USA Ryder Cup watch

published 5 August 2008

The Americans in contention for Valhalla Stewart Cink

Ryder Cup Standing: 2

The world number two will be looking to take full advantage of another Major without Tiger Woods. Two wins this year could suggest Lefty is on track to repeat his 2005 success, but he is without a Major since his dramatic implosion on the 72nd hole of the 2006 US Open. Mickelson has been showing signs of developing a more consistent long game since he began working with Butch Harmon last April but his late collapse at the WGC at Bridgestone will have done him no good.

The Kentucky native has enjoyed possibly his best season on route to qualifying for the Ryder Cup in his home city. But he has not played in any Majors this year, after famously deciding not to travel to the Open or the US Open in favour of smaller tournaments in which he felkt he had a better chance and could cement his Ryder Cup place. Perry has the ability to make a lot of birdies, but doubts remain over his ability to perform on the big stage with just five top-10s in Majors throughout his career.

The back problems that saw him have to withdraw from last year s PGA Championship are seemingly at an end and Mediate is enjoying one of his best seasons on Tour. Lost in a playoff to the one-legged Tiger Woods at the US Open and followed that with his first top-20 at the Open since 1996. Mediate is a firm crowd favourite who will have plenty of support in Kentucky and is desperate to play in his first Ryder Cup.

One of a large crop of talented young American golfers, Mahan may well be the first to make a breakthrough in a Major Championship. He is showing signs of playing himself into form with a second place finish in the Travellers Championship at the end of June. He hits a lot of greens, and if he starts to convert some of his birdie chances he could be dangerous. He has made himself infamous in Ryder Cup circles after a recent outburst in which he allegedly called the players slaves during the Ryder Cup week.

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