The average world ranking of the American Ryder Cup roster is 16. The average world ranking of the European roster is 20. You would think that the USA side would be favored in the 2014 Ryder Cup, but you’d be wrong. The Euros should be heavy favorites when the first ball is struck Friday morning. They’re playing a home game in Scotland and while their cumulative world ranking may be worse, they have four of the top six players in the world.
2014 Ryder Cup odds: Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter lead heavily favored European team
The Americans are underdogs over in Scotland, but at least it doesn’t look as bad as it was a month ago.
Mike Ehrmann
The Americans have made this a more even contest, on paper, with some of their play over the past six weeks. At the PGA Championship, it was looking like this would be one of the most lopsided competitions in favor of the Euros in the history of the Cup. Here’s how things looked just over a month ago at Valhalla.
- Aside from Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk, no one was playing well at the summer’s biggest events.
- An American team member hadn’t won on Tour since April’s stop at Harbour Town.
- Tiger Woods was hurt.
- Jason Dufner was hurt.
- Dustin Johnson was just suspended.
- Matt Kuchar was withdrawing from the season’s final major with a bad back.
It was so bleak, you figured we were looking at a 2002 or 2006-type European blowout (18.5 to 9.5 points). But some steady play from the American roster has improved their world rankings, Kuchar got healthy, and the Tiger question was settled early and without much drama as he took himself out of it. So the PGA of America should be feeling better about their team, but a Cup victory would certainly still be hailed as an upset win. It would be the first American win on European soil since 1993.
The home advantage for the European side has been worth about three points, according to Brandel Chamblee. So more star power at the top, a roster loaded with guys with winning records from their recent Cup dominance, and a home game add up to the Euros being decided favorites for the bookies. In some spots, the Euros are 4/7 favorites to retain the Cup. Bovada lists them as -155 to win it and the USA at +160 (a tie is +1100).
There are 28 matches and 28 points up for grabs. There is no sudden death playoff so if there’s a tie, the Europeans retain the cup. So Bovada has them as slightly heavier -180 favorites to “lift the trophy.” Any way you slice it -- whether it’s the Euros to win, retain the cup, giving the US side points, or betting on the final score -- it’s the Euros who are the favorites. The longest odds offered are a USA 22-6 win at 400/1.
In addition to all the odds for each team, there are different odds for each player and how many points they will individually put up on the board. Here are some of those early in the week, via Bovada:
| Top American Points Winner | Odds | Top European Points Winner | Odds |
| Phil Mickelson | 6/1 | Rory McIlroy | 7/2 |
| Rickie Fowler | 6/1 | Ian Poulter | 6/1 |
| Jim Furyk | 8/1 | Sergio Garcia | 6/1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8/1 | Justin Rose | 7/1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 8/1 | Henrik Stenson | 8/1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 8/1 | Graeme McDowell | 10/1 |
| Bubba Watson | 10/1 | Martin Kaymer | 10/1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 10/1 | Lee Westwood | 12/1 |
| Webb Simpson | 12/1 | Thomas Bjørn | 16/1 |
| Zach Johnson | 14/1 | Jamie Donaldson | 20/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 16/1 | Victor Dubuisson | 20/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 25/1 | Stephen Gallacher | 25/1 |
| Top Rookie Points Winner | |||
| USA | Europe | ||
| Jordan Spieth | 5/2 | Jamie Donaldson | 4/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 9/2 | Stephen Gallacher | 5/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 6/1 | Victor Dubuisson | 9/2 |
| Top Captain's Pick Points Winner | |||
| USA | Europe | ||
| Keegan Bradley | 3/1 | Ian Poulter | 2/1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 6/1 | Lee Westwood | 4/1 |
| Webb Simpson | 7/1 | Stephen Gallacher | 9/1 |
