Ryder Cup 2014: Predictions for Day 1 Match Play and Pairings
The Ryder Cup may be the most exciting event in all of golf as national pride and teamwork take center stage in what is usually an individual sport.
Some of the world’s best players will take the course at Gleneagles, as the Americans try to win the Ryder Cup back after losing the last two. Here is a look at the schedule and overall format for the event that kicks off Friday on Day 1.
| 4 Fourball matches (morning) | 2:35 a.m. (7:35 a.m.) | Golf Channel |
| 4 Foursome matches (afternoon) | 8:15 a.m. (1:15 p.m.) | Golf Channel |
| 4 Fourball matches (morning) | 3 a.m. (8 a.m.) | NBC |
| 4 Foursome matches (afternoon) | 8:15 a.m. (1:15 p.m.) | NBC |
| 12 Singles matches | Beginning 6:36 a.m. (11:36 a.m.); 12-minute intervals thereafter | NBC |
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The first two days of the competition are made up of two-on-two showdowns with foursomes and fourball.
In foursomes, each team of two only uses one ball and alternates shots. The lowest score on the hole wins the point for said hole, and the team with the most points at the end wins the match. In fourball, all four players finish the hole with their own ball, and whichever individual posts the lowest score on that hole wins the hole for his team.
So what will the actual pairings look like on Day 1? (*Writer's note: This was written Wednesday evening before the pairings were announced)
It doesn’t look like there will be many secrets with the American team. Captain Tom Watson gave plenty of clues by sending out nearly the same foursomes in practice Wednesday as he did the first two days.
Phil Mickelson even officially put one pairing to rest, via Rex Hoggard of GolfChannel.com: "I'm going to play again with Keegan. I don't think I’m letting go of any secrets here."
Hoggard deserves much of the deciphering credit in terms of guessing what the pairings will actually be here based on practice rounds.
In addition to Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, practices indicated that Rickie Fowler will team with Jimmy Walker on Day 1, Jordan Spieth will pair with Matt Kuchar, and Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson will once again partner up.
Watson and Simpson are 5-1-0 together in fourball, so look for that pairing to start the day for the Americans. Mickelson and Bradley will also likely play in the fourball, since Bradley won his best-ball match in 2012 and Mickelson sports a modest 6-8-2 record in Ryder Cup fourball.
Those pairings would leave Jim Furyk and presumed partner Patrick Reed to play foursomes, since Furyk is a dismal 1-8-1 in fourball, and Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan, who are a combined 5-3-2 in foursomes.
As for the Europeans, Rob Hodgetts of the BBC, much like Hoggard on the American side, deserves credit for the information regarding pairing predictions based on practices.
Europe sent Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell out together, but McDowell and McIlroy may split up this year since they only have two wins together in six Ryder Cup matches.
The Europeans also sent out Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson together, indicating that Poulter and Rose will likely play together. Remember, they won both their foursome matches at Medinah and are a force to be reckoned with when combined.
Elsewhere, Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn went out together along with Stephen Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson.
There is perhaps a bit more unpredictability in terms of who Europe will send out if Garcia’s comments were any indication, via Hodgetts:
"Truly, I feel like with this team I can see so many pairings. I can see everybody playing with everybody.
We all get along great. We love each other and we enjoy each other's company. It doesn't matter if it's a rookie or a veteran. I see like a lot of depth on this team, which is very nice.
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A quick start will definitely be important for both sides and will help set the tone for the entire Ryder Cup. However, the Europeans proved that coming out the gates effectively is not absolutely necessary to take home the trophy back in 2012 when they made a dramatic comeback in singles play on the final day.
Still, it will be critical for the Americans to at least remain close against a European team with plenty of successful experience in this event. The Europeans have Ryder Cup specialists like Poulter, Westwood and even Garcia to go along with the world’s top player in McIlroy.
As a whole, the United States has the individual talent to compete in singles matches, so it needs to remain in the competition in the first two days.
As Garcia mentioned, there is just a ton of depth on the European side, and it will likely get off to a quick start. Look for the Americans to do what is necessary to stay in the competition though with a couple critical wins.
The pairing of Watson and Simpson is key here, especially since they had so much success together at past Ryder Cups.
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