Fantasy Golf: Ryder Cup preview

It’s a very special week for the Today’s Golfer fantasy game as we offer a one-off Ryder Cup game with £4,500 of prizes up for grabs.

You can log in with your normal details from the regular game or enter for free if not already registered. You still have to pick a six-man team with your $15m budget and you must have at least two players from each team.

The strongest teams in Ryder Cup history will face-off at Medinah as all 24 players representing Europe and the USA rank inside the top 35 in the world rankings.

Medinah’s #3 Course is a par 72 that stretches to 7,668 yards and American Captain Davis Love III has asked for the rough to be cut down to favour his ‘bombers’. Distance is important but trees will punish anything that’s too wayward.

The greens will be fast but most of the European team play regularly in America so that shouldn’t cause too many problems, although matches are often decided by who holes the important putts at the right time.

Of course, the Ryder Cup is like no other week on the golfing calendar so previous experience and matchplay know-how are notable factors.

Unlimited transfers are permitted between each day, but not between sessions on the same day. Please note that player values are different in the Ryder Cup game from the regular game.

Here is the TG team for all three days of the Ryder Cup.

Sergio Garcia, $2.5m
The Spaniard missed out in 2010 so Olazabal was delighted to see him qualify automatically this year. He’s won 14 of his 24 Ryder Cup matches, losing only six, and enters on good form, including a win at the Wyndham Championship in mid-August. Has previously formed a deadly partnership with Lee Westwood.

Dustin Johnson, $2.5m
The big-hitter has justified his captain’s pick by going T3-T4-T6-T10 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Play-offs. This will be his second appearance, having lost three and one won at Celtic Manor but he has the capacity to make a lot of birdies on a tough Medinah course.

Graeme McDowell, $2.5m
G-Mac has won both his singles matches in the Ryder Cup and is likely to partner world number one Rory McIlroy in both pairs formats. He’s had an extra week to rest and prepare after missing out on the Tour Championship, which could prove a blessing in disguise for such an intense week.

Phil Mickelson, $2.0m
Lefty has only won 32% of his 34 Ryder Cup matches but the changes to Medinah should suit his game and his putting has been formidable since adopting the claw grip a few weeks ago. He comes in on a run of T4-T2-T15 finishes and is likely to play in at least four of five sessions.

Ian Poulter, $2.5m
The Englishman always finds another gear in matchplay, especially the Ryder Cup. He’s won the WGC Accenture Match Play and Volvo World Match Play in the last three years and has won eight of his 11 Ryder Cup matches. He will likely partner a close friend, the returning Justin Rose.

Steve Stricker, $3.0m
America seem to have finally found a partner for Tiger Woods in the experience Stricker. The pair won four of four in the 2009 Presidents Cup, two of three in the last Ryder Cup. He’s one of the best putters on the PGA Tour and has a win and a loss in his two Ryder Cup singles matches.

> You can sign up, select your team and see the format and prizes by clicking here.