fans and say "I'm just not up to the job."
If he did that, then he will protect his legacy which is in some danger of being ruined currently.
Monday 17 November 2014
Where now for Andy Murray?
As the 2014 tennis season draws to a close, Andy Murray's career stands at a crossroads. Returning from back surgery at the start of the year, it is fair to say it has been a difficult one for the man from Dunblane.
There was a failure to reach a Grand Slam final in a year for the first time since 2009, the split with coach Ivan Lendl, who had been widely credited for breaking Murray's Grand Slam duck and also a drop out the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time in six years.
There were some positives though for Murray, particular in the latter half of the year when his form post US Open saw him win three titles in five weeks to secure a place in the end of season finals in London. And despite not making a Grand Slam final, he still had quarter final appearances at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and a career equaling best semi final appearance at the French Open and he has risen back up to 6th in the ATP rankings.
However, after the excellence of 2012 and 2013, Murray's 2014 has been somewhat of a disappointment and there are now questions being asked over his style and mental capability on the court. So what does Andy Murray need to do in 2015?
The first thing Murray should be working on between now and the New Year for his game is to rediscover the aggression that made him a Grand Slam champion and a player to be feared by everyone else on the tour. Lendl encouraged Murray to go for more shots during his reign as his coach and it paid large dividends, as witnessed by millions when he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win Wimbledon last year.
Now if he is to challenge the top three of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal once more as well as players like Nishikori, Dimitrov and Wawrinka then Murray must show at the Australian Open in January a different style of play to what we have seen throughout 2014. For example, his meek straight sets defeat to Nishikori at the tour finals in London, wasn't down to the Japanese player playing exceptionally well, it was also down to the fact that Murray never tried to dictate the game at the 02 arena. It was a similar story when he surrendered his Wimbledon title in a straight sets loss to Dimitrov in July.
Murray must surely recognise that what made him a Grand Slam champion and easily one of the top four players in the world (if not one of the top two between 2012-13) was his ability to go for more powerful ground strokes and get players running all over the court. Now, like earlier in his career, Murray is the one being hounded on court again.
Murray's serve has also weakened during 2014. His second serve has always been the weakest part of his game, but it has now regressed to the point where he is serving around 70-75mph and giving opponents free points on it. As for his first serve, it hasn't looked to be of the same strong standard as in years gone by, with Murray throwing away many service games after breaking an opponent. A look at the style and ball tosses of Wawrinka and Nishikori over the close season would benefit Murray.
As for the issues raised around Murray's coach Amelie Mauresmo, it is still too early to tell if it has been a success or not, but the relationship between the pair faces a critical test at the Australian Open in January. Failure to play well there and there will be louder calls for Murray to admit he made a mistake in appointing her and to perhaps bring back Lendl or even bring in John McEnroe as has been touted in some quarters.
Mauresmo needs to stamp her authority on the Murray game as well in the way Lendl did. As people like Tim Henman have pointed out, Murray's game seems to have lost it's identity under Mauresmo. If that means trying new things out that Murray hasn't tried before, then so be it if it works for him in the big matches. You just have to look at the way Stefan Edberg has got Roger Federer, at the age of 33 being more aggressive at the net to see how age is no limit to trying out new styles as a tennis player.
Murray's performance against Roger Federer on Thursday night raised serious alarm bells with Murray suffering his worst defeat in seven years and a first loss of a 6-0 set in four years. Having played so much tennis since the US Open in September, Murray may be suffering from a classic case of burn out, but his nine losses in nine matches against the 'big three' of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in 2014 suggest other mental demons are at work with Murray once again.
Until the wins of Wawrinka at the Australian Open and Marin Cilic at the US Open this year, Murray was one of only two players to break the wins of the 'Big Three' at the Grand Slams and the only player to win multiple grand slams in that period apart from that trio. He was deservedly talked about in the same breath as those legends of the game and after winning Wimbledon in 2013, he looked set to win more Grand Slams.
At the age of 27, Murray still has time on his side and it is hoped he won't suffer any more problems with his back after undergoing major surgery at this time last year.
But consider this. Murray and Djokovic were born only a week apart in May 1987. Right now Murray must feel light years behind him.
Murray can contend in Melbourne in January where he'll be trying to win a first Australian Open title, but he needs a serious re think of his tactics over the next six weeks if he to achieve that goal.
There was a failure to reach a Grand Slam final in a year for the first time since 2009, the split with coach Ivan Lendl, who had been widely credited for breaking Murray's Grand Slam duck and also a drop out the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time in six years.
There were some positives though for Murray, particular in the latter half of the year when his form post US Open saw him win three titles in five weeks to secure a place in the end of season finals in London. And despite not making a Grand Slam final, he still had quarter final appearances at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and a career equaling best semi final appearance at the French Open and he has risen back up to 6th in the ATP rankings.
However, after the excellence of 2012 and 2013, Murray's 2014 has been somewhat of a disappointment and there are now questions being asked over his style and mental capability on the court. So what does Andy Murray need to do in 2015?
The first thing Murray should be working on between now and the New Year for his game is to rediscover the aggression that made him a Grand Slam champion and a player to be feared by everyone else on the tour. Lendl encouraged Murray to go for more shots during his reign as his coach and it paid large dividends, as witnessed by millions when he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win Wimbledon last year.
Now if he is to challenge the top three of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal once more as well as players like Nishikori, Dimitrov and Wawrinka then Murray must show at the Australian Open in January a different style of play to what we have seen throughout 2014. For example, his meek straight sets defeat to Nishikori at the tour finals in London, wasn't down to the Japanese player playing exceptionally well, it was also down to the fact that Murray never tried to dictate the game at the 02 arena. It was a similar story when he surrendered his Wimbledon title in a straight sets loss to Dimitrov in July.
Murray must surely recognise that what made him a Grand Slam champion and easily one of the top four players in the world (if not one of the top two between 2012-13) was his ability to go for more powerful ground strokes and get players running all over the court. Now, like earlier in his career, Murray is the one being hounded on court again.
Murray's serve has also weakened during 2014. His second serve has always been the weakest part of his game, but it has now regressed to the point where he is serving around 70-75mph and giving opponents free points on it. As for his first serve, it hasn't looked to be of the same strong standard as in years gone by, with Murray throwing away many service games after breaking an opponent. A look at the style and ball tosses of Wawrinka and Nishikori over the close season would benefit Murray.
As for the issues raised around Murray's coach Amelie Mauresmo, it is still too early to tell if it has been a success or not, but the relationship between the pair faces a critical test at the Australian Open in January. Failure to play well there and there will be louder calls for Murray to admit he made a mistake in appointing her and to perhaps bring back Lendl or even bring in John McEnroe as has been touted in some quarters.
Mauresmo needs to stamp her authority on the Murray game as well in the way Lendl did. As people like Tim Henman have pointed out, Murray's game seems to have lost it's identity under Mauresmo. If that means trying new things out that Murray hasn't tried before, then so be it if it works for him in the big matches. You just have to look at the way Stefan Edberg has got Roger Federer, at the age of 33 being more aggressive at the net to see how age is no limit to trying out new styles as a tennis player.
Murray's performance against Roger Federer on Thursday night raised serious alarm bells with Murray suffering his worst defeat in seven years and a first loss of a 6-0 set in four years. Having played so much tennis since the US Open in September, Murray may be suffering from a classic case of burn out, but his nine losses in nine matches against the 'big three' of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in 2014 suggest other mental demons are at work with Murray once again.
Until the wins of Wawrinka at the Australian Open and Marin Cilic at the US Open this year, Murray was one of only two players to break the wins of the 'Big Three' at the Grand Slams and the only player to win multiple grand slams in that period apart from that trio. He was deservedly talked about in the same breath as those legends of the game and after winning Wimbledon in 2013, he looked set to win more Grand Slams.
At the age of 27, Murray still has time on his side and it is hoped he won't suffer any more problems with his back after undergoing major surgery at this time last year.
But consider this. Murray and Djokovic were born only a week apart in May 1987. Right now Murray must feel light years behind him.
Murray can contend in Melbourne in January where he'll be trying to win a first Australian Open title, but he needs a serious re think of his tactics over the next six weeks if he to achieve that goal.
Sunday 28 September 2014
Five Reasons why Europe won the Ryder Cup
Another Ryder Cup has finished and once again it is the European team who will be taking the trophy home for another two years.
Paul McGinley's men sealed a 16.5-11.5 triumph at Gleneagles to secure their third win in a row and eighth win in the last ten outings.
So what were the main factors behind another European triumph?
1. Paul McGinley's performance as captain
The hero of the 2002 Ryder Cup as a player when he holed the winning putt barely put a foot wrong as captain 12 years later. Having been backed by the vast majority of players including Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, he didn't let them down and created a wonderful spirit amongst the Europe dressing room.
His attention to detail was second to none and when he had to make big decisions on pairings, he got most of them spot on. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson was a decision that bore Europe three points. Foursome partnerships between experienced players like Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood alongside rookies Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson respectively bore four points in total and were key to victory.
And on the final day, his decision to send out Graeme McDowell first in the singles paid dividends when G-Mac fought from three down to beat Jordan Spieth 2+1. G-Mac is someone who would kill his own granny, so to speak for a singles win and he was exactly the right choice to lead the Europeans out to make sure momentum remained with the home side.
2. The team spirit.
As has been said so many times over the last decade or so, the Ryder Cup always seems to mean more to the European team no matter the team line-up and that was the case once again at Gleneagles. This time around there was nine different nationalities in the European team but they all came together to play for a continent.
Meanwhile, certain Americans looked like they would have rather been anywhere else bar the centenary course at Gleneagles. Bubba Watson barely cracked a smile all weekend. Jimmy Walker looked like he'd have preferred to be on holiday. For all his antics particularly on the Sunday, Patrick Reed at least showed some passion as did fellow rookie Jordan Spieth.
Ian Poulter's passion at Medinah inspired the rest of his European team. Perhaps if Reed had some help in that regard, it would have been a lot closer.
It is truly incredible that every two years 12 men come together to give their all for a continent, yet only twice in the last 15 years have 12 American golfers looked like caring for the Ryder Cup.
3. The foursome results
Europe won the two foursome sessions by a combined 7-1. USA didn't even win a match in those afternoon sessions on the Friday and Saturday relying on two halves to make up that score. That is a truly stunning result and once again shows how the foursome pairings for Europe gelled together and how the Americans simply couldn't get chemistry going with each other bar two rookies in the form of Spieth and Reed.
America more than held their own throughout the rest of the Ryder Cup and indeed won both fourball sessions and put up a great fight in the singles today for long spells. But you can't lose one format 7-1 and expect to win the Ryder Cup.
4. Bad decisions by Tom Watson
As good as Paul McGinley performed as European captain, criticism has to come the way of American captain Tom Watson. Watson was picked because he was the last American captain to win the trophy on European soil, back in 1993 at the Belfry. And there aren't many more respected figures in the world of golf than Watson.
