Post by Taxigirl on Sept 17, 2004 11:27:23 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/3656208.stm
Take THE flag ;D
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will line up against Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington in the opening Ryder Cup match at Oakland Hills on Friday.
Europe captain Bernhard Langer and his US counterpart Hal Sutton revealed the fourballs pairings on Thursday.
Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez face Davis Love and Chad Campbell, while Chris Riley and Stewart Cink meet Paul McGinley and Luke Donald.
David Toms and Jim Furyk take on Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.
The pairings were announced at the opening ceremony on Thursday evening.
Langer said: "I think I've sent out some very strong pairings. They have 12 very strong players, and they're going to have strong pairings no matter who they send out together."
Sutton is confident the new pairing of Woods and Mickelson will prove successful.
OPENING FOUR-BALLS
1310 BST: Mickelson/Woods v Montgomerie/Harrington
1325 BST: Love/Campbell v Clarke/Jimenez
1340 BST: Riley/Cink v McGinley/Donald
1355 BST: Toms/Furyk v Garcia/Westwood
"I felt like history needed it. I felt like the fans needed it," said Sutton. "And most of all, I felt like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods needed it.
"This might be one of the greatest teams ever paired in US history."
Montgomerie is relishing the chance to take part in the showpiece match of the opening morning.
"The atmosphere is going to be electric and everybody involved in that group will have the hair on the back of their neck standing up tomorrow morning," said Montgomerie.
"It is going to be a dramatic opening, there is no question about that. But that is why we play this game, that is why we try to get into this position and it is an honour what Bernhard has done.
"Dinner will taste differently tonight. Playing Tiger is a unique thing in its way. He is intimidating without wanting to be."
He added: "They will not like the fact of facing us, they won't really know what to expect.
"Padraig is a super partner and hopefully he has as much faith in me as I have in him; I think he asked to play with me which was good because we have respect for each other.
"This is the start that the tournament deserves. Game on."
Woods said: "We're totally excited about it, we're geared up. Can't wait to get out there and play."
Westwood and Garcia won three points out of four two years ago despite the Englishman struggling with his game.
"We have had three practice rounds together and we had a good record last time at The Belfry," said Westwood.
"I'm playing a bit better now so we should do well. We get on very well, that's the main explanation for it.
"We have a good time out there, a good laugh, don't take it too seriously and get on with the job.
"I'm a little surprised to see Mickelson and Toms split up but obviously he wants to come out with his two best players straight away, numbers two and four in the world, and that speaks for itself."
An earlier practice session gave some insight into what Langer is planning for the afternoon foursomes.
The German used Garcia with Donald, Clarke and Westwood, Jimenez and Levet, Harrington and McGinley, Montgomerie and Poulter, and Howell and Casey.
One of Langer's key decisions will be whether anyone plays all five sessions.
"There could be some - a few, I suspect - because there's a lot of golf to be played. I'm just going to go match to match and day by day," he said.
Sutton is planning to make full use of the team on the opening day.
"I am going to play everyone tomorrow," he confirmed. "That is one thing that I am going to do."
Take THE flag ;D
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will line up against Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington in the opening Ryder Cup match at Oakland Hills on Friday.
Europe captain Bernhard Langer and his US counterpart Hal Sutton revealed the fourballs pairings on Thursday.
Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez face Davis Love and Chad Campbell, while Chris Riley and Stewart Cink meet Paul McGinley and Luke Donald.
David Toms and Jim Furyk take on Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.
The pairings were announced at the opening ceremony on Thursday evening.
Langer said: "I think I've sent out some very strong pairings. They have 12 very strong players, and they're going to have strong pairings no matter who they send out together."
Sutton is confident the new pairing of Woods and Mickelson will prove successful.
OPENING FOUR-BALLS
1310 BST: Mickelson/Woods v Montgomerie/Harrington
1325 BST: Love/Campbell v Clarke/Jimenez
1340 BST: Riley/Cink v McGinley/Donald
1355 BST: Toms/Furyk v Garcia/Westwood
"I felt like history needed it. I felt like the fans needed it," said Sutton. "And most of all, I felt like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods needed it.
"This might be one of the greatest teams ever paired in US history."
Montgomerie is relishing the chance to take part in the showpiece match of the opening morning.
"The atmosphere is going to be electric and everybody involved in that group will have the hair on the back of their neck standing up tomorrow morning," said Montgomerie.
"It is going to be a dramatic opening, there is no question about that. But that is why we play this game, that is why we try to get into this position and it is an honour what Bernhard has done.
"Dinner will taste differently tonight. Playing Tiger is a unique thing in its way. He is intimidating without wanting to be."
He added: "They will not like the fact of facing us, they won't really know what to expect.
"Padraig is a super partner and hopefully he has as much faith in me as I have in him; I think he asked to play with me which was good because we have respect for each other.
"This is the start that the tournament deserves. Game on."
Woods said: "We're totally excited about it, we're geared up. Can't wait to get out there and play."
Westwood and Garcia won three points out of four two years ago despite the Englishman struggling with his game.
"We have had three practice rounds together and we had a good record last time at The Belfry," said Westwood.
"I'm playing a bit better now so we should do well. We get on very well, that's the main explanation for it.
"We have a good time out there, a good laugh, don't take it too seriously and get on with the job.
"I'm a little surprised to see Mickelson and Toms split up but obviously he wants to come out with his two best players straight away, numbers two and four in the world, and that speaks for itself."
An earlier practice session gave some insight into what Langer is planning for the afternoon foursomes.
The German used Garcia with Donald, Clarke and Westwood, Jimenez and Levet, Harrington and McGinley, Montgomerie and Poulter, and Howell and Casey.
One of Langer's key decisions will be whether anyone plays all five sessions.
"There could be some - a few, I suspect - because there's a lot of golf to be played. I'm just going to go match to match and day by day," he said.
Sutton is planning to make full use of the team on the opening day.
"I am going to play everyone tomorrow," he confirmed. "That is one thing that I am going to do."