Possible pairings...2 key players

Here are the pairings that captains Monty and 'Borey' (as he is being dubbed by the US Press) Corey Pavin sent out in yesterday's practice rounds

Tuesday

European Team

8.30 Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari
8.45 Peter Hanson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood
9.00 Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter,


 USA

8.30 Zach Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods
8.45 Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton
9.00 Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson

Wednesday

European Team


10.30 Graeme McDOWELl, Rory McILROY, Martin KAYMER, Luke DONALD
10.45 Peter HANSON,Padraig HARRINGTON, Ross FISHER, Lee WESTWOOD
11.00 Edoardo MOLINARI, Francesco MOLINARI, Ian POULTER, Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ


USA Team

Approx 8.45 Phil MICKELSON, Jeff OVERTON, Bubba WATSON, Dustin JOHNSON
Approx 9.00 Tiger WOODS, Rickie FOWLER, Jim FURYK, Steve STRICKER
Approx 9.15 Matt KUCHAR, Zach JOHNSON, Hunter MAHAN, Stewart CINK


I can report that McIlroy and McDowell played the Molinari's on Tuesday for 50,50 and 50 pounds and scooped the cash, McIlroy reporting that birdie was needed on 14 straight holes to win so the standard of play was high.

Here is a look at a 2 key players 

As always when I am predicting who should do well when it comes to golf, I look at who is in form, how they play the course, or as in the Americans case this year since none of them have any tournament play on this 2010 course, how their games should match up with the course, their past records, their current state of mind and the weather..

From the pairings so far Monty has McIlroy and McDowell and the Molinari's together for 2 days while Pavin has shuffled the deck with his guys. Tiger played well with Stricker at the Presidents Cup but neither are red hot right now so I expect Tiger to be re-united with his Ryder Cup partner Jim Furyk.

LUKE DONALD .. I have been watching Luke a lot this year and I picked him to win our RBC Canadian Open (3rd) He of course nearly won the whole shebang in Atlanta last week and is in form, plus he has a great Ryder Cup record and has never lost yet in foursomes. Here are his numbers this year and note he plays this course well.

 1st - 2010 Madrid Masters, 2nd - 2010 Northern Trust Open (US PGA Tour), 2T - 2010 BMW PGA Championship, 3rd - 2010 The Celtic Manor Wales Open, 3rd - 2010 RBC Canadian Open (US PGA Tour), 3T - 2010 Verizon Heritage (US PGA Tour), 6T - 2010 Transitions Championship (US PGA Tour

RYDER CUP EXPERIENCE
Years played: 2004 (winners), 06 (winners)

Overall record: Played 7, Won 5, Lost 1, Halved 1: Points 5½
Singles: Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Halved 0
Foursomes: Played 4, Won 4, Lost 0, Halved 0
Fourballs: Played 1, Won 0, Lost 0, Halved 1

2004: Oakland Hills: USA 9½ Europe 18½
Day 1 Fourballs: Donald/McGinley (halved) with Riley/Cink
Day 1 Foursomes: Donald/Garcia beat Perry/Cink (2 and 1)
Day 2 Foursomes: Donald/Garcia beat Furyk/Funk (1 hole)
Singles: Donald lost to Campbell (5 and 3)

2006: The K Club: Europe 18½ USA 9½
Day 1 Foursomes: Donald/Garcia beat Woods/Furyk (2 holes)
Day 2 Foursomes: Donald/Garcia beat Mickelson/Toms (2 and 1)
Singles: Donald beat Campbell (2 and 1)

Neither Garcia nor McGinley are available as partners (both vice captains this year) and so far he has played with Kaymer and Fisher in practice..

Either way Luke Donald is on top of his game right now on a course he loves and he will be a key player for this Euro squad.


TIGER WOODS...Despite his inconsistent form, both on tour and in the Ryder Cup I have a feeling he is the ballast point for this team. They are away, on the road with him bonding, talking about life, wife's, kids, the big bad media, having a few pints, just being guys together on a team. They are going to rally around him and may well sink or swim with him.

RYDER CUP EXPERIENCE Years Played: 1997-99-2002-04-06

Total Matches: 24
Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 9-13-2
Singles (W-L-H): 3-1-1
Foursomes (W-L-H): 3-6-1
Fourballs (W-L-H): 3-6-0
Total Points Won: 10
Total Points Won Point %: .42

1997: Valderrama Golf Club (0-3-1)
Europe 14 ½, USA 13 ½
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Mark O'Meara/Tiger Woods lost to Bernhard Langer/Colin Montgomerie (5/3)
Day Two Morning Four-Balls: Tiger Woods/Mark O'Meara lost to Nick Faldo/Lee Westwood (2/1)
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Justin Leonard/Tiger Woods halved with Jesper Parnevik/Ignacio Garrido
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods lost to Constantino Rocca (4/2)

1999: The Country Club (2-3-0)
USA 14 ½, Europe 13 ½
Day One Morning Foursomes: Tom Lehman/Tiger Woods lost to Sergio Garcia/Jesper Parnevik (2/1)
Day One Afternoon Four-balls: David Duval/Tiger Woods lost to Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood (1-up)
Day Two Morning Foursomes: Steve Pate/Tiger Woods (1-up) def. Padraig Harrington/Miguel Angel Jiminez
Day Two Afternoon Four-balls: Steve Pate/Tiger Woods lost to Paul Lawrie/Colin Montgomerie (2/1)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods (3/2) def Andrew Coltart


2002: The Belfry (2-2-1)
Europe 15 ½, USA 12 ½
Day One Morning Four-balls: Tiger Woods/Paul Azinger lost to Darren Clarke/Thomas Bjorn (1-up)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Mark Calcavecchia lost to Sergio Garcia/Lee Westwood (2/1)
Day Two Morning Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Davis Love III (4/3) def. Darren Clarke/Thomas Bjorn
Day Two Afternoon Four-Balls: Tiger Woods/Davis Love III (1-up) def. Sergio Garcia/Lee Westwood
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods halved with Jesper Parnevik


2004: Oakland Hill Country Club (2-3-0)
Europe 18 ½, USA 9 ½
Day One Morning Four-balls: Phil Mickelson/Tiger Woods lost to Colin Montgomerie/Padraig Harrington (2/1)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Phil Mickelson/Tiger Woods lost to Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood (1-up)
Day Two Morning Four-balls: Tiger Woods/Chris Riley (4/3) def. Darren Clarke/Ian Poulter
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Davis Love III/Tiger Woods lost to Padraig Harrington/Paul McGinley (4/3)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods (3/2) def. Paul Casey


2006: The K Club (3-2-0)
Europe 18 ½, USA 9 ½
Day One Morning Four-balls: Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk (1-up) def. Padraig Harrington/Colin Montgomerie
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk lost to Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (2-up)
Day Two Morning Four-balls: Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk lost to Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood (3/2)
Day Two Morning Foursomes: Jim Furyk/Tiger Woods (3/2) def. Padraig Harrington/Paul McGinley
Tiger Woods (3/2) def Robert Karlsson

Remember in the Ryder Cup the captains hand in their pairings sheets without knowledge of the other teams pairings, unlike the Presidents Cup where the captains sit down together to select their pairings.

Tiger has a chance to turn this year of his around from a golfing standpoint this week, From a personal perspective this team trip probably already has.

BryanAngus  bryanangus4@gmail.com