Medinah, IL (Sports Network) - Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker will play in
Friday's anchor match for the United States against Englishmen Ian Poulter and
Justin Rose at the Ryder Cup.
The pairings were announced at the end of the opening ceremonies Thursday
afternoon.
Woods and Stricker have been a formidable pairing in both the Presidents Cup
and the Ryder Cup. They will be in the fourth foursomes match out on Friday.
The first match Friday morning at 8:20 a.m. ET will pit Northern Irishmen
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell against Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker. The
first three are all former U.S. Open champions, while Snedeker is coming off a
win at the Tour Championship 10 days ago.
Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia will be in the second match out against Phil
Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. The pairing for the Americans is a comfortable
one as the two are frequent practice round partners.
The third match slates Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari against Jason
Dufner and Zach Johnson.
Nicolas Colsaerts, the only rookie on Jose Maria Olazabal's European team,
will sit out the morning session as will Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer and Paul
Lawrie, who are all making their second appearance at the Ryder Cup.
United States captain Davis Love III is getting three of his four rookies out
in the morning -- Snedeker, Bradley and Dufner. The fourth rookie, U.S. Open
winner Webb Simpson, will sit alongside Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Bubba
Watson. Those three are playing their second Ryder Cups.
After the foursomes matches, there will be four four-ball matches on Friday
afternoon. The format is the same for Saturday, then there will be 12 singles
matches on Sunday.
The first team to 14 1/2 points wins the Ryder Cup, but if the match is tied
at 14, the Europe will retain the Cup after capturing it two years ago at
Celtic Manor.
The Americans last win was at Valhalla in 2008, but Europe has won four of the
last five Cups overall.
The Sports Network