LONDON, ENGLAND -- The two year wait for golf's biggest team match play event is over. On the 19th of September two teams comprising the top golfers from the United States and Europe will meet at the Valhalla Country Club in Kentucky to contest the 37th Ryder Cup.
The event will represent the fruition of 12 months of grueling preparation for the event by the participating players, many of whom regard an appearance in the Ryder Cup as one of the most prestigious achievements in the sport.
Team Europe
The European Ryder Cup team goes into the 2008 Ryder Cup in search of its fourth consecutive Ryder Cup win. On paper the team looks more than capable of consigning the once invincible American team to their fourth Ryder Cup defeat in eight years.
The team boasts players of the caliber of Padraig Harrington, winner of two majors in 2008, Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood, and the gifted Sergio Garcia. The European Ryder Cup team also balances experience with youth, with six Ryder Cup veterans linking up with six of the most promising players in European golf.
However, the preparations of the European Ryder Cup team have not been without incident. European team captain Nick Faldo has had to weather a storm of controversy since announcing his two wildcard picks, with many questioning the exclusion of an in-form Darren Clarke in favour of England's Ian Poulter.
Team America
After decades of going into the Ryder Cup as outright favourites, the American Ryder Cup team will enter the 2008 Ryder Cup in the unaccustomed position of underdogs. This is based partly on the absence of Tiger Woods, as well as a series of lukewarm performances by American players in the 2008 golf season.
However, all is not doom and gloom in the American Ryder Cup camp, with the team still boasting an impressive selection of golf's biggest names. Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk form the foundation of the American Ryder Cup team, backed by the precocious talents of a crop of PGA young guns including the likes of Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan.
The Americans also have home advantage at the 2008 Ryder Cup, a factor that can't be ignored in a tournament where the galleries have so often been inseparable from the outcome of action on the greens.
2008 Ryder Cup Betting
The 2008 Ryder Cup represents the year's final opportunity to bet on a golf event of international significance. With the majors out of the way, fans can look forward to betting on the world's top golfers playing in various exciting match play formats.
With nothing much separating the two Ryder Cup teams in the outright winner betting markets, many golf fans will be exploring the opportunities offered by betting on the various foursomes, fourballs and singles matches that will be played at the 2008 Ryder Cup.
About the Ryder Cup
For more information on the 2008 Ryder Cup, visit the Ryder Cup site. Packed with information on the world's biggest team match play event, the Ryder Cup site offers daily news updates, a guide to the Valhalla Country Club and profiles of the two teams contesting the event.
As an affiliate of respected English bookmaker William Hill, the Ryder Cup site is also able to offer all visitors the opportunity to try their hand at Ryder Cup betting with a £25 free bet. The site also features a useful guide to getting started with Ryder Cup betting.
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