Ryder Cup pairings: Friday fourballs

McGinley and Watson have announced their pairings for the Friday fourballs

Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Paul McGinley and Tom Watson have announced their pairings for the Friday fourballs as the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles edges ever nearer

Paul McGinley and Tom Watson have announced their Ryder Cup pairings for the Friday fourballs as the 40th contest at Gleneagles edges ever nearer.

Three of Watson's pairings were expected, but the partnership of rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed was a slight surprise.

McGinley, meanwhile, suprised virtually everyone with some of his selections, with Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia the only one that many were expecting.

Ryder Cup pairings - Friday fourballs:

In the first match, Henrik Stenson will partner Justin Rose to take on the US duo of Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (7.35am), who combined so sucessfully two years ago.

Everyone expected Rose to partner Ian Poulter, given their past record together and the fact they practiced together on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but it wasn't to be.

In the second match (7.50am), Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer will play against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.

Third out at 8.05am are Poulter and home favourite Stephen Gallacher, who take on Spieth and Reed.

Finally, in a blockbuster match, McIlroy and Garcia go up against the unbeaten duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (8.15am).

For the Europeans, Lee Westwood, Victor Dubuisson, Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson were left out.

On the US side, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan will sit it out.

Most expect all 24 players to have competed in at least one match before the end of Friday's play

 

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x