However, for all his experience he got some decisions badly wrong this weekend. The decision to bench Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed on the Friday afternoon was astounding. The pair had performed brilliantly in the morning to defeat Poulter and Stephen Gallacher 5+4 and were raring to go. The fact that they were benched would have given the European team a big confidence boost.
Another poor decision by Watson was to bench Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley for the entire day yesterday. Although they had been beaten 3+2 by McDowell and Dubuisson on Friday afternoon, the pair had proved a tremendous pair at Medinah and surely deserved a chance to put things right. Furthermore, Mickelson was the senior figure in the US team and the seeming lack of trust by Watson in him was strange and it is no surprise to hear that "Lefty" has already criticised Watson's captaincy formula.
5. The differences in choice of vice-captains
Whilst there's certainly a case for arguing that McGinley's appointment of five vice captains was excessive, he certainly made wiser appointments to the team room than Watson.
By hiring Jose Maria Olazabal and Sam Torrance, he had hired two successful European captains, including the man who turned it around at Medinah two years ago. And in Torrance he had someone who knew the course inside out. Factor in the cool and charismatic personality of Miguel Angel Jimenez, and the knowledge of Des Smyth and Padraig Harrington, then McGinley had a winning formula.
Contrast that with Tom Watson. He piled on the experience to his side by picking 72 year old Ray Floyd and 64 year old Andy North. In hindsight this was a mistake. Whilst experience can be an advantage in any sport, in the Ryder Cup it is better to pick vice-captains who still have links with the players. In fairness, Watson did try to do that by selecting Steve Stricker as his third vice-captain. But where were they during the weekend? You barely saw them on Sky's coverage.
Why didn't Watson pick Paul Azinger, the successful Ryder Cup captain from 2008 or even a Justin Leonard or David Toms figure. Another area where McGinley got one over on Watson.
In two years time at Hazeltine, Europe will be strong favourites to win a fourth successive Ryder Cup, something they have never achieved before. There will be strong competition for places considering players like Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts missed out this time to name a few.
For America, they have two years to find a team spirit to stop this tournament developing into one that was as one sided in the pre European days.
Paul McGinley's men sealed a 16.5-11.5 triumph at Gleneagles to secure their third win in a row and eighth win in the last ten outings.
So what were the main factors behind another European triumph?
1. Paul McGinley's performance as captain
The hero of the 2002 Ryder Cup as a player when he holed the winning putt barely put a foot wrong as captain 12 years later. Having been backed by the vast majority of players including Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, he didn't let them down and created a wonderful spirit amongst the Europe dressing room.
His attention to detail was second to none and when he had to make big decisions on pairings, he got most of them spot on. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson was a decision that bore Europe three points. Foursome partnerships between experienced players like Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood alongside rookies Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson respectively bore four points in total and were key to victory.
And on the final day, his decision to send out Graeme McDowell first in the singles paid dividends when G-Mac fought from three down to beat Jordan Spieth 2+1. G-Mac is someone who would kill his own granny, so to speak for a singles win and he was exactly the right choice to lead the Europeans out to make sure momentum remained with the home side.
2. The team spirit.
As has been said so many times over the last decade or so, the Ryder Cup always seems to mean more to the European team no matter the team line-up and that was the case once again at Gleneagles. This time around there was nine different nationalities in the European team but they all came together to play for a continent.
Meanwhile, certain Americans looked like they would have rather been anywhere else bar the centenary course at Gleneagles. Bubba Watson barely cracked a smile all weekend. Jimmy Walker looked like he'd have preferred to be on holiday. For all his antics particularly on the Sunday, Patrick Reed at least showed some passion as did fellow rookie Jordan Spieth.
Ian Poulter's passion at Medinah inspired the rest of his European team. Perhaps if Reed had some help in that regard, it would have been a lot closer.
It is truly incredible that every two years 12 men come together to give their all for a continent, yet only twice in the last 15 years have 12 American golfers looked like caring for the Ryder Cup.
3. The foursome results
Europe won the two foursome sessions by a combined 7-1. USA didn't even win a match in those afternoon sessions on the Friday and Saturday relying on two halves to make up that score. That is a truly stunning result and once again shows how the foursome pairings for Europe gelled together and how the Americans simply couldn't get chemistry going with each other bar two rookies in the form of Spieth and Reed.
America more than held their own throughout the rest of the Ryder Cup and indeed won both fourball sessions and put up a great fight in the singles today for long spells. But you can't lose one format 7-1 and expect to win the Ryder Cup.
4. Bad decisions by Tom Watson
As good as Paul McGinley performed as European captain, criticism has to come the way of American captain Tom Watson. Watson was picked because he was the last American captain to win the trophy on European soil, back in 1993 at the Belfry. And there aren't many more respected figures in the world of golf than Watson.
However, for all his experience he got some decisions badly wrong this weekend. The decision to bench Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed on the Friday afternoon was astounding. The pair had performed brilliantly in the morning to defeat Poulter and Stephen Gallacher 5+4 and were raring to go. The fact that they were benched would have given the European team a big confidence boost.
Another poor decision by Watson was to bench Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley for the entire day yesterday. Although they had been beaten 3+2 by McDowell and Dubuisson on Friday afternoon, the pair had proved a tremendous pair at Medinah and surely deserved a chance to put things right. Furthermore, Mickelson was the senior figure in the US team and the seeming lack of trust by Watson in him was strange and it is no surprise to hear that "Lefty" has already criticised Watson's captaincy formula.
5. The differences in choice of vice-captains
Whilst there's certainly a case for arguing that McGinley's appointment of five vice captains was excessive, he certainly made wiser appointments to the team room than Watson.
By hiring Jose Maria Olazabal and Sam Torrance, he had hired two successful European captains, including the man who turned it around at Medinah two years ago. And in Torrance he had someone who knew the course inside out. Factor in the cool and charismatic personality of Miguel Angel Jimenez, and the knowledge of Des Smyth and Padraig Harrington, then McGinley had a winning formula.
Contrast that with Tom Watson. He piled on the experience to his side by picking 72 year old Ray Floyd and 64 year old Andy North. In hindsight this was a mistake. Whilst experience can be an advantage in any sport, in the Ryder Cup it is better to pick vice-captains who still have links with the players. In fairness, Watson did try to do that by selecting Steve Stricker as his third vice-captain. But where were they during the weekend? You barely saw them on Sky's coverage.
Why didn't Watson pick Paul Azinger, the successful Ryder Cup captain from 2008 or even a Justin Leonard or David Toms figure. Another area where McGinley got one over on Watson.
In two years time at Hazeltine, Europe will be strong favourites to win a fourth successive Ryder Cup, something they have never achieved before. There will be strong competition for places considering players like Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts missed out this time to name a few.
For America, they have two years to find a team spirit to stop this tournament developing into one that was as one sided in the pre European days.
Thursday 25 September 2014
First Blood to Europe: Friday morning's Ryder Cup fourballs
The time for shouting is just about all over. At 7.35 am tomorrow the first tee shots will be hit in the 40th Ryder Cup and once again the eyes of the world will be on Scotland.
The 2014 edition at Gleneagles certainly has a lot to live up to after "The Miracle of Medinah" two years ago, when Europe came from 10-4 down at one stage on the Saturday to win and another superb tournament at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Today's opening ceremony certainly threw up some interesting pairings on both sides for tomorrow morning's opening fourball matches.
Here's how I think they'll go.
Match One: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson (Eur) V Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (USA)
A match featuring three Majors and a FedEx Cup winner isn't a bad way to get the Ryder Cup under way. Rose and Stenson are two of the greatest drivers of the ball in the European team, and they aren't too bad at iron play either which should set up plenty of birdies for both of them.
However, they will come up against a very formidable American pair. Two time Masters champion and US Open champion Webb Simpson formed a superb partnership at Medinah as they won two fourball matches 5+4, including one against Rose when he partnered Francesco Molinari.
I expect this one to go down the 18th and such is the standard of golfers on both sides in this match, I'm going to give each team a half for this match.
Match Two: Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer (Eur) V Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (USA)
The Bjorn/Kaymer partnership took me aback somewhat when it was announced earlier. Bjorn's experience cannot be denied and Kaymer's won two of the biggest tournaments in golf this year, but I was surprised to see McGinley leave out matchplay specialist Graeme McDowell or even Lee Westwood out altogether.
It's still a strong pairing though with Kaymer back to his best this year, after being at this worst in the run up to the 2012 Ryder Cup, where he still managed to hole the winning putt. Bjorn is enjoying a comeback in his 40s like so many golfers do nowadays and is one of the most respected golfers on tour.
However, I think that the US pairing of Fowler and Walker will have too much for them. Fowler has the potential to become a talisman for his side over the weekend having finished in the top five in all four majors this year whilst Walker has enjoyed three wins this season and his long hitting will setup plenty birdie opportunities.
USA to get the first full point of the match in this one.
Match Three: Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter (Eur) V Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed (USA)
The hometown hero and Mr Ryder Cup against two Ryder Cup rookies. I know where my money is going in match three and let's just say it might just get messy for Spieth and Reed.
The noise that will greet Gallacher and Poulter at the first tee at 8.05am tomorrow morning will be unbelievable and will give rookie Gallacher a massive boost. Poulter is of course 'Mr Ryder Cup' and boasts a record of 12 wins out of 15 matches. I've had a few texts from friends saying they think Poulter is due a bad Ryder Cup, but all I see is someone that is fired up to deliver again.
Spieth and Reed are two youngsters who have burst onto the scene in the last year or so and like most rookies, they will be fired up. But Watson has made an error here by putting two rookies together rather than pairing one of them with say a Jim Furyk figure.
Europe to win this one.
Match Four: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy (Eur) V Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (USA)
Mouthwatering. That's the only word to describe the final fourball match of tomorrow morning. And after Phil Mickelson's "litigation" jibe towards McIlroy yesterday, it comes with added spice.
McIlroy and Garcia is a partnership which intrigues me as I thought Rory would be paired with Poulter. But the men who pushed each other so close at the Open will team up to form an incredible partnership. McIlroy has been in scintillating form throughout this year, winning back to back majors and cementing his position at the top of the world rankings.
And Garcia looks like a man who is loving his golf again and he isn't far off Poulter in terms of someone who thrives on the Ryder Cup.
But the pair from Northern Ireland and Spain respectively will face the partnership that blew Europe away for two days at Medinah in the form of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. Neither has been at the top of their game this year but the pair thrive off each other's personality and will be keen to avenge that loss at Medinah more than anyone.
I'm sticking my neck out though and I'll say Europe to win this one on the 18th green to take a 2.5-1.5 lead into the afternoon.
