by Gleneagles, Scotland – The Ryder Cup opening ceremony is in the books and with that the pairings for Friday’s four-ball matches have been announced.
United States captain Tom Watson has Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson as his lead pairing. European captain Paul McGinley countered with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. Of the four, Stenson is the only non-major winner, but he did win the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai on the European Tour to end the 2013 season.
The second four-ball match will pit Americans Rickie Fowler (Navajo) and Jimmy Walker against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer. Fowler finished in the top five at all four majors this season, while Walker won three PGA Tour events this season. Kaymer won the U.S. Open in a rout.
Ryder Cup rookies Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth will be the third American group. They will face fellow Ryder Cup rookie Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter, who owns a 12-3 record at the Ryder Cup.
The final match is the marquee grouping. Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson will battle the European duo of Sergio Garcia and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. Bradley and Mickelson are 5-1-1 combined at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. McIlroy, who won the final two majors this season, and Garcia will be paired for the first time at this event.
