Ryder Cup 2014: Friday afternoon predicitons

The Americans bursted out of the gate to a 2.5-1.5 lead after the morning session of the Ryder Cup 2014. Europe took an early 1-0 lead after Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were able to defeat Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5 and 4, but it was all U.S.A. from there.

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U.S.A. Ryder Cup rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed also dominated to a 5 and 4 win over Europeans Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher. Then, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker came back to halve the third match with Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn to make it 1.5-1.5 with one match left to finish. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were able to give the Americans the one point lead after defeating world No. 1 and No. 3 Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Now, the captains Tom Watson and Paul McGinley have set the matches for the afternoon alternate shot session of the Ryder Cup. Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Lee Westwood, Jaimie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell all sat out of the first session and all will play in the second session.

U.S. captain Tom Watson decided to sit rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed after their dominant 5 and 4 win and chose to play Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley who played all-18 holes in a 1-up victory. Whether or not this is the right move will be evident later on, but Spieth and Reed should be on the course after having to play just 14 holes and having plenty of rest between matches. The rookies have serious momentum and should be playing. Mickelson has fatigue to worry about at age 45, and he did have to play 18 tough holes of inconsistent play with Bradley.

Here’s the afternoon session predictions:

Match 5: Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar (U.S.A.) vs. Jaimie Donaldson and Lee Westwood (Europe)

Furyk and Kuchar are a great pairing. Two veteran guys that should mesh well together. I predict Furyk and Kuchar win 2 and 1 in a close match. Westwood will be impressive especially on the greens, but Furyk and Kuchar have such great approach game and when it’s put together, I think they’re unstoppable.

Match 6: Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson (U.S.A.) vs. Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose (Europe)

Stenson and Rose already put together one big win today and they’re going to do it again against America’s weakest pairing in Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson. Stenson and Rose already defeated Watson and Simpson 5 and 4 and they’re going to beat Mahan and Johnson 4 and 3 in an easy victory.

Match 7: Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (U.S.A.) vs. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia (Europe)

This match will end in a halve. Fowler and Walker already halved today against Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn and they’re going to do it again against world No. 1 and 3 in McIlroy and Garcia. McIlroy and Garcia already lost today to the Americans and they’re not going to be able to find a win today. Jimmy Walker will play well again to help the Americans halve a tough match.

Match 8: Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (U.S.A.) vs. Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell (Europe)

Phil Mickeson and Keegan Bradley will be too gassed from their 18-hole match earlier in the day and Dubuisson and McDowell who haven’t yet played today will out play the Americans and win 3 and 2. While this American pairing brought home a key win Friday morning, it should be Spieth and Reed that are playing right now after a short 14-hole win earlier in the day. Mickelson and Bradley were hitting the ball everywhere this morning and that won’t do them any favors in alternate shot.

This will take a 4-4 tie going into Saturday’s matches, making for a very interesting final two days of the Ryder Cup.

More on FanSided.com

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Full 2014 Ryder Cup preview, predictions

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