The Ryder Cup is three days of sporting action every two years that has me glued to the television (or in the case of the Medinah match, my friends Sky Go on his phone as I was on a trip to London) and the fact that it is in Scotland makes that little bit extra special this year. Let battle commence.
The 2014 edition at Gleneagles certainly has a lot to live up to after "The Miracle of Medinah" two years ago, when Europe came from 10-4 down at one stage on the Saturday to win and another superb tournament at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Today's opening ceremony certainly threw up some interesting pairings on both sides for tomorrow morning's opening fourball matches.
Here's how I think they'll go.
Match One: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson (Eur) V Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (USA)
A match featuring three Majors and a FedEx Cup winner isn't a bad way to get the Ryder Cup under way. Rose and Stenson are two of the greatest drivers of the ball in the European team, and they aren't too bad at iron play either which should set up plenty of birdies for both of them.
However, they will come up against a very formidable American pair. Two time Masters champion and US Open champion Webb Simpson formed a superb partnership at Medinah as they won two fourball matches 5+4, including one against Rose when he partnered Francesco Molinari.
I expect this one to go down the 18th and such is the standard of golfers on both sides in this match, I'm going to give each team a half for this match.
Match Two: Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer (Eur) V Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (USA)
The Bjorn/Kaymer partnership took me aback somewhat when it was announced earlier. Bjorn's experience cannot be denied and Kaymer's won two of the biggest tournaments in golf this year, but I was surprised to see McGinley leave out matchplay specialist Graeme McDowell or even Lee Westwood out altogether.
It's still a strong pairing though with Kaymer back to his best this year, after being at this worst in the run up to the 2012 Ryder Cup, where he still managed to hole the winning putt. Bjorn is enjoying a comeback in his 40s like so many golfers do nowadays and is one of the most respected golfers on tour.
However, I think that the US pairing of Fowler and Walker will have too much for them. Fowler has the potential to become a talisman for his side over the weekend having finished in the top five in all four majors this year whilst Walker has enjoyed three wins this season and his long hitting will setup plenty birdie opportunities.
USA to get the first full point of the match in this one.
Match Three: Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter (Eur) V Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed (USA)
The hometown hero and Mr Ryder Cup against two Ryder Cup rookies. I know where my money is going in match three and let's just say it might just get messy for Spieth and Reed.
The noise that will greet Gallacher and Poulter at the first tee at 8.05am tomorrow morning will be unbelievable and will give rookie Gallacher a massive boost. Poulter is of course 'Mr Ryder Cup' and boasts a record of 12 wins out of 15 matches. I've had a few texts from friends saying they think Poulter is due a bad Ryder Cup, but all I see is someone that is fired up to deliver again.
Spieth and Reed are two youngsters who have burst onto the scene in the last year or so and like most rookies, they will be fired up. But Watson has made an error here by putting two rookies together rather than pairing one of them with say a Jim Furyk figure.
Europe to win this one.
Match Four: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy (Eur) V Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (USA)
Mouthwatering. That's the only word to describe the final fourball match of tomorrow morning. And after Phil Mickelson's "litigation" jibe towards McIlroy yesterday, it comes with added spice.
McIlroy and Garcia is a partnership which intrigues me as I thought Rory would be paired with Poulter. But the men who pushed each other so close at the Open will team up to form an incredible partnership. McIlroy has been in scintillating form throughout this year, winning back to back majors and cementing his position at the top of the world rankings.
And Garcia looks like a man who is loving his golf again and he isn't far off Poulter in terms of someone who thrives on the Ryder Cup.
But the pair from Northern Ireland and Spain respectively will face the partnership that blew Europe away for two days at Medinah in the form of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. Neither has been at the top of their game this year but the pair thrive off each other's personality and will be keen to avenge that loss at Medinah more than anyone.
I'm sticking my neck out though and I'll say Europe to win this one on the 18th green to take a 2.5-1.5 lead into the afternoon.
The Ryder Cup is three days of sporting action every two years that has me glued to the television (or in the case of the Medinah match, my friends Sky Go on his phone as I was on a trip to London) and the fact that it is in Scotland makes that little bit extra special this year. Let battle commence.
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Stephen Gallacher is worthy of Ryder Cup selection
Stephen Gallacher knows that the next four days are the biggest of his golfing career.
The 39 year old Scot stands on the brink of qualifying for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in less than a month's time but knows nothing less than a top two finish will do at this weeks Italian Open if he is to make Paul McGinley's European team automatically.
Let's assume Gallacher finishes 3rd or lower in Italy come Sunday and is left relying on a pick from the Irishman. For my mind, Gallacher's phone should be ringing instantly with McGinley telling him that he is one of his three wildcard selections.
The argument that Ryder Cup debutants should have to qualify automatically is a strong one and I have nothing but admiration for Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Welshman Jamie Donaldson who have managed to do just that. However, Gallacher is in a unique position as a potential Ryder Cup rookie.
If casual golf fans were told Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood all required wildcards to play in the Ryder Cup, then the likelihood is that most of them would say McGinley should be ringing all three of them. That would be ridiculously unfair on Gallacher.
Gallacher has been in consistent form for most of the season, producing a stunning performance in Dubai at the start of the year to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title. Last weeks top ten in the Czech Republic, was his seventh top ten of 2014.
Some question Gallacher's mentality on the big stage and whilst he hasn't been at the business end of majors like the three aforementioned English golfers as of yet, Gallacher showed no nerves in Dubai whilst playing with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and this season he has finished in the top five of two of the European Tour's flagship events; the Scottish Open and the BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.
He has also enjoyed a top six finish in a WGC event at Doral in March as well as an impressive top 15 finish at Hoylake in The Open.
Contrast that with Poulter, Donald and Westwood. For the record, my other two picks would be Poulter and Donald. Poulter has been in dreadful form since a top 20 finish at the US Open, but he is 'Mr Ryder Cup' and will be an inspirational figure in the dressing room as always.
Luke Donald's record in matchplay is the envy of many other golfers and he has played in four Ryder Cups and each time he has come out on the winning side. He loves playing alongside Sergio Garcia on the first two days as well and that partnership will be a match for any American duo. But he has only had one top ten on the European Tour this season and three in America, but the last of those came in May. Again Gallacher has shown greater form at the right time than someone of the calibre of Donald.
So that means Westwood misses out. To those who cry out Westwood's experience is unrivalled, I point you in the decision by Jose Maria Olazabal to pick Nicolas Colsaerts two years ago and thus putting an end to Padraig Harrington's run of six Ryder Cups in a row. Westwood currently lies 16th in the standings, with Gallacher in 11th. Form is key going into the Ryder Cup and right now Westwood doesn't have much.
And a team with Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and the world's best golfer Rory McIlroy would hardly be lacking experience on the course.
The other huge argument for Gallacher to get picked is his record at Gleneagles. Since 2001 he has recorded seven top tens at the venue and last year he was only pipped in a play-off for the Johnnie Walker Championship. Westwood on the other hand hasn't played it since 2008 (though it is fair to point out that Donald has never played it and Poulter hasn't in 11 years). But certain players love certain courses and it is clear that Gleneagles suits Gallacher's superb ball striking game.
I'm not writing this as a Scotsman desperate to see a Scottish golfer in Paul McGinley's team just because the competition is being played in my home country. Gallacher's presence would of course give the crowds a lift and probably gain Europe an extra half point or full point.
Over the course of 2014, Stephen Gallacher has matured superbly as a golfer and has shown that he has the mentality to handle the pressure of a Ryder Cup.
McGinley might be hoping he won't have to give Gallacher a wildcard but tough decisions like this is what it's like being a Ryder Cup captain.
On Friday 26 September we should be hearing from the starter at Gleneagles "On the tee from Scotland, Stephen Gallacher." It would be a mistake for the nephew of Ryder Cup great Bernard Gallacher to miss out.
The 39 year old Scot stands on the brink of qualifying for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in less than a month's time but knows nothing less than a top two finish will do at this weeks Italian Open if he is to make Paul McGinley's European team automatically.
Let's assume Gallacher finishes 3rd or lower in Italy come Sunday and is left relying on a pick from the Irishman. For my mind, Gallacher's phone should be ringing instantly with McGinley telling him that he is one of his three wildcard selections.
The argument that Ryder Cup debutants should have to qualify automatically is a strong one and I have nothing but admiration for Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Welshman Jamie Donaldson who have managed to do just that. However, Gallacher is in a unique position as a potential Ryder Cup rookie.
If casual golf fans were told Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood all required wildcards to play in the Ryder Cup, then the likelihood is that most of them would say McGinley should be ringing all three of them. That would be ridiculously unfair on Gallacher.
Gallacher has been in consistent form for most of the season, producing a stunning performance in Dubai at the start of the year to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title. Last weeks top ten in the Czech Republic, was his seventh top ten of 2014.
Some question Gallacher's mentality on the big stage and whilst he hasn't been at the business end of majors like the three aforementioned English golfers as of yet, Gallacher showed no nerves in Dubai whilst playing with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and this season he has finished in the top five of two of the European Tour's flagship events; the Scottish Open and the BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.
He has also enjoyed a top six finish in a WGC event at Doral in March as well as an impressive top 15 finish at Hoylake in The Open.
Contrast that with Poulter, Donald and Westwood. For the record, my other two picks would be Poulter and Donald. Poulter has been in dreadful form since a top 20 finish at the US Open, but he is 'Mr Ryder Cup' and will be an inspirational figure in the dressing room as always.
Luke Donald's record in matchplay is the envy of many other golfers and he has played in four Ryder Cups and each time he has come out on the winning side. He loves playing alongside Sergio Garcia on the first two days as well and that partnership will be a match for any American duo. But he has only had one top ten on the European Tour this season and three in America, but the last of those came in May. Again Gallacher has shown greater form at the right time than someone of the calibre of Donald.
So that means Westwood misses out. To those who cry out Westwood's experience is unrivalled, I point you in the decision by Jose Maria Olazabal to pick Nicolas Colsaerts two years ago and thus putting an end to Padraig Harrington's run of six Ryder Cups in a row. Westwood currently lies 16th in the standings, with Gallacher in 11th. Form is key going into the Ryder Cup and right now Westwood doesn't have much.
And a team with Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and the world's best golfer Rory McIlroy would hardly be lacking experience on the course.
The other huge argument for Gallacher to get picked is his record at Gleneagles. Since 2001 he has recorded seven top tens at the venue and last year he was only pipped in a play-off for the Johnnie Walker Championship. Westwood on the other hand hasn't played it since 2008 (though it is fair to point out that Donald has never played it and Poulter hasn't in 11 years). But certain players love certain courses and it is clear that Gleneagles suits Gallacher's superb ball striking game.
I'm not writing this as a Scotsman desperate to see a Scottish golfer in Paul McGinley's team just because the competition is being played in my home country. Gallacher's presence would of course give the crowds a lift and probably gain Europe an extra half point or full point.
Over the course of 2014, Stephen Gallacher has matured superbly as a golfer and has shown that he has the mentality to handle the pressure of a Ryder Cup.
McGinley might be hoping he won't have to give Gallacher a wildcard but tough decisions like this is what it's like being a Ryder Cup captain.
On Friday 26 September we should be hearing from the starter at Gleneagles "On the tee from Scotland, Stephen Gallacher." It would be a mistake for the nephew of Ryder Cup great Bernard Gallacher to miss out.
Wednesday 6 August 2014
Three men who are offering value at Valhalla
If you've read the newspapers or turned on the television in the last few days, then you could be forgiven for thinking that Rory McIlroy had already won the years final major, the PGA Championship and everyone else shouldn't have bothered turning up.
Well that isn't the case as McIlroy and the rest of the world's top golfers prepare to tee off at Valhalla. There can be no doubting the man from Northern Ireland is the favourite for the tournament after brilliant wins in the Open Championship and at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Inviitational event over the last three weeks.
And the bookies are making him as short as 5/1 to win his second consecutive major and fourth overall. Those sort of prices haven't been seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime so I'm here to offer you some value tips for this week.
Jim Furyk (Best Price 35/1)
Now 43, the American is one of the golfers you can simply never write off when heading into a Major and he really should have won more than his solitary major he picked up at the 2003 US Open.
But Furyk is in fine form heading into the PGA Championship. Despite only finishing in a tie for 15th last week in the Bridgestone Invitational, he shot four rounds in the 60s. And before that he really should have converted a 54 hole lead at the Canadian Open but fell into second place behind Tim Clark.
He has a fine record at the majors so far in 2014; coming 4th in last month's Open championship and also finishing in the top 15 at the US Open and the Masters. Add in a 2nd place finish at The Players Championship and you get a man that's playing some of the finest golf of his life.
Second in last years PGA Championship, Furyk does have a reputation of bottling it when it matters nowadays, but is very much worth an each way bet.
Marc Leishman (Best Price 50/1)
Remarkably during commentating on last month's Open Peter Alliss had to ask for information on the 30 year old Australian which seemed ridiculous considering Leishman had finished tied fourth in the 2013 Masters, which Alliss commentated on.
He is now a golfer that is comfortable competing with the bigger names week in week out as shown by his third place finish in the Bridgestone Invitational when he was the only golfer who stuck remotely close to McIlroy and Garcia until the very end. That followed up a top five place finish at The Open, and he's enjoyed six top tens this season already.
A top 15 finisher at last years PGA event, Leishman is someone full of confidence and might just follow his countrymen Wayne Grady, Steve Elkington, David Graham and Jim Ferrie as Australian winners of this event.
Patrick Reed: (Best Price 75/1)
The American has came under fire for his comments after winning the WGC Cadillac Championship in March where he declared himself one of the top five players in the world.
It was quite a ridiculous statement to make in most people's eyes and everyone was wondering who this young upstart was. And with that comment hanging over him, his form dipped where he missed the cut at The Masters, The Players Championship and The Open.
But there were big signs last week that Reed has finally got his game back in order as he shot a superb 65 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth at the Bridgestone Invitational.
And despite the fact he'll be making his debut in the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley won on debut in 2011 in the tournament so it can be done. The 23 year old from Texas might be far away from being one of the top five players in the world, but he certainly knows how to win.
With Europeans leading the charge this week in the form of McIlroy, Garcia and Rose the rest of the world contingent will be keen to put them down a peg or two. I'm confident at least one of the men above will be in the hunt come the back nine on Sunday.
Well that isn't the case as McIlroy and the rest of the world's top golfers prepare to tee off at Valhalla. There can be no doubting the man from Northern Ireland is the favourite for the tournament after brilliant wins in the Open Championship and at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Inviitational event over the last three weeks.
And the bookies are making him as short as 5/1 to win his second consecutive major and fourth overall. Those sort of prices haven't been seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime so I'm here to offer you some value tips for this week.
Jim Furyk (Best Price 35/1)
Now 43, the American is one of the golfers you can simply never write off when heading into a Major and he really should have won more than his solitary major he picked up at the 2003 US Open.
But Furyk is in fine form heading into the PGA Championship. Despite only finishing in a tie for 15th last week in the Bridgestone Invitational, he shot four rounds in the 60s. And before that he really should have converted a 54 hole lead at the Canadian Open but fell into second place behind Tim Clark.
He has a fine record at the majors so far in 2014; coming 4th in last month's Open championship and also finishing in the top 15 at the US Open and the Masters. Add in a 2nd place finish at The Players Championship and you get a man that's playing some of the finest golf of his life.
Second in last years PGA Championship, Furyk does have a reputation of bottling it when it matters nowadays, but is very much worth an each way bet.
Marc Leishman (Best Price 50/1)
Remarkably during commentating on last month's Open Peter Alliss had to ask for information on the 30 year old Australian which seemed ridiculous considering Leishman had finished tied fourth in the 2013 Masters, which Alliss commentated on.
He is now a golfer that is comfortable competing with the bigger names week in week out as shown by his third place finish in the Bridgestone Invitational when he was the only golfer who stuck remotely close to McIlroy and Garcia until the very end. That followed up a top five place finish at The Open, and he's enjoyed six top tens this season already.
A top 15 finisher at last years PGA event, Leishman is someone full of confidence and might just follow his countrymen Wayne Grady, Steve Elkington, David Graham and Jim Ferrie as Australian winners of this event.
Patrick Reed: (Best Price 75/1)
The American has came under fire for his comments after winning the WGC Cadillac Championship in March where he declared himself one of the top five players in the world.
It was quite a ridiculous statement to make in most people's eyes and everyone was wondering who this young upstart was. And with that comment hanging over him, his form dipped where he missed the cut at The Masters, The Players Championship and The Open.
But there were big signs last week that Reed has finally got his game back in order as he shot a superb 65 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth at the Bridgestone Invitational.
And despite the fact he'll be making his debut in the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley won on debut in 2011 in the tournament so it can be done. The 23 year old from Texas might be far away from being one of the top five players in the world, but he certainly knows how to win.
With Europeans leading the charge this week in the form of McIlroy, Garcia and Rose the rest of the world contingent will be keen to put them down a peg or two. I'm confident at least one of the men above will be in the hunt come the back nine on Sunday.
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Rory McIlroy can be one of the golfing greats
Hollywood golf from the man from Holywood. It is a phrase I have used regularly on Twitter and in texts during golf major championships over the last few years.
And the man from the small town in Northern Ireland with one 'L' was at it again at The Open Championship at Hoylake, eventually winning by two shots.
The man in question is of course Rory McIlroy. Still only 25, this young golfer has the world at his feet and has the potential to go on to achieve truly extraordinary things in the game of golf.
Whilst Sergio Garcia and fellow 25 year old, the American Rickie Fowler put up a very spirited challenge on Sunday at Hoylake to try and deny McIlroy, this tournament looked to be his from the moment he stepped on the first tee on Thursday morning.
Of course, there were fears about the inexplicably bad Friday rounds he had been having in many tournaments this year, but only very briefly at moments over the four days of the championship, did he look anything approaching nervous.
The question now is; how good can Rory McIlroy be? The statistics at the moment suggest he can be one of the greatest. At 25, he is only the third player to win three Majors by that age, alongside arguably the two best players to ever have played the game; Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Since The Masters began in 1934, no European player had managed to win more than two of golf's four Major's. McIlroy's win on Sunday ripped up that record as he added The Open to the PGA Championship he won in 2012 and his US Open victory in 2011. If it weren't for a final day meltdown at The Masters three years ago, we'd already be discussing a 'Rory Slam'.
And there is no doubt in my mind that Rory will put on that Green Jacket at Augusta one day soon and it may well come next year. His game is simply too good not to win at Augusta and when he combines holing more putts than missing them, along with his near perfect driving ability off the tee, then nobody can stop him.
Right now he has won three majors in the last four years. Three majors isn't enough to yet call McIlroy a golfing great, but it would be one of the biggest sporting shocks of all time if he stagnated on that number. Nick Faldo and the early 20th century golfer Harry Vardon lead the way for European golfers in terms of Majors won with six. The late great Seve Ballesteros won five. Faldo didn't win his first Major until he was 30 and McIlroy could feasibly have levelled or overtaken his number of Majors before he hits that age.
The standard of golf is improving all the time so it is hard to see McIlroy truly dominating the sport when there are so many other good players around like the winners of the first two Majors of the year, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer as well as World Number one Adam Scott and Justin Rose to name but a few.
However, when McIlroy hits top form, there is no stopping him. Finishing seventeen under par around a course as testing as Hoylake showcased all of his true talent and what was most impressive was that when faced with a battle to retain his lead on the final day (and indeed on the Saturday, when Fowler drew level), he showed fantastic composure and didn't alter his aggressive strategy at all.
That sort of fight was in stark contrast to McIlroy's first two Major wins which he won by eight strokes both times. The fact that he held off two players seeking an elusive first Major will give him even more self-confidence, as if he needed any.
The obvious comparisons are with Tiger Woods who completed a 'Tiger Slam' at the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews before his 25th birthday. Hoylake was the scene of another Woods triumph in 2006 and the American followed that up with a win at the PGA Championship a few weeks later. It remains to be seen if McIlroy can replicate that but if he showcases the form he did at The Open Championship, then he is going to take some beating.
By winning three Majors, McIlroy has already passed some fine players who only managed to win two such as Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Bernhard Langer. And he is level with the likes of Padraig Harrington, Nick Price and the late Payne Stewart.
Jack Nicklaus won his last Major at the age of 46, but being realistic we can say McIlroy has another 15 years at the very top until he hits 40. Of course he might go on and win beyond then as the three Open winners before him were all 40 plus, but golf is a much more athletic game now and players are more prone to injury which can be seen most potently with Woods.
If it hadn't been for a miserable 2013 in which he struggled with his change of clubs, a loss of form, private life distractions and a bitter legal row with his former management team, then he could well have won one major every year for the last four years. That being said three out of four ain't bad and if he keeps going at that rate, then the record books are going to enjoy several rewrites.
McIlroy is a genuine worldwide sporting superstar who astonishes fans with his ability, like Woods did in his prime, or Messi does on a football pitch or Federer does on a tennis court.
With his mind fully focused on the job once again, Rory McIlroy is someone who knows himself that he can be a true golfing great. It's time to make that dream become a reality over the next few years.
Who knows they might just make a Hollywood film about the man from Holywood.
And the man from the small town in Northern Ireland with one 'L' was at it again at The Open Championship at Hoylake, eventually winning by two shots.
The man in question is of course Rory McIlroy. Still only 25, this young golfer has the world at his feet and has the potential to go on to achieve truly extraordinary things in the game of golf.
