Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters to lead Europe in Ryder Cup fourballs
Saturday 1 October 2016 19:09, UK
Darren Clarke has stuck with a winning combination and selected Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters to lead off Team Europe in the Ryder Cup Saturday fourballs at Hazeltine.
McIlroy formed a formidable partnership with rookie Pieters again on Saturday morning to defeat Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson 4&2, having despatched Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar in the Friday fourballs.
The pair will face Johnson and Brooks Koepka, who partnered Brandt Snedeker to the USA's only victory of the morning session, with the hosts holding a narrow 6.5-5.5 advantage after Europe closed the gap in the Saturday foursomes.
All-Yorkshire pairing Lee Westwood and Danny Willett take on JB Holmes and Ryan Moore, who lost when paired together in Friday fourballs, with rookies Rafa Cabrera Bello and Chris Wood sitting out after earning points this morning.
Clarke has gone with experience by pairing Sergio Garcia with Martin Kaymer, as they play Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar.
Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, who let a four-hole lead split over the closing stretch in the foursomes, face their third meeting of the week against Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the final match of the day.
6.30pm Brooks Koepka/Dustin Johnson v Rory McIlroy/Thomas Pieters
6.45pm JB Holmes/Ryan Moore v Danny Willett/Lee Westwood
7pm Phil Mickelson/Matt Kuchar v Martin Kaymer/Sergio Garcia
Live Ryder Cup Golf
7.15pm Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth v Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson
