Ryder Cup Schedule 2014: Tee Times, Pairings and Predictions for Day 2
The 2014 Ryder Cup's underdog United States team appeared to be up for the challenge during the Day 1 morning matches in Scotland. Uncertainty surrounded the Americans due to their lack of experience in the patriotic event; however, that was quickly put to rest after the fourball format.
With the United States and Europe tied through three matches, rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed capped off the morning session in a rout over Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher to give the Americans a 2.5 to 1.5 lead.
Unfortunately, the United States couldn't keep the momentum going during the afternoon foursomes matches. Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler played well and halved for the second time on Friday; however that half point was all the Americans could muster against a talented European team.
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In the wake of Day 1 from Gleneagles, Europe leads the United States by a score of 5-3. Here's an updated look at the latest matches:
Captain Tom Watson will try to rally his team on Saturday, as a full two points must be gained in an effort to enter the Day 3 singles matches with an even score.
Both Watson and European captain Paul McGinley altered several pairings heading into Day 2, and we can expect some awe-inspiring golf to be the end result. Here's a look at the tee times and pairings for Saturday's morning fourball session, followed by predictions for each of the four matches.
| Bubba Watson / Matt Kuchar | 2:35 a.m. | Justin Rose / Henrik Stenson |
| Jim Furyk / Hunter Mahan | 2:50 a.m. | Jamie Donaldson / Lee Westwood |
| Patrick Reed / Jordan Spieth | 3:05 a.m. | Thomas Bjorn / Martin Kaymer |
| Jimmy Walker / Rickie Fowler | 3:20 a.m. | Rory McIlroy / Ian Poulter |
The Saturday afternoon foursomes have also been revealed:
| Zach Johnson / Matt Kuchar | 8:15 a.m. | Jamie Donaldson / Lee Westwood |
| Jim Furyk / Hunter Mahan | 8:30 a.m. | Segio Garcia / Rory McIlroy |
| Jordan Spieth / Patrick Reed | 8:45 a.m. | Martin Kaymer / Justin Rose |
| Jimmy Walker / Rickie Fowler | 9 a.m. | Victor Dubuisson / Graeme McDowell |
Predictions
Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar vs. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson
Neither Watson nor Kuchar fared well on Friday. Paired with Webb Simpson, Watson was torched by this same Rose and Stenson team. Kuchar was paired with Jim Furyk, losing to Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood while Rose and Stenson notched their second win of the day.
Through both of their Friday matches, Rose and Stenson never trailed once. This duo is extremely dangerous right now—especially for a Watson and Kuchar pairing that has no previous experience playing together.
ESPN Stats & Info tweeted the duo's current streak:
There will be no miracle win for the Americans in this one, as Europe will roll.
Prediction: Rose and Stenson win, 5&4
Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan vs. Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood
Furyk and Mahan lost their respective foursomes matches on Friday, with Furyk's group falling to Donaldson and Westwood. Will Gray of the Golf Channel also reminded us about Furyk's lackluster fourball record:
Donaldson and Westwood appear to be a nice combination of veteran experience and promising rookie play, as the duo rallied to win their only match on Friday. Meanwhile, Furyk and Mahan are two brilliant ball-strikers who shouldn't have trouble keeping pace if they can be consistently accurate off the tee.
Expect this matchup to be very close, and perhaps finish all square through 18 holes.
Prediction: Halved
Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth vs. Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer
Watch out for the American rookie duo on Saturday. Both Spieth and Reed were absolutely on fire during their fourball match against Poulter and Gallacher on Day 1. These players were surprisingly left out of the afternoon session on Friday, but they should be well rested for another go at Gleneagles on Day 2.
Watson spoke about his decision to sit his star rookies in the afternoon on Friday, via Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel:
Bjorn and Kaymer faced off against Fowler and Walker—two very inexperienced Americans—on Friday, and were only able to come away with a half point. Their inability to put away the young guns gives the surging Reed and Spieth all of the momentum heading into this one.
The American rookies will continue to roll, defeating their European opponents here.
Prediction: Reed and Spieth win, 3&2
Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler vs. Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter
Looking at this matchup on paper, the Americans figure to be heavy underdogs. After all, Europe's team features the world's No. 1 player paired with a Ryder Cup legend and emotional leader. However, Poulter and McIroy did not play together on Friday.
Still, McIlroy showed once again why he is the world's top-ranked player, via the European Ryder Cup Team:
Walker and Fowler put up two very solid showings on Day 1, halving a match against Bjorn and Kaymer in the morning, and another against McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in the afternoon. While the pair was great on Friday, facing Poulter and McIlroy together may be a little too much to handle.
The Americans keep it close, but can't hang on in the end.
Prediction: McIlroy and Poulter win, 2-up
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