Friday’s Four-Ball pairings announced: Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker duo dismantled
Captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman announced the pairings for the second day of the President’s Cup which will be a four-ball session at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, who turned out to be the worst performers for the day,
have now been split, something which was likely to happen in wake of their fall against Adam Scott and K.J Choi.
“We were going to do that on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Couples said of putting Woods with Dustin Johnson.
Woods and Stricker who were the invincible combination two years ago at the Harding Park, failed to put up a decent show on the first day. They lost to the International Team with a colossal 7 & 6 and were not able to pull in a single birdie through the
12-hole stretch.
Meanwhile, International Team Captain Norman has also decided to split up Choi and Scott and will be sending in Scott alongside Kyung-tae Kim. Choi will play with celebrated Aussie veteran Geoff Ogilvy.
“K.T. (Kyung-tae Kim) has never played in a north-northwest win,” Norman said, “It’s going to be crucial for him getting direction.”
As per Norman’s strategy, Scott will help out Kim with the selection of shots at the difficult Royal Melbourne layout. Friday’s Four-Ball pairings are as follows,
Match 1 – Bubba Watson-Webb Simpson, U.S. vs. Ernie Els-Ryo Ishikawa, International
Match 2 – Jason Day-Aaron Baddeley, International vs. Tiger Woods-Dustin Johnson, U.S.
Match 3 – Phil Mickelson-Jim Furyk, U.S. vs. Adam Scott-K.T. Kim, International
Match 4 – Geoff Ogilvy-K.J. Choi, International vs. Bill Haas-Nick Watney, U.S.
Match 5 – Steve Stricker-Matt Kuchar, U.S. vs. Y.E. Yang-Robert Allenby, International
Match 6 – Charl Schwartzel-Retief Goosen, International vs. Hunter Mahan-David Toms
US Team won the first day’s proceedings in a thrilling contest, overpowering the opponents with a comprehensive 4-2 in the Foursomes. Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson took over the International Team pair of Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa. Geoff Ogilvy and Charl
Schwartzel were able to half their respective match against the sturdy Hunter Haas and Nick Watney while Aaron Baddeley and top-ranked International player Jason Day also barely managed to half the round against Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.
In yet another thrilling match Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk took the better off Retief Goosen and Robert Allenby with a 4 & 3 while US Team players Hunter Mahan and David Toms defeated Kyung-tae Kim and Y. E Yang with an impressive 6 & 5. Woods and Stricker
was the only US Team pair that lost its match against the strong pair of Scott and Choi.
Couples is also hoping that Mickelson and Furyk will demonstrate more assertive command on the second day’s round. The opening match will feature the same pair which tee-ed on the first day.
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