Down to the Wire

The Ryder Cup heads into Sunday's singles matches with the Americans leading 9-7 over Europe. The first two days have been filled with drama, superb shot making, and clutch putting. Looking at the matches tomorrow, it is hard to find the 5.5 points USA will need to re-capture the Cup. Here is a look at the match ups:

12:03pm: Sergio Garcia vs. Anthony Kim: Garcia has been the ultimate Ryder Cup player throughout his career, and he started to find his form Saturday after struggling though Friday. This could be the match of the day as Garcia faces Kim who has shown little signs of nerves in his first ever Ryder Cup. Garcia's experience should be the difference in this one. PICK: GARCIA

12:14: Hunter Mahan vs. Paul Casey: Mahan has possibly been America's best player thus far, and he saved Phil Mickelson on Saturday afternoon with one clutch iron shot after another. Casey, on the other hand, has struggled. He was one of Nick Faldo's captain's picks, but he has provided little to Europe so far. This one could be over early as Mahan stays hot. PICK: MAHAN

12:25: Robert Karlsson vs. Justin Leonard: This provides fans with another great pairing. Leonard has been putting as well as anyone this weekend, and Karlsson is one of the best iron players in the field. This should come down to the wire, and it is too close for me to call. Leonard was a huge factor in the Americans last Ryder Cup win in 1999, sinking a 40 foot putt to halve a match, and guarantee the US a win. Paul Azinger might need similar heroics from Leonard on Sunday if he wants to re-gain the cup. PICK: DRAW

12:36: Justin Rose vs. Phil Mickelson: Mickelson has played well in this Ryder Cup, except for a few holes here and there where he has gotten loose off the tee. He blew an opportunity to take a lead and win his afternoon match on Saturday when he missed a six footer on 17. Rose has never developed into the golfer people thought he would be when he first broke on the scene. Still, he has been solid in Ryder Cups, and he should have the proper mental make-up to take on Mickelson on Sunday. This won't matter if Mickelson keeps playing the way he has been playing. PICK: MICKELSON

12:47: Henrik Stenson vs. Kenny Perry: Neither of these players has been especially on fire so far, and it seems as though the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd might be taking a toll on Perry. Stenson is normally one of the better ball strikers around, but he has been on and off so far. This would be a huge match for America if Perry can start fast. It would get the crowd riled up, and could give the US the boost it needs to get over the top. PICK: STENSON

12:58: Oliver Wilson vs. Boo Weekley: Weekley has become my favorite golfer during this event, and his rah-rah attitude as gotten under some of the Europeans skin, most noticeably Lee Westwood. Weekley has hit tons of great iron shots, and he has played under immense pressure, since his partner JB Holmes has provided virtually nothing to the team. Wilson was a little known player coming into this event, and remains a little known player although he has played relatively well. There is just no way I am going against Weekley and his devil-may-care attitude. PICK: WEEKLEY

1:09: Soren Hansen vs. JB Holmes: Holmes is another hometown boy, but his play the first two days has some people wondering whether or not Azinger made a mistake when he made Holmes a captain's pick. Holmes is longer than anyone off the tee, but his iron play is poor, and his putting is streaky. Holmes needs to start fast tomorrow, get the crowd going, and keep the pressure on Hansen by booming his drives down the middle. PICK: HANSEN

1:20: Miguel Angel Jimenez vs. Jim Furyk: Jimenez has struggled in this Cup, and he has never won a singles match in prior Cups. He is normally a terrific ball striker, but his play has been off, and on Sunday he will be facing a veteran American who has hit several clutch iron shots and putts over the last two days. I questioned Furyk's toughness and mental fortitude heading into this event, but he has answered all of my questions the past few days, and I expect him to have a big day Sunday. PICK: FURYK

1:31: Graeme McDowell vs. Stewart Cink: Cink has struggled to get things going, while McDowell has come on and played lights out. McDowell spent the 2006 Ryder Cup doing some broadcasting for the BBC, and he made it a personal goal to make it onto this team. Now that he is on this team, he is taking advantage of every opportunity by sinking putt after putt, playing a crucial role in Europe's comeback from Friday's deficit. If these two men keep playing like they have the past two days, McDowell should win handily. PICK: McDOWELL

1:42: Ian Poulter vs. Steve Stricker: Speaking of great matches, Poulter has shown fire and passion in earning three points for Europe over the last two days. Poulter was the much criticized captain's pick of Nick Faldo, but he has certainly made Faldo look smart as his play Saturday was unreal. Stricker is another player I had little confidence in going into this event, but his play Saturday changed all of that. I mistook Stricker's soft-spoken ways and genuine niceness for weakness. His putt on 18 Saturday erased any of those feelings. This is another match that is too close for me to call. PICK: DRAW

1:53: Lee Westwood vs. Ben Curtis: Westwood has continued to be one of the best Ryder Cup players ever, despite losing Saturday afternoon for the first time in 12 matches. Curtis has struggled mightily throughout the event, compiling only one birdie over his two matches Friday and Saturday. Curtis will need to get hot quick if he wants any chance against Westwood. I don't see this match staying close as Europe closes the gap. PICK: WESTWOOD

2:04: Padraig Harrington vs. Chad Campbell: Harrington, the three time major winner, has struggled in this Cup, but Faldo has him anchoring the team on Sunday, hoping his experience helps him pull out a victory. Campbell has played ok so far, but he will need to be much sharper to beat Harrington. If Harrington is holing putts, he is as good as anyone out there, but he has been cold from tee to green during this event, and there is no guarantee that will change tomorrow. That being said, I don't know how you can go with Campbell over Harrington in this situation. PICK: HARRINGTON

Well, if it plays out like I picked them, it will end 14-14 which means Europe will get to retain the Cup. The Americans will need some of their struggling players to step up and find a way to at least earn some halves on Sunday. If they can do this, the US will have a shot. Either way, it will likely come down to the last pairing on Sunday, and if it is anything like the action we saw Saturday, we are in for a treat.