The Ryder Cup

[stubacca68]

Monty meets Woods in Ryder opener

Montgomerie and Woods renew rivalry at the K Club
Europe's Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington will take on Americans Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk in Friday morning's opening Ryder Cup fourballs.
Stewart Cink and JJ Henry play England's Paul Casey and Swedish rookie Robert Karlsson in the next match.

David Toms and Brett Wetterich face Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal at Ireland's K Club.

Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco meet England's Lee Westwood and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.

Both the opening match of the 36th Ryder Cup, which is scheduled to start at 0800 BST, and Friday's final fourballs encounter catch the eye.

Clarke is playing in only his second tournament since his wife Heather died last month from cancer, and will be given vocal backing by the Irish crowd.

The pairings were announced during an opening ceremony on Thursday watched by thousands of spectators at the Kildare venue.

Europe captain Ian Woosnam said he had expected his opposite number Tom Lehman to begin with Woods and Furyk, the world's two top-ranked players.

"I thought they were going to come out as strong as they possibly could," said Woosnam.

"I expected Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to be off first, and I had an inkling that Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco would be off last.

"So I think with Padraig and Colin off first and Darren and Lee off last, that's going to be two fantastic fourballs."

It's going to be a big boost for us if we can beat that opening pairing

Ian Woosnam
World number one Woods has won 12 majors, but has a largely disappointing Ryder Cup record, while veteran Montgomerie is Europe's talisman.

The Scot has been on the winning Ryder Cup side four times in seven appearances, and holed the winning putt as Europe retained the trophy with an 18½-9½ win at Oakland Hills in 2004.

Montgomerie and Harrington won the opening fourballs of that competition, beating Woods and Phil Mickelson.

"There's been a lot of talk about Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk playing together," added Woosnam.

"It's going to be a big boost for us if we can beat that pairing.

I wanted to meet strength with strength

Tom Lehman
"That would give confidence to the rest of the team. But if we lose it, there's three more matches to go."

Friday morning's fourballs will be followed by the foursomes in the afternoon.

Lehman said: "I knew they would put a very strong team out first and I know that Monty likes to go first.

"So I expected Monty to be in that first group with Harrington. I wanted to meet strength with strength.

"The first point is important so I think you want to lead with your best. But it's not the end of the match.
Woods has lost 11 of his 20 Ryder Cup matches, and is looking to improve his record.
"We've got two of Europe's best. Hopefully we'll get the momentum on our side early," he said.
Montgomerie said he hoped Europe could build up a 3-1 lead after the fourballs.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said the 43-year-old Scot, who has lost only two of his last 18 Cup games.
"I wanted to partner Padraig again. It's almost my role to lead us out. Whether I play again I don't care - to start off this thing is great."

The opening pairings mean Luke Donald, David Howell, Paul McGinley and Henrik Stenson sit it out for Europe, although some may feature in the foursomes.

"I am a little disappointed as I would have loved to have played but the aim of the game is to get 14½ points as a team and Woosie has a tough job," said Donald.

Scott Verplank, Chad Campbell, Zach Johnson and Vaughn Taylor are waiting in the wings for the US.




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Ryder Cup - Friday's fourballs (All times BST)

0800 Padraig Harrington/Colin Montgomerie (EUR) v Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk (USA)
0815 Paul Casey/Robert Karlsson (EUR) v Stewart Cink/JJ Henry (USA)
0830 Sergio Garcia/Jose Maria Olazabal (EUR) v David Toms/Brett Wetterich (USA)
0845 Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood (EUR) v Phil Mickelson/Chris DiMarco (USA)


EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM

Ian Woosnam Henrik Stenson Luke Donald Sergio Garcia David Howell Colin M'gomerie Paul Casey Robert Karlsson Padraig H'ington Paul McGinley JM Olazabal Darren Clarke Lee Westwood



US RYDER CUP TEAM

Tom Lehman Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson Jim Furyk Chad Campbell David Toms Chris DiMarco Vaughn Taylor JJ Henry Zach Johnson Brett Wetterich Stewart Cink Scott Verplank


Come on Europe! lets retain this trophy, and then we can rub it in!

[TGLucario]

well i dont follow Gofl much....but so far is Europe 2 1/2 USA 1 1/2

[Saurgrist]

We are gonna own you guys this time... sorry fellas, but if Tiger steps up, we should take this cup!

Though, we do have some unknowns...

[Rocol]

Lol, a 5-3 lead, by the Europe Team, on the opening day, isn't a very good start for the American Team

[Saurgrist]

Originally Posted by Rocol

Lol, a 5-3 lead, by the Europe Team, on the opening day, isn't a very good start for the American Team

Yeah, not lookin good... but here's to next year! ;)

[Setarime]

sorry Saurgrist but it looks like we are goin to your lot and send them back home with their tails between their legs

try again in 2 years time

[Setarime]

Sorry Saurgrist, we have won the Ryder Cup

your lot never looked like winning, better luck in 2 years time

[Saurgrist]

Yeah, what can you do... guess we will just have to go back to winning all the tournaments.

[TGLucario]

heh, ike what Soccer world cup, F1, hah, but we won....yesssssssssssssssssssss

[Rocol]

Yesssss, away the lads