Survey reveals fans expect Rose to repeat gold medal form at Ryder Cup

A nationwide Ryder Cup golf survey commissioned by American Golf, to coincide with the countdown to the 2016 Ryder Cup has revealed that UK golf fans believe that it will be Englishman Justin Rose and American Jordan Spieth who will be the driving forces behind their teams on the course this year.

When asked who they expect to perform best for Team Europe 36 per cent said Rose, 30 per cent Stenson with McIlroy third with 12 per cent of the vote. When the same questions was posed regarding team USA 23 per cent said Spieth would be their most important player, 19 per cent plumped for Zach Johnson and 15 per cent named old- hand Phil Mickleson.

The survey also revealed that fans thought that colourful Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez should be the next Team Europe captain for the Ryder Cup set to be staged in France in 2018. 36 per cent of survey respondents believe that Jimenez is the right man to lead the Europeans to Ryder Cup glory in 2018 whilst 20 per cent favoured England’s Lee Westwood and 10 per cent Sweden’s Thomas Bjorn. Jimenez, who has appeared in four Ryder Cups, has openly stated his desire to take the captaincy.

Further key survey findings are as follows:

Who is the greatest ever European Ryder Cup player?

  1. Seve Ballesteros 51.7%
  2. Ian Poulter 21%
  3. Colin Montgomerie12%

Who is the greatest ever US Ryder Cup player?

  1. Jack Nicklaus 47%
  2. Tom Watson 19.7%
  3. Arnold Palmer 10%

What is the most memorable Ryder Cup ‘moment’?

  1. The ‘Miracle at Medina’ (Poulter’s 4 straight birdies to turn the game) 44%
  2. Darren Clarke’s emotional first tee reception after the death of his wife 20%
  3. The ‘Concession’ (Nicklaus offers Jacklin a half to tie the match) 9.7%

What’s the most annoying thing about following a Ryder Cup in the US?

  1. Noise and bad sportsmanship of the supporters 62%
  2. The time difference 23.6%
  3. American showmanship 6.3%

Daniel Gathercole, Marketing Director, American Golf, said: “As excitement builds towards this year’s hotly anticipated 41st Ryder Cup, we thought it would be timely to gather some insight from golf enthusiasts here in the UK. Whilst we’re named American Golf we will be rooting heavily for Darren Clarke’s Team Europe boys and hoping players like Justin and Rory rise to the occasion alongside up and coming stars like Matt Fitzpatrick.”

 For further information on American Golf go to www.americangolf.co.uk

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A graduate of Cardiff University’s highly respected post-graduate magazine journalism course, Andy has successfully edited four different publications across the B2B, trade and consumer sectors. He is skilled at all aspects of the magazine process in addition to editing websites and managing social media channels.