Whilst Sergio Garcia and fellow 25 year old, the American Rickie Fowler put up a very spirited challenge on Sunday at Hoylake to try and deny McIlroy, this tournament looked to be his from the moment he stepped on the first tee on Thursday morning.
Of course, there were fears about the inexplicably bad Friday rounds he had been having in many tournaments this year, but only very briefly at moments over the four days of the championship, did he look anything approaching nervous.
The question now is; how good can Rory McIlroy be? The statistics at the moment suggest he can be one of the greatest. At 25, he is only the third player to win three Majors by that age, alongside arguably the two best players to ever have played the game; Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Since The Masters began in 1934, no European player had managed to win more than two of golf's four Major's. McIlroy's win on Sunday ripped up that record as he added The Open to the PGA Championship he won in 2012 and his US Open victory in 2011. If it weren't for a final day meltdown at The Masters three years ago, we'd already be discussing a 'Rory Slam'.
And there is no doubt in my mind that Rory will put on that Green Jacket at Augusta one day soon and it may well come next year. His game is simply too good not to win at Augusta and when he combines holing more putts than missing them, along with his near perfect driving ability off the tee, then nobody can stop him.
Right now he has won three majors in the last four years. Three majors isn't enough to yet call McIlroy a golfing great, but it would be one of the biggest sporting shocks of all time if he stagnated on that number. Nick Faldo and the early 20th century golfer Harry Vardon lead the way for European golfers in terms of Majors won with six. The late great Seve Ballesteros won five. Faldo didn't win his first Major until he was 30 and McIlroy could feasibly have levelled or overtaken his number of Majors before he hits that age.
The standard of golf is improving all the time so it is hard to see McIlroy truly dominating the sport when there are so many other good players around like the winners of the first two Majors of the year, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer as well as World Number one Adam Scott and Justin Rose to name but a few.
However, when McIlroy hits top form, there is no stopping him. Finishing seventeen under par around a course as testing as Hoylake showcased all of his true talent and what was most impressive was that when faced with a battle to retain his lead on the final day (and indeed on the Saturday, when Fowler drew level), he showed fantastic composure and didn't alter his aggressive strategy at all.
That sort of fight was in stark contrast to McIlroy's first two Major wins which he won by eight strokes both times. The fact that he held off two players seeking an elusive first Major will give him even more self-confidence, as if he needed any.
The obvious comparisons are with Tiger Woods who completed a 'Tiger Slam' at the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews before his 25th birthday. Hoylake was the scene of another Woods triumph in 2006 and the American followed that up with a win at the PGA Championship a few weeks later. It remains to be seen if McIlroy can replicate that but if he showcases the form he did at The Open Championship, then he is going to take some beating.
By winning three Majors, McIlroy has already passed some fine players who only managed to win two such as Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Bernhard Langer. And he is level with the likes of Padraig Harrington, Nick Price and the late Payne Stewart.
Jack Nicklaus won his last Major at the age of 46, but being realistic we can say McIlroy has another 15 years at the very top until he hits 40. Of course he might go on and win beyond then as the three Open winners before him were all 40 plus, but golf is a much more athletic game now and players are more prone to injury which can be seen most potently with Woods.
If it hadn't been for a miserable 2013 in which he struggled with his change of clubs, a loss of form, private life distractions and a bitter legal row with his former management team, then he could well have won one major every year for the last four years. That being said three out of four ain't bad and if he keeps going at that rate, then the record books are going to enjoy several rewrites.
McIlroy is a genuine worldwide sporting superstar who astonishes fans with his ability, like Woods did in his prime, or Messi does on a football pitch or Federer does on a tennis court.
With his mind fully focused on the job once again, Rory McIlroy is someone who knows himself that he can be a true golfing great. It's time to make that dream become a reality over the next few years.
Who knows they might just make a Hollywood film about the man from Holywood.
Tuesday 15 July 2014
Five Men to Watch at The Open
Golf's oldest Major is once again upon us and the world's best golfers have hit the fairways of Hoylake to prepare for The Open Championship which starts on Thursday morning.
Phil Mickelson is the defending champion after a wonderful back nine at Muirfield last year which sealed his first Claret Jug and completed a historic two week double of winning the Scottish Open and then The Open.
However, there are a whole host of top golfers in great form who look primed to wrestle that trophy from the American's hands and of course, there is the small matter of Tiger Woods returning from injury on a course where he won in 2006.
The Open is a tournament that even casual viewers of golf tune into and many people will fancy a flutter at the bookies this week.
Here's five men I think could win you some money come Sunday evening.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden, 16/1)
The 38 year old is long overdue a Major championship and this weeks set up at Hoylake offers him a fantastic opportunity to break his duck. Driving well off the tee is vital around the course and that has always been one of Stenson's great qualities. He consistently hits 300 yards off the tee and over the last two years has also rapidly improved his accuracy.
Winner of both the European Tour's Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour's FedEx cup series in 2013 in a historic double, Stenson has continued his fine form in 2014. Although Martin Kaymer ran away with the US Open last month, Stenson finished in a tie for fourth and then followed that up with a tie for second at the BMW International Open in Germany.
And since 2008 he has finished in the top three in the Open on three occasions, including a second place last year. Although he only finished in a tie for 48th at Hoylake in 2006, he has hugely improved since then.
Adam Scott (Australia, 16/1)
The 2013 Masters champion really should have an Open win to his name already. Leading by four shots with four holes to go at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012, he inexplicably threw away the tournament and handed victory to Ernie Els.
Many people thought then that the Aussie would never win a Major championship, but he proved them wrong with a nail biting play-off win at The Masters in 2013 and since then he hasn't looked back and is now rightly among the favourites for every Major championship.
Like Stenson, Scott is a superb driver off the tee and possesses some of the best long iron shots in the game. Already a winner on the PGA Tour this season, he has also enjoyed five other top tens across the pond so comes to England in fine form.
Factor in two consecutive top three finishes in the last two years in The Open as well as a tied eighth at Hoylake eight years ago, Scott will be surprised if he doesn't challenge come the back nine on Sunday.
Martin Kaymer (Germany, 25/1)
The US Open champion is aiming to become the first man to win The Open and the US Open since Tiger Woods in 2000 which shows the scale of how hard it is to win back to back majors, but the German is more than capable of doing so.
His performance at the US Open last month was nothing short of incredible on a very tough course at Pinehurst. He won by eight strokes over Americans Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, who were the only other players under par.
The former World Number One has also won the Players Championship this year so is absolutely brimming with confidence. His Open record doesn't jump out with a tied seventh place in 2010 being Kaymer's best so far but he is a former winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
With two massive wins to his name so far in 2014, Kaymer simply can't be ignored at generous odds.
Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland, 30/1)
G-Mac as the man from Portrush is affectionately known can lead the British challenge at Hoylake this week.
He is coming off the back of a fantastic comeback win at the French Open a couple of weeks ago and there shouldn't be any fears about him skipping the Scottish Open last week as McDowell took the week off before he won the 2010 US Open at the links style Pebble Beach.
What sets McDowell apart from a lot of the British contingent is his ability to grind wins and good scores out when the going gets tough. With the weather set to be poor on Friday, patience could well be key as McDowell's shown not just in the US Open, but also in Ryder Cup matches and play-off wins on the European Tour.
His best finish at an Open came in 2012 when he finished tied fifth but a man used to links golf can improve on this at Hoylake, where he led after the first round in 2006.
Jimmy Walker (USA, 100/1)
The American who has burst onto the scene in 2014 is my outside bet for this weeks Open Championship. After playing in 187 events without a win on the PGA Tour, the 35 year-old won three times in the first eight events of 2014.
And he has enjoyed top ten finishes at both the Masters and the US Open as well so he is coming into the tournament full of confidence.
Whilst he never challenged at the Scottish Open last week, he played all four rounds and his short game can really help him around a course like Hoylake.
He might have missed the cut last year in his only Open performance to date, but he has vastly improved since then and when you are winning it can be hard to stop. Don't rule him out becoming another American winner of golf's oldest Major.
As soon as David Howell hits the first shot at 6.25am on Thursday, golf fans around the world will be glued to their screens or indeed at Hoylake itself to see who will emerge triumphant come Sunday evening.
As golf moves towards a post Woods era, expect another thrilling Major championship battle between the world's best players.
Phil Mickelson is the defending champion after a wonderful back nine at Muirfield last year which sealed his first Claret Jug and completed a historic two week double of winning the Scottish Open and then The Open.
However, there are a whole host of top golfers in great form who look primed to wrestle that trophy from the American's hands and of course, there is the small matter of Tiger Woods returning from injury on a course where he won in 2006.
The Open is a tournament that even casual viewers of golf tune into and many people will fancy a flutter at the bookies this week.
Here's five men I think could win you some money come Sunday evening.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden, 16/1)
The 38 year old is long overdue a Major championship and this weeks set up at Hoylake offers him a fantastic opportunity to break his duck. Driving well off the tee is vital around the course and that has always been one of Stenson's great qualities. He consistently hits 300 yards off the tee and over the last two years has also rapidly improved his accuracy.
Winner of both the European Tour's Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour's FedEx cup series in 2013 in a historic double, Stenson has continued his fine form in 2014. Although Martin Kaymer ran away with the US Open last month, Stenson finished in a tie for fourth and then followed that up with a tie for second at the BMW International Open in Germany.
And since 2008 he has finished in the top three in the Open on three occasions, including a second place last year. Although he only finished in a tie for 48th at Hoylake in 2006, he has hugely improved since then.
Adam Scott (Australia, 16/1)
The 2013 Masters champion really should have an Open win to his name already. Leading by four shots with four holes to go at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012, he inexplicably threw away the tournament and handed victory to Ernie Els.
Many people thought then that the Aussie would never win a Major championship, but he proved them wrong with a nail biting play-off win at The Masters in 2013 and since then he hasn't looked back and is now rightly among the favourites for every Major championship.
Like Stenson, Scott is a superb driver off the tee and possesses some of the best long iron shots in the game. Already a winner on the PGA Tour this season, he has also enjoyed five other top tens across the pond so comes to England in fine form.
Factor in two consecutive top three finishes in the last two years in The Open as well as a tied eighth at Hoylake eight years ago, Scott will be surprised if he doesn't challenge come the back nine on Sunday.
Martin Kaymer (Germany, 25/1)
The US Open champion is aiming to become the first man to win The Open and the US Open since Tiger Woods in 2000 which shows the scale of how hard it is to win back to back majors, but the German is more than capable of doing so.
His performance at the US Open last month was nothing short of incredible on a very tough course at Pinehurst. He won by eight strokes over Americans Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, who were the only other players under par.
The former World Number One has also won the Players Championship this year so is absolutely brimming with confidence. His Open record doesn't jump out with a tied seventh place in 2010 being Kaymer's best so far but he is a former winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
With two massive wins to his name so far in 2014, Kaymer simply can't be ignored at generous odds.
Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland, 30/1)
G-Mac as the man from Portrush is affectionately known can lead the British challenge at Hoylake this week.
He is coming off the back of a fantastic comeback win at the French Open a couple of weeks ago and there shouldn't be any fears about him skipping the Scottish Open last week as McDowell took the week off before he won the 2010 US Open at the links style Pebble Beach.
What sets McDowell apart from a lot of the British contingent is his ability to grind wins and good scores out when the going gets tough. With the weather set to be poor on Friday, patience could well be key as McDowell's shown not just in the US Open, but also in Ryder Cup matches and play-off wins on the European Tour.
His best finish at an Open came in 2012 when he finished tied fifth but a man used to links golf can improve on this at Hoylake, where he led after the first round in 2006.
Jimmy Walker (USA, 100/1)
The American who has burst onto the scene in 2014 is my outside bet for this weeks Open Championship. After playing in 187 events without a win on the PGA Tour, the 35 year-old won three times in the first eight events of 2014.
And he has enjoyed top ten finishes at both the Masters and the US Open as well so he is coming into the tournament full of confidence.
Whilst he never challenged at the Scottish Open last week, he played all four rounds and his short game can really help him around a course like Hoylake.
He might have missed the cut last year in his only Open performance to date, but he has vastly improved since then and when you are winning it can be hard to stop. Don't rule him out becoming another American winner of golf's oldest Major.
As soon as David Howell hits the first shot at 6.25am on Thursday, golf fans around the world will be glued to their screens or indeed at Hoylake itself to see who will emerge triumphant come Sunday evening.
As golf moves towards a post Woods era, expect another thrilling Major championship battle between the world's best players.
Sunday 22 June 2014
Can Andy Murray win Wimbledon again?
When Andy Murray steps on to Centre Court at Wimbledon tomorrow around 1pm, he will do so safe in the knowledge that he is the defending champion. That monkey is off his back.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the man from Dunblane since that memorable Sunday afternoon in July last year when he beat Novak Djokovic to become Britain's first men's singles champion at SW19 for 77 years.
Since then there have been mixed results, major back surgery and now the appointment of a new coach; Amelie Mauresmo after the split from the man who helped him win that title last year, Ivan Lendl.
Murray had a fine run to the semi final in the French Open and a surprise defeat to Radek Stepanek at Queens can surely be put down to that stellar effort. However, the defending champion is sure to face an extremely tough test from the likes of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and perhaps surprise packages such as Queens winner Grigor Dimitrov and big serving Canadian Milos Raonic.
Here is Murray's potential route to a second successive Wimbledon title:
Round One: David Goffin (Belgium)
The Wimbledon champion with the backing of a Centre Crowd against a player ranked 104 in the world sounds like an easy start for Murray.
But Goffin is a dangerous player and proved that two years ago at the French Open and Wimbledon. Gaining entry to Roland Garros as a lucky loser, Goffin made the fourth round beating Stepanek, Arnaud Clement and Lukasz Kubot before taking a set off Roger Federer in his last 16 loss. And at Wimbledon he managed to beat Bernard Tomic who had reached the quarter finals in 2011 in the first round before falling to Mardy Fish in round three.
The resulting two years haven't been as kind to Goffin though he has suffered with injury this year. However, he is a dangerous player as he has proven against Federer in the past.
Prediction: Murray in Four.
Second Round: Pablo Andujar (Spain)
Next up for Murray would be a tie against the World Number 79, presuming Andujar gets past the World Number 91, Blaz Rola from Slovenia in Round One.
This would actually be an easier tie for Murray than his first round match. Andjuar is much more suited to playing on clay and in four appearances at Wimbledon he has never been past the first round, so it would be new territory for him.
Murray's grass court ground strokes would prove far too strong for someone who has been ranked as high as 33 in the world.
Prediction: Murray in three.
Round Three: Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain)
Another Spanish test would lie in wait for Murray in the last 32 and it would be a significantly greater test than Andujar in the round previously.
Bautista Agut, who is ranked at 28th in the World has enjoyed a successful 2014 and is coming into Wimbledon having won the grass court tournament in Rosmalen, Netherlands today by beating Benjamin Becker in the final.
He has proven he can defeat the best, with a five set win over Juan Martin Del Potro in this years Australian Open second round, before he lost to Dimitrov in four sets in round four. He also beat Tomas Berdych in the Indian Wells Masters in March whilst he had a great run to the semi finals in Madrid in May beating Tommy Robredo and Fernando Verdasco along the way.
Murray would go into this match as clear favourite but a player full of confidence cannot be under estimated especially as he seems to be vastly improving on grass.
Prediction: Murray in four
Fourth Round: Fabio Fognini (Italy)
Fognini has already beaten Andy Murray this year, winning soundly on the clay surface in Rome against him in the Davis Cup in April.
However, Murray has to start this last 16 match as favourite against the World Number 15. Fognini is certainly a player who can be described as a clay court expert having won three titles on the surface since July last year and he also reached the French Open quarter finals in 2011.
But against a man who has only lost one match on grass since Wimbledon 2012, Fognini would be outclassed. Murray would welcome this opponent at the start of the second week and would relish the chance to avenge that Davis Cup defeat.
Prediction: Murray in Three
Quarter Final: Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
A bold prediction here but I believe that last Sunday's Queens winner will be lying in wait for Murray in the last eight. He might never have been beyond the second round at Wimbledon, but he is brimming with confidence and is finally living up to the hype that has surrounded him for the last few years.
For all his 'poster boy' image thanks to his good looks and relationship with Maria Sharapova, there can be no doubting the Bulgarian can play. At Queens last week he performed superbly, defeating Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the semi final before holding his nerve in the best of three tie breaks in the final against Feliciano Lopez to take the title.
He would likely have to beat David Ferrer to reach this stage and the man known as 'The Wall' would be a formidable object for the World Number 13, but Dimitrov simply has to deliver in a major tournament sooner rather than later and with a win at Queens, he seems ready to do so.
He has beaten Murray this year already in a thrilling semi final in Acapulco but with Murray's experience at this stage of Grand Slams, he has to be favourite in a best of five set match. Dimitrov isn't quite ready to come out and beat the Wimbledon champion on his home turf.
Prediction: Murray in four
Semi Final: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
The route to glory for Murray should see him come up against the man he dismantled in last years final. Djokovic will be looking to avenge that defeat last year and win back a crown he collected in 2011.
Matches between Djokovic and Murray are always full of astoundingly long rallies, brilliant shot-making and constant breaks of serve. Both are 27 years of age and whilst Djokovic progressed quicker, Murray did get the better of him in the 2012 US Open final along with last years Wimbledon although the man from Serbia did win the 2013 Australian Open between the pair.
It would be a massive test for Murray and his new coach Mauresmo but you have to believe that Murray would be inspired by the memories of last year, particularly with a sell out crowd believing he can win the tournament again. For my mind, Murray is the greatest grass court player in the world and Djokovic has been struggling with a wrist injury lately, though he insists it won't bother him at SW19.
Prediction: Murray in five
Final: Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Nadal would be the ultimate test for Murray in the final and I believe he would just fall short against a man that has defeated him 15 times out of their 20 meetings.
The Spaniard's aggressive style and brutal forehand are regularly too much for Murray on any surface as was comprehensively demonstrated by Nadal in a straight set win in the French Open semi finals earlier this month.
What's more, Nadal will be eager to make up for lost time at Wimbledon having suffered shock defeats the last two times he has played in the tournament. Last year he was bundled out by unheralded Belgian Steve Darcis in the first round whilst in 2012, he was incredibly beaten by Pole Lukas Rosol over five sets in the second round when he was the overwhelming favourite for the tournament.
Coupled with the fact that he will want to restore national pride in Spanish sport after the footballers abysmal performance in the World Cup, Nadal will come out all guns blazing. Full of confidence after winning Roland Garros despite a shock defeat to Dustin Brown in Halle last week, the World Number one looks primed for a first Wimbledon title in four years.
Murray would certainly be no pushover for Nadal and you couldn't rule him out of winning back to back Wimbledon titles. But Nadal has won their three previous meetings at Wimbledon and it is worth noting that Murray's greatest career achievements have came when the 14 time Grand Slam champion has been out of the picture.
Prediction: Nadal in four.
The 2014 Wimbledon Championships are upon us from tomorrow and it is fantastic Andy Murray goes into them with the biggest monkey of them all off his back.
Ultimately though, I think he'll fall just short in his quest to keep a grip on the Wimbledon trophy.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the man from Dunblane since that memorable Sunday afternoon in July last year when he beat Novak Djokovic to become Britain's first men's singles champion at SW19 for 77 years.
Since then there have been mixed results, major back surgery and now the appointment of a new coach; Amelie Mauresmo after the split from the man who helped him win that title last year, Ivan Lendl.
Murray had a fine run to the semi final in the French Open and a surprise defeat to Radek Stepanek at Queens can surely be put down to that stellar effort. However, the defending champion is sure to face an extremely tough test from the likes of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and perhaps surprise packages such as Queens winner Grigor Dimitrov and big serving Canadian Milos Raonic.
Here is Murray's potential route to a second successive Wimbledon title:
Round One: David Goffin (Belgium)
The Wimbledon champion with the backing of a Centre Crowd against a player ranked 104 in the world sounds like an easy start for Murray.
But Goffin is a dangerous player and proved that two years ago at the French Open and Wimbledon. Gaining entry to Roland Garros as a lucky loser, Goffin made the fourth round beating Stepanek, Arnaud Clement and Lukasz Kubot before taking a set off Roger Federer in his last 16 loss. And at Wimbledon he managed to beat Bernard Tomic who had reached the quarter finals in 2011 in the first round before falling to Mardy Fish in round three.
The resulting two years haven't been as kind to Goffin though he has suffered with injury this year. However, he is a dangerous player as he has proven against Federer in the past.
Prediction: Murray in Four.
Second Round: Pablo Andujar (Spain)
Next up for Murray would be a tie against the World Number 79, presuming Andujar gets past the World Number 91, Blaz Rola from Slovenia in Round One.
This would actually be an easier tie for Murray than his first round match. Andjuar is much more suited to playing on clay and in four appearances at Wimbledon he has never been past the first round, so it would be new territory for him.
Murray's grass court ground strokes would prove far too strong for someone who has been ranked as high as 33 in the world.
Prediction: Murray in three.
Round Three: Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain)
Another Spanish test would lie in wait for Murray in the last 32 and it would be a significantly greater test than Andujar in the round previously.
Bautista Agut, who is ranked at 28th in the World has enjoyed a successful 2014 and is coming into Wimbledon having won the grass court tournament in Rosmalen, Netherlands today by beating Benjamin Becker in the final.
