Analysing the Ryder Cup fourballs opening pairings

Ryder Cup fourballs: Match 3

8.40am (7.40am UK time)

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas (USA) vs. Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton (Europe)

USA: It had to be someone special to break up the Spieth-Reed axis and we’ve got just that here.

For Thomas, it might be a debut but only in name. He’s already got a major, has threatened the World No 1 spot and now he’s got his best buddy as his Ryder Cup partner.

You’d have to think that the pair of them have pushed hard for this. They first played together when they were 12, know each other’s game inside out and have practised together all week.

This is how Thomas described the possible pairing earlier in the week: “It would be cool; it would be fun,” he said. “We know each other’s games well enough that you almost have another caddie if you need it.”

Europe: Casey and Hatton feel like a good fit – even if the latter spent much of the early part of the week alongside Ian Poulter. The two Englishmen are not everyone’s cup of tea but they are both fine players. Casey has never lost a fourball in four attempts as he returns to the Ryder Cup for the first time in a decade and his fourth match in all.

He has bags of experience. As for Hatton, it remains to be seen whether he turns out to be a hero or a minor factor in this match. But he is ranked 26 in the world (and has been higher) for good reason and he certainly won’t die wondering.

Match predictions

Mark: There’s no doubting where the stardust lies in this match but I quietly fancy Europe to make this an absolute dogfight. Match halved.

Dan: I like this European pair and I’ll back them to take their illustrious opponents the distance and secure a half.

Ryder Cup fourballs: Match 4

8.55am (7.55am UK time)

Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods (USA) vs. Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood (Europe)

Ryder Cup fourballs

USA: Supposedly Tiger has been Reed’s confidant at times in his career – someone to share some sound counsel when things might not be too straightforward. And then there’s the red shirt the Masters champion has adopted.

It was Woods who was credited with keeping Reed on the straight and narrow in his singles win at Hazeltine in 2016.

The early talk was of Woods being paired with DeChambeau, or maybe even Mickelson, but now this has happened it looks dynamite – Captain America and the GOAT fresh from his win at East Lake. You could hardly make it up.

Europe: For some reason, this pairing just felt like a good fit. I actually expected to see them play together in the foursomes – and maybe they will as well. Fleetwood is another rookie – we have one in each match – but he’s also a player the Americans know and respect as the real deal.

He has been exceptionally good over the last two years in so many of the biggest events. As for Molinari, he arrives as the Open champion and this is a course he loves. Three times he has finished second here. I expect them to give the Americans nothing. They are our steadiest pair.

Match predictions

Mark: I don’t think anything would give me more pleasure this year than if Tommy and Frankie could pull this off. I’m actually filling up at the prospect of it already. USA win 1up.

Dan: It pains me to say it but I can’t see America losing this game. I think they’ll win 2&1.

Overall analysis

Game on ??#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/Qel1nw1Hw5

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2018

Mark: We anticipated lots of this but I still find it almost too much to take in. The bottom match is an absolute pearler. Everywhere you turn it’s spectacular – and we‘ve got five major winners still on the sidelines.

The beauty of Bjorn’s wisdom is that everyone will surely get out on the first day, the same with the Americans, and that’s the way we all like it. For some odd reason then we can relax a bit. Overall, I’m more surprised by our pairings and I hope and pray it’s all part of a masterplan to build to a crescendo with every session.

Dan: There is no doubt in my mind that Thomas Bjorn will have used all 12 of his players by Friday evening. That makes perfect sense to me. I also think he has left some serious firepower behind for the foursomes, which also makes perfect sense. I don’t believe it means that the likes of Stenson and Poulter will be peripheral over the week. This is only the first session of five.

In the circumstances, a 2-2 draw will represent a great start for Bjorn as he will expect much in the afternoon. Whereas the American pairings, presuming that they too give all their 12 a game across the day, might look a little bit less intimidating in the afternoon. For that reason, a 2 1/2-1 1/2 reverse would be no disaster. I think Furyk will expect to win the session given the way those pairings have come out. However, I think Bjorn has been cute in getting all his players into the action. He’s playing the long game. A rookie in each match is a risk, but it also means they are into the action very early and that will give the captain options as this Ryder Cup progresses.