Pairings for Friday's Ryder Cup fourballs announced
Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin have revealed their pairings for the opening fourball matches at Celtic Manor tomorrow.
Teeing off first for the USA will be Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson; they'll be taking on England's Lee Westwood and Germany's Martin Kaymer.
The second match will see Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar of the USA taking on the Northern Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Next up are Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, who will face off against the all-English pairing of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher. And the final group to play in the morning will feature two rookies for the USA, Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton, who take on the wildcard pair of Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
Asked about his selection, Pavin explained that he opted for Mickelson and Johnson on the basis that "I think they're pretty good players," which would be tough to argue, if perhaps a little self-evident. On the pairing of Stricker and Woods, perky host Di Stewart wanted to know why the US captain had opted to send them out third. With impeccable logic, Pavin responded: "Cos the first two slots were filled already."
Stewart had started the ball rolling earlier this afternoon, the rain that had been pelting down earlier this week holding off as she introduced the event before the two captains led their teams, resplendent in suits and ties, through the crowd and onto the stage to ear-splitting cheers.
Following a turn from Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, the captains were finally able to speak. Corey Pavin was first to deliver his speech, and as promised earlier in the week the US captain kept it short and snappy, Pavin thanking vice captains Paul Goydos, Tom Lehman, Davis Love III and Jeff Sluman, the players, the caddies, the player's wives, and of course his wife.
Not that Pavin's oratory masterclass went without a hitch; on introducing the players, Tiger Woods got the loudest applause, but Stewart Cink almost didn't get any applause at all, Pavin initially forgetting to introduce the 2009 Open winner, to the amusement of teams, crowd, and Cink alike.
Next it was Colin Montgomerie's turn, the Scot beginning his speech by referring to the event as "without a doubt the proudest moment of my career." Elsewhere Monty thankfully opted not to repeat the spectacularly duff 'comedy' schtick that Nick Faldo employed at Valhalla two years ago, the Scot instead playing it straight with the usual thank yous.
Of the European team, the loudest cheers came for the laidback Miguel Angel Jimenez, boy wonder Rory McIlroy, fashionista Ian Poulter and world No. 3 Lee Westwood. And it's the crowd that may help give Europe an edge over the next three days, at least according to McDowell.
Discussing the atmosphere created by the fans , McDowell had earlier told Sky Sports News: "I love it. I think golf needs more of that arena, football style atmosphere if you like. It's going to be great, they're going to be cheering for us, what's there to be nervous about."
"It's the most exciting golf tournament I think in the world. I loved it two years ago and this is gonna be better this weekend."
The USA'S Jim Furyk also praised the fans, telling reporters: "The European fans are wonderful fans for their team. They were outnumbered twenty- to-one in Kentucky [in 2008] and they maybe got out-voiced two-to-one, they were low in numbers but very high in spirit. They're good fans and they're going to make a ton of noise on the first tee."
The tournament begins tomorrow, when Mickelson, Johnson, Westwood and Kaymer tee off at 7.45am.
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