By Sean Goff
The 39th Ryder Cup is just four days away and the players are starting to get jiggy.
Justin Rose was second to golf’s latest multi-millionaire Brandt Snedeker in the Tour Championship at the weekend with the American Ryder Cup wild card pick trousering a $7m bonus as he also claimed the FedEx Championship.
Rose has risen to No5 in the world but was quick to switch the focus to Friday, and a likely pairing with fellow Brit Ian Poulter.
It's time to officially get excited about the Ryder Cup!! What a week ahead!! #avit as my boy @IanJamesPoulter would say!—
Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) September 24, 2012
Not that he usually needs it but Poulter has gotten all the motivation he needs from US team member Steve Stricker. The American is quoted as saying that Poulter’s ‘bug-eyed’ screaming at Valhalla, Kentucky, in 2008 drove him crazy.
Telegraph: Ryder Cup 2012: Europe's Ian Poulter is the one player I don't want to lose to, says USA's Stev… j.mp/OUU5nP #golf—
Golf tweets (@_golf) September 24, 2012
This won’t come as a surprise to Poulter who knows he’s No1 on America’s hate list after declaring he would ‘deliver his point’ against Matt Kuchar before the singles began at Celtic Manor two years ago. Tiger Woods was incensed at the lack of respect but Poulter made good on his promise winning 5&4 – prompting fellow European team members to christen him the ‘The Postman’.
So it begins: @IanJamesPoulter wants to take on Tiger but admits angry Americans are out to kick his a*** at Ryder Cup metro.co.uk/sport/912997-i…—
Dave Gurney (@davejgurney) September 24, 2012
The Englishman, not known for his lack of confidence wants to tame Tiger in the singles and 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie could live with that – especially if it keeps World No1 Rory McIlroy from another head-to-head with Woods.
Ryder Cup 2012: keep Rory McIlroy well away from Tiger Woods in Medinah showdown, says Colin Montgom people.iwantto.be/news/869303—
Tiger Megafan (@tiger_megafan) September 24, 2012
Monty who put up with years of ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ taunts on the US Tour has warned that things could get nasty as the raucous American crowd try to become the 13th man in the US Team come the weekend.
This Ryder Cup could turn nasty… just like the Battle of Brookline, warns Monty fb.me/1vCzauZ9Q—
IrishOpen (@The_Irish_Opens) September 24, 2012
The temperature is rising ahead of tee-off at Medinah on Friday.
