Ryder Cup 2014: Predicting the Projected Pairings for Both Teams
A lot of thought will go into the Ryder Cup 2014 pairings. Some of that thinking will even be done by captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson. The rest will be done by the armchair Ryder Cup captains of the world.
In that spirit, we present our projected pairings.
Regarding setting his pairings, Watson said, per Rex Hoggard of Golf Channel: "It's not rocket science. There are certain players who I think meld very well with each other and those are the pairings we’ll probably start with."
Rocket science or not, there is a bit of philosophy to fourball and foursome pairings beyond "these two guys like each other."
The fourball format is more the ability to make birdies than anything else. Watson will be looking for players who play par-fours well. In the foursomes format, Watson will want a player who finds fairways and greens and a player who scrambles well. Certainly quality putting is vital in team play, too.
So, who should captains Watson and McGinley go with for Friday morning and afternoon play?
Click through to see.
Fourball Europe: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy
1 of 16
Combined fourball record: 7-3-4
Why they should play together: With a combined record of 7-3-4 and a strong friendship, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia should be a quality pairing for captain McGinley. Playing their own balls, the two are the best-performing Europeans entering the competition and ought to set the tone for the team.
Fourball Europe: Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood
2 of 16
Combined fourball record: 12-6-2
Why they should play together: Poulter and Westwood are a formidable duo. With neither entering the competition on their best form, McGinley would be right to pair the two golfers and hope they spur one another on.
Fourball Europe: Henrik Stenson and Jamie Donaldson
3 of 16
Combined fourball record: 0-1-1
Why they should play together: While Henrik Stenson and Jamie Donaldson have never played together in the Ryder Cup (Donaldson has never made the team), captain McGinley needs to get the pair into the competition at some point. Throwing Donaldson into the fire with a steady ball-striker like Stenson could pay dividends.
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Fourball Europe: Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson
4 of 16
Combined fourball record: 1-2-0
Why they should play together: While Justin Rose hasn't overwhelmed in the fourball portion of the Ryder Cup, he boasts a 6-3-0 record overall. Thus he's a seasoned veteran with a calm demeanor who could lead the abundantly capable rookie, Victor Dubuisson, around Gleneagles. Rose and Dubuisson share the same quiet determination and could form a quality pairing for McGinley.
Fourball US: Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson
5 of 16
Combined fourball record: 7-8-2
Why they should play together: Bradley and Mickelson were dynamic at Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup. Watson would do well to put them out together early to see if the magic is there again. If it's not, best to find out early and go back to the drawing board.
Fourball US: Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson
6 of 16
Combined fourball record: 3-2-0
Why they should play together: A birdie machine with a hot putter lately, Rickie Fowler should pair well with Bubba Watson. While their styles of play are different, the two are friends and fellow Golf Boys. If anyone can help keep Bubba in the right frame of mind for quality golf in hostile territory, it's Fowler.
Fourball US: Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker
7 of 16
Combined fourball record: 1-1-0
Why they should play together: Jimmy Walker is playing in the Ryder Cup for the first time in his career. Zach Johnson doesn't have a wealth of experience in fourball play. However, the two golfers have similarly playing styles and demeanors.
Fourball US: Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan
8 of 16
Combined fourball record: 3-0-3
Why they should play together: Both Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan are undefeated in fourball play, so the duo should be formidable. Who better to pair with Matt Kuchar in the absence of Tiger Woods than another of his former teacher's students: Hunter Mahan.
Foursomes Europe: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy
9 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 10-4-1
Why they should play together: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy are both excellent in foursomes play as well, as their combined 10-4-1 record indicates. It won't be a difficult decision to put the pair out there again Friday afternoon.
Foursomes Europe: Ian Poulter and Justin Rose
10 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 7-2-0
Why they should play together: The duo of Ian Poulter and Justin Rose are virtually unbeatable. Poulter, with his 12-3-0 record, can play with anyone. Neither golfer is overwhelmingly long off the tee, and they are statistically similar enough, as well as experienced enough, to get a point for the Euros in foursomes.
Foursomes Europe: Thomas Bjorn and Victor Dubuisson
11 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 0-2-0
Why they should play together: Ryder Cup rookie Victor Dubuisson should be steadied by the presence of 43-year-old Thomas Bjorn. Dubuisson is a good player tee-to-green, and he should pair well the veteran great Dane, who has been good with the putter lately.
Foursomes Europe: Stephen Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson
12 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 0-0-0
Why they should play together: Putting rookies Stephen Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson out together last in afternoon foursomes may seem risky. However, if things go the way captain McGinley surely expects them to, the Europeans will have already jumped out to a lead by the time Gallacher and Donaldson tee it up. The last spot on Friday is a good spot to use a pair of rookies, and if they perform, all the better.
Foursomes US: Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson
13 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 6-5-4
Why they should play together: Bradley and Mickelson won in foursomes at Medinah. If they perform well in the morning fourball and Mickelson isn't fatigued, expect captain Watson to put them out again. Again, unless they lay an egg, this duo will see action twice on Friday.
Foursomes US: Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk
14 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 4-6-3
Why they should play together: Furyk is like the straight man in a comedy in foursome play. Although his record in foursomes isn't fantastic, he has to be out there for his accuracy off the tee and onto the greens. The Furyk-Fowler pairing will give the latter an opportunity to shine.
Foursomes US: Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker
15 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 0-2-0
Why they should play together: Bubba Watson hasn't played well in foursomes in the past. However, as the leading points-getter, he has to be out there. He's a bomber off the tee and hits a good amount of fairways (60 percent) for his driving distance (314.3 yards). Walker struggles some off the tee but is solid on his approaches to greens. He should be a calming influence on Watson as well.
Foursomes US: Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson
16 of 16
Combined foursomes record: 3-2-1
Why they should play together: Both Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth's games are in shape. While Johnson is more accurate off the tee than Spieth (and thus hits more greens), both players can hole putts (70th and 20th in strokes gained in putting, respectively). Making bombs is the surest way to demoralize opponents and finish the first day of play with momentum.
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