Ryder Cup 2008, September 19-21, Sky Sports 1, bet here

The 2008 Ryder Cup is still over a month away, but you should start betting early. The four majors have been and gone and although you would think that Irishman Padraig Harrington’s dominance in Tiger Woods’ absence look promising for Europe, it could prove to be their undoing. Here’s why:

» Over the course of the last six Ryder Cups, on the five occasions that US golfers have won more majors than European golfers during that year, they have gone on to lose the Ryder Cup.

» This year, Europe have won more

Majors than USA, with Tiger Woods winning the US Open and Irishman Padraig Harrington claiming both the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

» This will be the first time ever that Europe have the Major advantage over the USA in a Ryder Cup year but if anything it could prove a negative. On the last occasion that Europe won as many majors as the United States in a Ryder Cup year (1999), the US won the Ryder Cup.

For a full Ryder Cup preview, head to chickendinner

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