Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson to lead off for Europe at Ryder Cup
By Keith Jackson at Hazeltine
Last Updated: 30/09/16 9:00am
Darren Clarke has sent out his big guns in the opening match of the 41st Ryder Cup, with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson leading off for Team Europe at Hazeltine National.
Rose and Stenson resumed their successful partnership from Gleneagles two years ago as they face Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed in the opening foursomes matches, with Clarke putting out only two of his six debutants in the first session.
But there is no place for Danny Willett, whose brother caused a stir with a controversial magazine column criticising Americans earlier this week and forced the Masters champion to apologise to Davis Love's team.
Willett had looked likely to partner 10-time Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood on Friday morning, but he struggled during practice on Thursday and even hit a spectator on the head with an errant drive.
Rose and Stenson, who won two fourballs and one foursomes match in 2014, will take on Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed at 1:35pm (BST), while Rory McIlroy will partner rookie Andy Sullivan in the second match against veteran Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, who has yet to win a Ryder Cup point in eight attempts.
Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer face PGA champion Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson in match three, with Thomas Pieters making his debut alongside fellow wildcard Westwood against US Open winner Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.
Captains' verdicts
Darren Clarke: "Justin and Henrik are a very proven, successful Ryder Cup pairing, and both are very strong players. We've got the Olympic champion and the Open champion. To lead off, they were always going to be my choice for leading Europe off in this match. That was never, never in doubt.
"It's a little bit of cat-and-mouse whenever you put pairings out together in practice rounds this week. I'm sure Davis could probably tell you who played with who from my team and I could probably tell you who played for him on his team. There's always a little bit of stuff going on.
"I haven't had one set of pairings firmly fixed in my mind. There's always been a few different plans and different options. And certainly with regard to Danny, he will be playing tomorrow afternoon. I probably shouldn't tell Davis that, but he will be playing tomorrow afternoon, and he will be rested come Sunday for the singles."
Davis Love: "We just picked four of our best alternate-shot pairings, foursomes pairings, and lined them up in the best order we thought for getting started. So we're excited about our four.
"We knew Europe would put out great teams no matter what we did, so we put out great teams, as well.
"It just happened that Patrick Reed's name is at the top of the list, but our most fired-up guy is going to be in front of the most fired-up crowd maybe in the history of golf. So that's a good start.
"And then you have a guy that can handle that crowd and handle the pressure playing with him; two of their best players obviously. So I think I might watch that match right off the bat."
Friday's foursomes line-up
1:35pm Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson v Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed
1:50pm Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan v Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler
2:05pm Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer v Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson
2:20pm Thomas Pieters and Lee Westwood v Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar
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