He has proven he can defeat the best, with a five set win over Juan Martin Del Potro in this years Australian Open second round, before he lost to Dimitrov in four sets in round four. He also beat Tomas Berdych in the Indian Wells Masters in March whilst he had a great run to the semi finals in Madrid in May beating Tommy Robredo and Fernando Verdasco along the way.
Murray would go into this match as clear favourite but a player full of confidence cannot be under estimated especially as he seems to be vastly improving on grass.
Prediction: Murray in four
Fourth Round: Fabio Fognini (Italy)
Fognini has already beaten Andy Murray this year, winning soundly on the clay surface in Rome against him in the Davis Cup in April.
However, Murray has to start this last 16 match as favourite against the World Number 15. Fognini is certainly a player who can be described as a clay court expert having won three titles on the surface since July last year and he also reached the French Open quarter finals in 2011.
But against a man who has only lost one match on grass since Wimbledon 2012, Fognini would be outclassed. Murray would welcome this opponent at the start of the second week and would relish the chance to avenge that Davis Cup defeat.
Prediction: Murray in Three
Quarter Final: Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
A bold prediction here but I believe that last Sunday's Queens winner will be lying in wait for Murray in the last eight. He might never have been beyond the second round at Wimbledon, but he is brimming with confidence and is finally living up to the hype that has surrounded him for the last few years.
For all his 'poster boy' image thanks to his good looks and relationship with Maria Sharapova, there can be no doubting the Bulgarian can play. At Queens last week he performed superbly, defeating Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the semi final before holding his nerve in the best of three tie breaks in the final against Feliciano Lopez to take the title.
He would likely have to beat David Ferrer to reach this stage and the man known as 'The Wall' would be a formidable object for the World Number 13, but Dimitrov simply has to deliver in a major tournament sooner rather than later and with a win at Queens, he seems ready to do so.
He has beaten Murray this year already in a thrilling semi final in Acapulco but with Murray's experience at this stage of Grand Slams, he has to be favourite in a best of five set match. Dimitrov isn't quite ready to come out and beat the Wimbledon champion on his home turf.
Prediction: Murray in four
Semi Final: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
The route to glory for Murray should see him come up against the man he dismantled in last years final. Djokovic will be looking to avenge that defeat last year and win back a crown he collected in 2011.
Matches between Djokovic and Murray are always full of astoundingly long rallies, brilliant shot-making and constant breaks of serve. Both are 27 years of age and whilst Djokovic progressed quicker, Murray did get the better of him in the 2012 US Open final along with last years Wimbledon although the man from Serbia did win the 2013 Australian Open between the pair.
It would be a massive test for Murray and his new coach Mauresmo but you have to believe that Murray would be inspired by the memories of last year, particularly with a sell out crowd believing he can win the tournament again. For my mind, Murray is the greatest grass court player in the world and Djokovic has been struggling with a wrist injury lately, though he insists it won't bother him at SW19.
Prediction: Murray in five
Final: Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Nadal would be the ultimate test for Murray in the final and I believe he would just fall short against a man that has defeated him 15 times out of their 20 meetings.
The Spaniard's aggressive style and brutal forehand are regularly too much for Murray on any surface as was comprehensively demonstrated by Nadal in a straight set win in the French Open semi finals earlier this month.
What's more, Nadal will be eager to make up for lost time at Wimbledon having suffered shock defeats the last two times he has played in the tournament. Last year he was bundled out by unheralded Belgian Steve Darcis in the first round whilst in 2012, he was incredibly beaten by Pole Lukas Rosol over five sets in the second round when he was the overwhelming favourite for the tournament.
Coupled with the fact that he will want to restore national pride in Spanish sport after the footballers abysmal performance in the World Cup, Nadal will come out all guns blazing. Full of confidence after winning Roland Garros despite a shock defeat to Dustin Brown in Halle last week, the World Number one looks primed for a first Wimbledon title in four years.
Murray would certainly be no pushover for Nadal and you couldn't rule him out of winning back to back Wimbledon titles. But Nadal has won their three previous meetings at Wimbledon and it is worth noting that Murray's greatest career achievements have came when the 14 time Grand Slam champion has been out of the picture.
Prediction: Nadal in four.
The 2014 Wimbledon Championships are upon us from tomorrow and it is fantastic Andy Murray goes into them with the biggest monkey of them all off his back.
Ultimately though, I think he'll fall just short in his quest to keep a grip on the Wimbledon trophy.
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Three men who can win the US Open
Although a certain football tournament is destined to overshadow the second golf major of the year, there will still be plenty of interest all over the world in the US Open which gets underway at Pinehurst Number Two tomorrow.
Whilst certain golfers love Augusta and The Masters and others handle the links conditions of Open Championship courses more so than others, the US Open is fiendishly difficult to predict.
This years will be played on a course what can be described as unique in US Open terms. With no rough and browned out fairways, it is set to favour the long hitters as it measures in at 7,562 yards with the Par being just 70.
With Tiger Woods still out injured, the talk is of Phil Mickelson finally getting his hands on a trophy he wants so badly after six near misses in the tournament including at Pinehurst in 1999 or a Rory McIlroy V Adam Scott rivalry truly coming to life.
However, here are three men with longer odds at the bookies who I feel will be in contention come Sunday.
Webb Simpson: The 2012 US Open champion is my main pick for this tournament. He showed magnificent patience and shot making when winning two years ago and that is something you are going to need at Pinehurst, particularly if it is going to be blazing hot.
Not many people shoot 68-68 over the course of a US Open weekend but that is exactly what Simpson did at the Olympic Club. And the 28 year old is coming back into form at just the right time after an indifferent 2014 which has seen him miss the cut at both The Masters and the Players Championship.
However a tie for third at last weeks St Jude Classic suggests Simpson is feeling good about his game again. Blessed with a great ball striking game and a hot putting streak, Simpson has all the attributes to tame Pinehurst and collect that trophy for the second time in three years.
You can back him at a best price of 45/1.
Matt Kuchar: Anyone that has had the 'pleasure' of listening to me talk about golf for the last couple of years knows that I'm utterly convinced Kuchar will be a Major winner some day.
And whilst Webb Simpson might be my main pick this week, I fully expect Kuchar to be in the mix come Sunday. He might not be the longest hitter, but he hits two out of every three fairways as well as a similar amount of greens in regulation. He's also sixth in the scrambling stats on the PGA Tour this season, a talent that is required at any US Open course, no matter the layout.
Unlike Simpson, Kuchar has enjoyed a very impressive 2014, winning the Heritage a week after finishing in the top five at The Masters and before that he had enjoyed top four finishes at both the Houston and Texas Opens.
There is a school of thought that Kuchar is too nice to win a major, but if he was so nice he wouldn't even want to put himself in contention the amount of times he does. With a great iron game that will give him plenty of birdie chances and the fact that he is in fine form, Kuchar is worth a bet at a best priced 28/1 currently.
Henrik Stenson: The man from Sweden who enjoyed a sensational 2013 has found the going a bit tougher in 2014 but this is a course that should suit his long hitting and he is coming into some form at the right time.
He isn't getting any younger having turned 38 in April and will be keen to lift a first Major sooner rather than later. He finished in the top three at both The Open Championship and PGA Championship last year as well as completing a historic double by winning the PGA Tour's Fed Ex Cup series as well as the European Tour's Race to Dubai, becoming the first player to do so.
As a former winner of The Players Championship, the World Matchplay Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic, the current World Number Two is a man for the big occasion.
With top ten finishes recently in his homeland at the Nordea Masters, at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship and in China, Stenson is on the prowl for a win and a US Open course with no rough and ideal for great driving might just suit him. You can back him at 28/1 as well.
Of course, the US Open has thrown up some surprise winners over the years including Michael Campbell at Pinehurst No 2 in 2005, so I could be way off with my tips. But I believe the three men above have the game to tame Pinehurst and be in with a shot at glory come the back nine on Sunday.
Whilst certain golfers love Augusta and The Masters and others handle the links conditions of Open Championship courses more so than others, the US Open is fiendishly difficult to predict.
This years will be played on a course what can be described as unique in US Open terms. With no rough and browned out fairways, it is set to favour the long hitters as it measures in at 7,562 yards with the Par being just 70.
With Tiger Woods still out injured, the talk is of Phil Mickelson finally getting his hands on a trophy he wants so badly after six near misses in the tournament including at Pinehurst in 1999 or a Rory McIlroy V Adam Scott rivalry truly coming to life.
However, here are three men with longer odds at the bookies who I feel will be in contention come Sunday.
Webb Simpson: The 2012 US Open champion is my main pick for this tournament. He showed magnificent patience and shot making when winning two years ago and that is something you are going to need at Pinehurst, particularly if it is going to be blazing hot.
Not many people shoot 68-68 over the course of a US Open weekend but that is exactly what Simpson did at the Olympic Club. And the 28 year old is coming back into form at just the right time after an indifferent 2014 which has seen him miss the cut at both The Masters and the Players Championship.
However a tie for third at last weeks St Jude Classic suggests Simpson is feeling good about his game again. Blessed with a great ball striking game and a hot putting streak, Simpson has all the attributes to tame Pinehurst and collect that trophy for the second time in three years.
You can back him at a best price of 45/1.
Matt Kuchar: Anyone that has had the 'pleasure' of listening to me talk about golf for the last couple of years knows that I'm utterly convinced Kuchar will be a Major winner some day.
And whilst Webb Simpson might be my main pick this week, I fully expect Kuchar to be in the mix come Sunday. He might not be the longest hitter, but he hits two out of every three fairways as well as a similar amount of greens in regulation. He's also sixth in the scrambling stats on the PGA Tour this season, a talent that is required at any US Open course, no matter the layout.
Unlike Simpson, Kuchar has enjoyed a very impressive 2014, winning the Heritage a week after finishing in the top five at The Masters and before that he had enjoyed top four finishes at both the Houston and Texas Opens.
There is a school of thought that Kuchar is too nice to win a major, but if he was so nice he wouldn't even want to put himself in contention the amount of times he does. With a great iron game that will give him plenty of birdie chances and the fact that he is in fine form, Kuchar is worth a bet at a best priced 28/1 currently.
Henrik Stenson: The man from Sweden who enjoyed a sensational 2013 has found the going a bit tougher in 2014 but this is a course that should suit his long hitting and he is coming into some form at the right time.
He isn't getting any younger having turned 38 in April and will be keen to lift a first Major sooner rather than later. He finished in the top three at both The Open Championship and PGA Championship last year as well as completing a historic double by winning the PGA Tour's Fed Ex Cup series as well as the European Tour's Race to Dubai, becoming the first player to do so.
As a former winner of The Players Championship, the World Matchplay Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic, the current World Number Two is a man for the big occasion.
With top ten finishes recently in his homeland at the Nordea Masters, at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship and in China, Stenson is on the prowl for a win and a US Open course with no rough and ideal for great driving might just suit him. You can back him at 28/1 as well.
