Friday's fourball match ups have been announced and there are certainly some interesting picks by the captains.
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson will lead the way for the U.S. against England's Lee Westwood and Germany's Martin Kaymer. This is in essence a Masters rematch from April when Mickelson and Westwood played the final pairing, and Mickelson made his magic to capture the green jacket. The other interesting aspect? A "what could have been" match up of PGA winner Kaymer and PGA sob story Johnson.
Both pairings have a top 5 vet and a rookie. I like the steady play of Westwood and Kaymer in this one, especially with soggy conditions at Celtic Manor.
Next out for Team USA is two of the nicest, aww shucks guys in professional golf - Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar. They'll take on the Northern Irish contingent of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. This means fans will have to wait to see the much sought after Woods/McIlroy match up.
Another good one, but I like McIlroy/McDowell on "home" turf. McDowell knows the course well after having won the Celtic Manor Wales Open in June. His local knowledge should pay off well.
No surprise here as Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker join forces to take on the English chaps Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter. If Woods is on and Stricker putts like he can, this is a mismatch. But those are big "ifs," and anything can happen in Ryder Cup play.
All four players are excellent putters, and this match will come down to a putt to either win or halve the match.
In perhaps the most...odd?...pairing, Corey Pavin sends out Ryder Cup rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton. They'll take on Ryder Cup vets Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
Momentum is important in championships, and I think it's perplexing that Pavin would end morning play with two rooks vs two vets. Donald and Harrington are both excellent scramblers and putters, so the rooks better get the jitters out early or this one could be a blowout.
Pavin left out three of his strongest players: Furyk, Mahan, and Zach Johnson. Interesting strategy. No wonder he's been so mum about it all week.
The Ryder Cup is about taking chances, but if Pavin's chance doesn't pay off early, it could be long, hard weekend for the Americans.
Im rooting for the USA all the way. (put me in if they need a sub :)
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