Is it Time for a Change in the US Ryder Cup pairings?

The Americans always say that the Europeans look like they have a better time at The Ryder Cup.  A lot of that is because they are usually winning (as of late), but I think it also has to do with the pairings.

Forget the statistics and matching players to make up for other player’s weaknesses.  The US side should match players that will have a good time out there, match players that the crowd can feed off of so in turn the golfers can feed off the crowd. 

The way the Americans have been pairing up their golfers no longer works, so why not try something new?

The pairings in the past have the US side looking afraid to make mistakes.  The Americans think a good team is one who discusses club selections and read putts together? 

A good team is one that has the crowd so jacked up that the other groups on the golf course can hear a roar just from them hitting the fairway.  Below are my opening day pairings if I was Zinger.

Phil Mickelson and Boo Weekly

Every time Phil is in contention at a major, he has that goofy grin on his face that whole back nine and plays great golf. 

The Ryder Cup is like the back nine of a major for three days.  Why not try to put a grin on this face just with his partner?  I think Boo would do that.

Phil is a talented golfer. The thinking can't be: “Who can we match with Phil to make a great team?" but “Who can we match up with Phil to make Phil great?"

Phil has not played well at the Ryder.  If you get Mickelson playing well, the pairing / points for the rest of the week are going to be that much easier.

If nothing else, these two together would get the crowd going with a lot of long drives and birdies.  This would be my opening pairing for the Ryder Cup.

Anthony Kim and Ben Curtis

They are Ryder Cup rookies, but Kim is the American answer to Sergio.  Put him with Ben, who is very calm golfer, but young enough to get energized with the type atmosphere Kim is expected to produce. 

This could be a pairing we see for years to come at the Ryder Cup.  Get these guys off early and keep this crowd buzzing.

Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard

These are two of the older guys on the side. They both have awful records, but Jim Furyk always will be a feared opponent and with Justin’s putting, these guys will always be in the hunt, no matter who are their opponents.

These two will be comfortable right away with each other, and Ryder Cup nerves and pressure shouldn’t win over their games.  Though they are not the most exciting group, I think they could feed off the atmosphere the first two pairing create.

Furyk's drive to be on a winning side must he high; with all his Ryder Cup disappointments, I think pairing him with someone he doesn't have to impress (Tiger) will make it easier for him to relax and have fun.  A nice reliable third group out.

J.B. Holmes and Kenny Perry

The two hometown boys.  An expected pairing, one that we have to see at least once throughout the event.  The Europeans have always pairing golfer by home countries successfully, why doesn’t the US follow suit and match by home states?

These guys won’t have to do much to get a roar out of the crowd, just the walk to the first tee should be amazing.  

They will be playing with a lot of emotion, and for the Americans to upset and win the Ryder Cup that’s what they will have to do.  This would be a good anchor group, keep the crowd going right into the afternoon matches.