Of course, the US Open has thrown up some surprise winners over the years including Michael Campbell at Pinehurst No 2 in 2005, so I could be way off with my tips. But I believe the three men above have the game to tame Pinehurst and be in with a shot at glory come the back nine on Sunday.
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Five teams to watch at the World Cup
With the 2014 World Cup kicking off in Brazil this Thursday, excitement has reached fever pitch levels among football fans across the globe as they eagerly await the first match between Brazil and Croatia.
That will set the ball rolling on a month of football which is certain to provide high drama, wonderful goals and lots of talking points. For the past few weeks, everyone and their dog has given their predictions on what the outcome will be in Brazil come the final on Sunday 13th July.
Rather than do that, here are five teams I reckon you should keep an eye on for different reasons during the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil: The hosts may seem an obvious choice, but it is always interesting to see how the hosts do, no matter the quality of their team. The 2014 host nation also happen to be the favourites for the trophy and it will be fascinating to see how they cope with that pressure.
Despite seemingly picking up a knock in training, Neymar is fit and raring to go for their opening match against Croatia on Thursday evening and a lot will rest on the Barcelona man's shoulders. At the age of just 22, he has already scored 31 goals in 49 matches for his country and now a nation expects.
After an indifferent first season at Barcelona, there is no doubting Neymar will want to prove he is one of the best in the world, but if Brazil are to win the World Cup for a sixth time, then he is going to need help.
With 2002 World Cup winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari in charge, the Brazilians have a manager who has quite literally being there, done it and lifted the World Cup. But does he have enough depth this time? The one- named Fred, Jo and Hulk aren't exactly Emile Heskey esque when it comes to finishing but compared to other nations, in particular their South American rivals Argentina, it won't strike fear into the opposition.
This isn't a bad Brazilian squad by any means as it features plenty stars from all over Europe's top leagues, but I'm just not convinced this is a World Cup winning squad. Can they prove me wrong?
Colombia: Even without the lethal finishing of Radamel Falcao, Colombia are another South American side that should be watched with interest this summer. Blessed with a good group draw where they will come up against Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan in group C, they should be confident. None of those teams will be push overs, but Colombia will be very keen to make an impression on their first World Cup in 16 years.
They finished 2nd in the South American qualifying group (which Brazil didn't compete in as hosts), behind Argentina collecting 30 points from 16 games. With the talent of Jackson Martinez and James Rodriguez in particular, Colombia play a lovely brand of football that could catch many teams unaware this summer.
Helped by having a top goalkeeper in Nice's David Ospina, experience such as captain, 38 year old Mario Yepes and the confidence to do well in the Brazilian climate, then a last 16 tie against Uruguay, Italy or England would be wonderful to watch and in the knockout stages of the World Cup, anything is possible.
England: Roy Hodgson's men are proving more difficult by the day for me to predict how they will do in this World Cup and that is why they make my list of five teams to watch. One minute I think they will be soundly beaten by Italy and Uruguay and possibly even by the vastly under-rated Costa Rica, then the next I reckon some of their youngsters could spring a surprise on some of the top nations.
Usually England make hard work of relatively easy groups, but they can't afford to do that this time thanks to their draw in Group D. The first game against Italy I suspect will be a cagey affair but if Hodgson wants to win, then I think he has to be bold and start some of these youngsters like Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley who will be eager to shine on the biggest stage of them all.
Having failed to break down a ten man Honduras on Saturday, all signs point to an early exit for them in a lot of people's eyes but I wouldn't be surprised to see them scrape through to the quarter finals.
France: Like England, France are one of the European nations who are being written off by most people before the tournament starts. And much like England, I think that's why Didier Deschamps squad will be worth watching.
Warming up with a thumping 8-0 win over Jamaica, France also enjoyed a successful qualifying campaign, only losing once to Spain before beating Ukraine 5-0 on aggregate in the play-offs. And with a fresh squad, the memories of a disastrous 2010 World Cup are long gone from the memory, although Les Blues will be keen to atone for that with a good run in Brazil.
On paper, Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras don't present the hardest of challenges to France, certainly compared to the rest of the major European nations. Whilst losing star man Franck Ribery was a big blow, there is still enough talent in this French squad for them to make an impression on the tournament. With the fire power of Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Greizmann backed up by the superb midfield talents of Paul Pogba and Mathieu Valbuena, France will not be short of creating chances.
A World Cup winner as a player in 1998, Deschamps has what it takes to inspire his players for big games and one thing is certain when it comes to France; it won't be dull viewing.
Belgium: My final side to keep an eye on is Marc Wilmots highly rated Belgian side. There has been a lot of hype around the country's national team for a few years now and they are expected to deliver big time in Brazil.
They strolled through qualifying, winning eight of their ten games including two against Scotland and only conceding four in the process. Now comes the real test though as they participate in their first finals since 2002.
They've been handed a favourable draw in Group H with Algeria, Russia and South Korea providing the opposition. Not three easy matches by any means, but with the quality they have Belgium should finish top of that group.
But will they then fall at the first hurdle? Despite having world class talent in all areas of the pitch, from goalkeeper Thibuat Courtois, to defenders Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen, to Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel in midfield and Romelu Lukaku up front, this is a massive test for Wilmots side.
They have been talked up so much, they might well panic on the big stage in Brazil and their first knock out game is likely to be against Portugal or Germany so there is a distinct possibility they will be coming home early.
There is a lot of individual talent in this Belgian team, the finest to come out of the country in a generation, but the big question is do they believe they can really go all the way?
There are 27 other teams competing in Brazil and I'm sure each and everyone one of them will have us talking at some point over the next month. It's time to sit back and enjoy a festival of football.
That will set the ball rolling on a month of football which is certain to provide high drama, wonderful goals and lots of talking points. For the past few weeks, everyone and their dog has given their predictions on what the outcome will be in Brazil come the final on Sunday 13th July.
Rather than do that, here are five teams I reckon you should keep an eye on for different reasons during the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil: The hosts may seem an obvious choice, but it is always interesting to see how the hosts do, no matter the quality of their team. The 2014 host nation also happen to be the favourites for the trophy and it will be fascinating to see how they cope with that pressure.
Despite seemingly picking up a knock in training, Neymar is fit and raring to go for their opening match against Croatia on Thursday evening and a lot will rest on the Barcelona man's shoulders. At the age of just 22, he has already scored 31 goals in 49 matches for his country and now a nation expects.
After an indifferent first season at Barcelona, there is no doubting Neymar will want to prove he is one of the best in the world, but if Brazil are to win the World Cup for a sixth time, then he is going to need help.
With 2002 World Cup winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari in charge, the Brazilians have a manager who has quite literally being there, done it and lifted the World Cup. But does he have enough depth this time? The one- named Fred, Jo and Hulk aren't exactly Emile Heskey esque when it comes to finishing but compared to other nations, in particular their South American rivals Argentina, it won't strike fear into the opposition.
This isn't a bad Brazilian squad by any means as it features plenty stars from all over Europe's top leagues, but I'm just not convinced this is a World Cup winning squad. Can they prove me wrong?
Colombia: Even without the lethal finishing of Radamel Falcao, Colombia are another South American side that should be watched with interest this summer. Blessed with a good group draw where they will come up against Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan in group C, they should be confident. None of those teams will be push overs, but Colombia will be very keen to make an impression on their first World Cup in 16 years.
They finished 2nd in the South American qualifying group (which Brazil didn't compete in as hosts), behind Argentina collecting 30 points from 16 games. With the talent of Jackson Martinez and James Rodriguez in particular, Colombia play a lovely brand of football that could catch many teams unaware this summer.
Helped by having a top goalkeeper in Nice's David Ospina, experience such as captain, 38 year old Mario Yepes and the confidence to do well in the Brazilian climate, then a last 16 tie against Uruguay, Italy or England would be wonderful to watch and in the knockout stages of the World Cup, anything is possible.
England: Roy Hodgson's men are proving more difficult by the day for me to predict how they will do in this World Cup and that is why they make my list of five teams to watch. One minute I think they will be soundly beaten by Italy and Uruguay and possibly even by the vastly under-rated Costa Rica, then the next I reckon some of their youngsters could spring a surprise on some of the top nations.
Usually England make hard work of relatively easy groups, but they can't afford to do that this time thanks to their draw in Group D. The first game against Italy I suspect will be a cagey affair but if Hodgson wants to win, then I think he has to be bold and start some of these youngsters like Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley who will be eager to shine on the biggest stage of them all.
Having failed to break down a ten man Honduras on Saturday, all signs point to an early exit for them in a lot of people's eyes but I wouldn't be surprised to see them scrape through to the quarter finals.
France: Like England, France are one of the European nations who are being written off by most people before the tournament starts. And much like England, I think that's why Didier Deschamps squad will be worth watching.
Warming up with a thumping 8-0 win over Jamaica, France also enjoyed a successful qualifying campaign, only losing once to Spain before beating Ukraine 5-0 on aggregate in the play-offs. And with a fresh squad, the memories of a disastrous 2010 World Cup are long gone from the memory, although Les Blues will be keen to atone for that with a good run in Brazil.
On paper, Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras don't present the hardest of challenges to France, certainly compared to the rest of the major European nations. Whilst losing star man Franck Ribery was a big blow, there is still enough talent in this French squad for them to make an impression on the tournament. With the fire power of Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Greizmann backed up by the superb midfield talents of Paul Pogba and Mathieu Valbuena, France will not be short of creating chances.
A World Cup winner as a player in 1998, Deschamps has what it takes to inspire his players for big games and one thing is certain when it comes to France; it won't be dull viewing.
Belgium: My final side to keep an eye on is Marc Wilmots highly rated Belgian side. There has been a lot of hype around the country's national team for a few years now and they are expected to deliver big time in Brazil.
They strolled through qualifying, winning eight of their ten games including two against Scotland and only conceding four in the process. Now comes the real test though as they participate in their first finals since 2002.
They've been handed a favourable draw in Group H with Algeria, Russia and South Korea providing the opposition. Not three easy matches by any means, but with the quality they have Belgium should finish top of that group.
But will they then fall at the first hurdle? Despite having world class talent in all areas of the pitch, from goalkeeper Thibuat Courtois, to defenders Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen, to Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel in midfield and Romelu Lukaku up front, this is a massive test for Wilmots side.
They have been talked up so much, they might well panic on the big stage in Brazil and their first knock out game is likely to be against Portugal or Germany so there is a distinct possibility they will be coming home early.
There is a lot of individual talent in this Belgian team, the finest to come out of the country in a generation, but the big question is do they believe they can really go all the way?
There are 27 other teams competing in Brazil and I'm sure each and everyone one of them will have us talking at some point over the next month. It's time to sit back and enjoy a festival of football.
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