your EU Pairings.

been thinking about this a lot with my captains hat on...... here are my picks and reasons why...

Fourballs
1.) Gallagher & Kaymer - I think Stevie G will perform (I don't rate him highly as a golfer but...) this is his career highlight, at home. Id have him hitting the first shot of the day as he will get the local crowd going wild and that is worth half a shot!
Kaymer to partner as he is experienced, very solid and a fairly quiet bloke so should partner up well

2.) Rory & Sergio - they have played together loads this summer and both are birdie machines who play the power game. Also both very passionate players.

3.) Stenson & Bjorn- I think this is a natural pairing, Stensons length and attacking play coupled with a steady Bjorn who has mountains of experience (and they are both Scandinavian, a flimsy theory that they will get on well)

4.) Rosey&Poulter - Rosey is one of the most consistent high performers out there now and doesn't make many mistakes. Him and Poulter have known each other for 15 years and used to room together in early days on tour - a natural pairing. I cant stand Poults 1 bit but for 3 days every 2 years he does the business and I back him!

Foursomes:
1.) Rory & Gmac: They will play together no doubt about it. Fourseomes is where I would play them. Gmac is not a superstar from tee to green but has a deadly shortgame - very good inside 10feet. I think fourseomes makes them very hard to beat - If Gmac was as long as rory (as he is below average in terms of tour length) then I think he would be a top10/5 player in the world year in year out.

2.) Dubuisson & Sergio: im picking this on the basis that A rookie will be put with an experienced golfer. Dubuisson has match play form (lost on extra holes to day at the start of the year) but has been off the boil lately. I think Sergio's passion and infectious enthusiasm will rub off on him and they could dovetail well.

3). Donaldson & Westwood: Westwood will have a point to prove. he has tonnes of experience and knows how to get the job done. He isn't the force he was a few years ago but Gleneagles will be similar to Vallhalla (with a bit more wind) he has always been a good wind player and performed will at Valhalla in the PGA. Donaldson to partner him because everyone needs to play on day 1 IMO. Cant seem to find a decent pairing with Donaldson for no reason at all so im sticking him in the middle order with big lee. Think he will love the occasion and really play well - in cracking form as well.

4.) Rosey & Poulter: More of the same again with these 2. Im putting them out last because no matter what the match score is, winning the last point of the day is HUGE for momentum and I will back these 2 to get the job done!


I think it is important for everyone to get a game on day 1. I would be massively down if I didn't get a game on the first day.
The americans strength will be in fourballs as they have (potentially) some really great pairings. honestly I would take a 4-4 after day 1. I think the EU team will get stronger throughout the weekend and the Septics will fade.... theory for that is that they will all be super pumped up on Friday and chomping at the bit to get out there and get revenge for medinah (which make no mistake, will hurt some of them a lot)
What a weekend its going to be though!

Thoughts on these and your pairings then Gents!

To me, the weaker links in the EU team are Bjorn, Gallagher and Donaldson. All have had high points in the season but I just don't fancy them in the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup. However I wouldn't go down the Mark James route and not play them so they have to be found a place somewhere

If I were McGinley I'd put the big boys out in the foursomes (so Rose/Poults, McIlroy/Sergio, Stenson/Dubuisson and Kaymer/GMac) on day one and blood Bjorn with Stenson, Donaldson with Sergio and Gallagher with Rory - plus Poults and Rose again

Day two would definitely depend on how day one went but I'd be looking again at Rose/Poults (maybe resting one for the morning and one for the afternoon plus GMac and Donaldson, Kaymer with tricky Vickie and have Bjorn and Stenson out again if it seems like Bjorn needs a second trip out

Bjorn and Westwood both need at least one match but with their experience if they aren't firing on practice days I'd limit them to one match before the singles - they both have enough RC experience to put up with being benched and acting as cheerleaders. And many have Dubuisson as a weak link but I just fancy him to do very well

This could all change of course after a couple of days practice and day 1 but my lineups for the first two days, all things going to plan would be...

Day 1 fourballs
Rose/Poults
McIlroy/Sergio
Stenson/Dubuisson
Kaymer/GMac

Day 1 foursomes
Bjorn/Stenson
Gallagher/Westwood
Donaldson/Rory
Rose/Poulter

Day 2 foursomes
Rose/Kaymer
Sergio/GMac
Kaymer/Dubuisson
Gallagher/Bjorn

Day 2 fourballs
Poults/Dubuisson
Westwood/Rory
Stenson/Donaldson
GMac/Sergio

so after 4 matches they would have had 2 or 3 games each...
Poulter 3
Rose 3
GMac 3
Stenson 3
Kaymer 3
Dubuisson 3
Sergio 3
Westwood 2
Rory 3
Bjorn 2
Gallagher 2
Donaldson 2

Longgame, I really think your pairings are well thought through. But I don't understand how you relate it to todays practice pairings. McGinley at some point said that he had a 'skeleton' in mind and that it would be reflected in the practice pairings. (?)

Wouldn't disagree with either of the Day 1 suggestions, making Day 2 suggestions would be guesswork before we see the results of Day 1. The only caveat I would put Davie (and I think it was a factor in his pick) is that Gallagher has form around the track (7 top 10s?) so if he keeps a lid on the nerves then he could be a surprise. Lets face it the Yanks will be going..."Steven who??"

Cant see Sergio not playing in the foursomes, considering his record in that format.
Think your right about not everyone playing all 5 games though.

I didn't see the practice pairings and wasn't trying to 2nd guess McGinley - just how I would do it

The 4 ball pairings are -

Rose & Stenson v Watson & Simpson

Bjorn & Kaymer v Walker & Fowler

Gallacher & Poulter v Speith & Reed

Garcia & McIlroy v Bradley & Mickelson

A few people got one of those EU pairings I think.

A bit bold to put Rory/Garcia out last. Two emotional players and if they lose, their subsequent behaviour can affect team moral negatively, as well as their own play.

Also don't like pairing a rookie with Poulter.

2-2 after session 1.

What did Kaymer do wrong to get lumbered with Bjorn.

I suppose the upside is Bjorn will be missing from the more demanding foursomes.

4putt wrote:What did Kaymer do wrong to get lumbered with Bjorn.

I suppose the upside is Bjorn will be missing from the more demanding foursomes.

So far I think Martin is quite happy.

Kaymer and Bjorn are doing fine, but there is some really mediocre golf being played in the other matches.

Webb Simpson looks like a club hacker, Watson is all over the place, Poulter - shocking.

Deary me, I'd be disappointed if I was losing to some of this stuff.

Despite a few missed putts Rose/Stenson look very strong. Reed and Kaymer playing ok as well. But the rest pretty much stink.

What about Foursomes, who do people think will be out. Gallacher and Poulter probably going to sit it out.

Westwood & Donaldson v Kuchar & Furyk

Rose & Stenson v Mahan & Johnson

McIlroy & Garcia v Walker & Fowler

McDowell & Dubuisson v Mickelson & Bradley

All those pairings make sense.

It's a bit surprising that Reed and Spieth were taken out. Presumably they will play twice tomorrow - unless they bomb in the morning.

McIlroy and Garcia just surrendered that point to the Americans. That was awful. They need to get their act together.