Sunday's singles in the Ryder Cup often provides plenty of drama but 2021 has delivered a procession and the formality of USA running out comfortable winners begins this evening with Schauffele taking on the under par McIlroy. For many it's another surprising decision by Harrington but this time I'll defend him and say he doesn't have much of a choice. McIlroy is all at sea and sending him out first may be the only chance to get his juices flowing. Put him down the pack when the event is probably over and you're guaranteed a defeat. That being said I can't see a different outcome here up against one of USA's top performers. Schauffele is ice cool and the Olympic Champion should set the home team on a path to a quick and easy victory. 

Cantlay is another who hasn't put a foot wrong to here but may be up against it with Lowry who outside of the two Spaniards has been Europe's leading light. Lowry looks made for the competition and providing his career doesn't take a nosedive he may be a future stalwart of the side. Whilst McIlroy is unlikely to find enough to beat Xander, Lowry looks capable of causing an upset in game two and the betting reflects that. This should be a close one, but one I'd gamble on Lowry pulling out that little bit extra. 

Rahm against Scheffler is the best chance for the Europeans to get blue on the board and I suspect Harrington is delighted with the decision to place Rahm third out. Rahm hasn't been in much trouble all week and I expect his game to simply be too good for the rookie. He will be top European if he manages the win and with the trophy being carved with 'USA' as we speak, European players with something to play for personally may provide the best chance of winning games. Rahm will look to cement his place as one to rely upon in this competition and a haul of 4.5pts would be extremely impressive when the team has been absolutely trounced all week long. 

Further down the pack a top price of 4/5 about Dustin Johnson looks worth snapping up. With the chance of going 5/5 Dustin won't take lightly being the oldest in the squad and I fully expect him to pull it off. Casey has yet to add anything to the points tally and his trip into the stands to sing with the European fans looked like the most he would offer the team this week. This looks a mismatch on the golf played this week and I'd argue Dustin should be closer to 1/2 to win this match. He is playing super stuff and looks unlikely to drop the 100% baton.

We now enter the stage where the tournament will be probably be over and where volatility has played out before, in recent years the matches are played out in good spirit. The Americans by this stage will be desperate to win by a big a margin as possible and again it's a mismatch in terms of contributions this week. Poulter has been disappointing but has a great singles record. He is seriously up against it with Finau however and with the length of the course and the demands, Poulter could find himself in trouble. Finau has been comfortable all week and looks very relaxed. Poulter may indeed have some fight in him to continue that record in what is probably his final hurrah in this event but frankly his golf doesn't look up to the standard of those capable of winning a match against Finau right now. This is suitably priced, but another I expect to go the Americans way. 

We can feel relatively aggrieved having backed Morikawa at 18s top combined, and at 100/1 to win all 5 matches that he got dropped for the one game that Dustin didn't. I had hoped they would go through the card and bar one session where the Open Champion got benched it has went swimmingly. Garcia Top European still has a squeak also but will need some help from Scheffler. A nearly week it looks like on those pre-tournament selections but not without hope just yet.

Schauffele, Lowry, Rahm, Johnson, Finau all to win Singles 23/1

 

Ryder Cup Day Three Tee Times

Sunday 26th September:

  • Xander Schauffele vs Rory McIlroy (4.04pm)
  • Patrick Cantlay vs Shane Lowry (4.15pm)
  • Scottie Scheffler vs Jon Rahm (4.26pm)
  • Bryson DeChambeau vs Sergio Garcia (4.37pm)
  • Collin Morikawa vs Viktor Hovland (4.48pm)
  • Dustin Johnson vs Paul Casey (4.59pm)
  • Brooks Koepka vs Bernd Wiesberger (5.10pm)
  • Tony Finau vs Ian Poulter (5.21pm)
  • Justin Thomas vs Tyrrell Hatton (5.32pm)
  • Harris English vs Lee Westwood (5.43pm)
  • Jordan Spieth vs Tommy Fleetwood (5.54pm)
  • Daniel Berger vs Matt Fitzpatrick (6.05pm)

Ryder Cup Day Three TV Schedule

Main coverage of Day Three of the 2021 Ryder Cup starts from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf.