We’ve had this weekend circled on the cal for years and it’s finally here. Baseball’s playoff race, better college football, and USA vs Anyone Who Wants It (Europe). It’s Ryder Cup Weekend. Let’s hear from the Hairy Putter!

The first tees of the Ryder Cup will be pegged at 7:10 AM local time in Farmingdale, NY, and I hope your alarms are set. Bryson and JT will kick things off for the Americans in a matchup that’s sure to produce fireworks against Rahm and Tyrell Hatton. Who needs coffee when Bryson tries to cut the corner with the first shot of the tournament? Long Island iced teas, maybe, just to match the juice onsite at Bethpage.

The rest of what we know for the first session of Day 1 involves the following:

- A ball striking fiesta in Match 2 (Ludvig/Fitz vs. Scottie/Henley) 

- The worst statistical pairing possible according to Data Golf (Morikawa/English), taking on Europe’s strongest pairing (Rory/Tommy)

- The tried, and perhaps tired, pairing of Xander/Cantlay up against the eclectic and potentially lethal combo of Bob/Vik

I’m smelling 2 points a piece before most of the West Coast thinks about breakfast. 

Much has been made of Captain Keegan’s consternation and ultimate decision to keep his golfing talents in the cart and fill out a lineup card (that’s all a captain really does, right?). I have a sense that we’ll know relatively early if this psychological experiment conducted by the PGA of America will pay dividends or not. You can make the argument that Euros are a completely unchanged side if you squint long enough at Rasmus Hojgaard. The continuity is a strategic bet, one reportedly made well before the European triumph in Rome 2 years ago. If the scoreboards show plenty of blue and the crowd flips, suddenly the US might feel its back against the wall on home soil, and the veteran Euros may well relish their roles as villains. 

Of course, the tournament is not won or lost with the first fourball session, but the Bryson/JT nod is a clear signal that Keegan knows a hot start is crucial for the rest of the weekend. What else is crucial, HP? So glad you asked. 

US rookies show up and ball out. Ben Griffin and Cam Young, specifically. These guys are legitimate X-factors, especially if their putters stay hot. 

Speaking of putters, which JT are we gonna see on the greens? This has to make any US fan nervous. 

Will the Euros relish or antagonize the infamous Long Island crowd? There’s a fine line between “fire” and “bitchy”. Rory, Hatton & Rahm come to mind. 

Ben Griffin plays a Maxfli golf ball. Who is his foursomes partner? This story might not captivate anyone else, but it’s a subplot I’ll be monitoring closely. 

Can Scottie atone and assert? He got dog-walked in Rome, and all things U.S. might begin and end with him.

Lastly, I’m fully expecting this thing to go the distance deep into Sunday singles. No Ryder Cup since 2012 has been decided by fewer than 5 points. By all accounts, the setup here at Bethpage is benign (for these guys), and the scales feel balanced like they haven’t in quite some time. 

The whole scene is sitting in a petri dish, waiting to combust one way or another. I’ll be glued to the action and lighting up the group chat with takes all weekend.