As the 2012 Ryder Cup (September 28-30) draws closer at Chicago’s historic Medinah Country Club’s #3 Course, the odds-makers in Las Vegas are backing Team USA to hoist the Cup at the conclusion of play. According to the “wise guys,” the Yanks are going to squeak out a tightly contested victory. But, not so fast my friend! For my money, Europe looks like the better team and a solid play at +140.

I believe that the American squad captained by Davis Love III will once again be given its comeuppance by Jose Maria Olazabal’s team from “across the pond.” After all, Team Europe has won six of the last eight Ryder Cups and they come to the “Windy City” with a talent-laden contingent led by world No.1 Rory McIlroy. Based on Ryder Cup records alone 8 of the 12 members on the European squad have winning Ryder Cup records. And the Americans? Hard as it is to believe, the squad doesn’t have a single member with a winning Ryder Cup record.

Will playing on American soil before a rowdy, partisan gathering and having on its team the best putter in the game (Brandt Snedeker) retrieve bragging rights for the Stars and Stripes? Not bloody likely! Long known as the better team in the foursome and four-ball events because of the close, personal friendships that are paired together, the Euro side is also plenty strong for the singles matches; and that, as the British say, will tip the balance in favour of Europe come Sunday night.

Top Wildcard Pick: Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium)

Hey, in any event, we’re only a few days from finding out.

TEAM EUROPE
Nicolas Colsaerts	Luke Donald
Sergio Garcia	Peter Hanson
Martin Kaymer	Paul Lawrie
Graeme McDowell	Rory McIlroy
Francesco Molinari	Ian Poulter
Justin Rose	Lee Westwood

TEAM USA
Keegan Bradley	Jason Dufner
Jim Furyk	Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson	Matt Kuchar
Phil Mickelson	Webb Simpson
Brandt Snedeker	Steve Stricker
Bubba Watson	Tiger Woods

As it happened: At the start of the final day’s play, the U.S. led 10–6 and required 4.5 points to win; Europe required 8 points to retain the cup and 8.5 to win it outright. Europe achieved one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history by winning eight and tying one of the 12 singles matches. The final score was 14.5 – 13.5. It was named by European media covering the event as the “Miracle at Medinah.”