Advertisement
UK markets close in 4 hours 57 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,704.87
    -17.68 (-0.23%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,430.53
    -56.00 (-0.29%)
     
  • AIM

    735.37
    -1.26 (-0.17%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1699
    -0.0005 (-0.04%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2691
    -0.0037 (-0.29%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    49,486.42
    -4,372.67 (-8.12%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,149.42
    +32.33 (+0.63%)
     
  • DOW

    38,790.43
    +75.63 (+0.20%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.69
    -0.03 (-0.04%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,157.90
    -6.40 (-0.30%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,529.48
    -207.62 (-1.24%)
     
  • DAX

    17,939.71
    +7.03 (+0.04%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,164.09
    +15.95 (+0.20%)
     

Ryder Cup 2021: Pairings for Friday foursomes revealed including blockbuster opening match

Jordan Spieth (right) and Justin Thomas have been paired once again by the United States  (Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth (right) and Justin Thomas have been paired once again by the United States (Getty Images)

The pairings for the opening matches of the 2021 Ryder Cup have been revealed.

After an opening ceremony full of trademark pomp and pageantry at Whistling Straits, captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington revealed their four pairings for the foursomes that kick-off the biennial transatlantic competition on Friday morning in Wisconsin.

Harrington elected to lead off with the Spanish pairing of Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahmthe most successful Ryder Cup golfer in history and the current world number one.

They will play the formidable American duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, close friends who formed a fine partnership at Le Golf National in 2018, in a blockbuster opening encounter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa, two of the most successful major golfers in the last 18 months, will be American’s second duo to tee off, with Stricker utilising one of his longest drivers with perhaps his sharpest ironsmith.

They will take on a novel European pair, with experienced Englishman Paul Casey combining with Viktor Hovland, the first Norwegian ever to play at a Ryder Cup.

England’s Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick will follow them onto the tee to battle Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger, who both live in Floridian golfing hotbed, Jupiter.

Finally, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will aim to bring their California cool as they take on Rory McIlroy and Europe’s Ryder Cup totem, Ian Poulter in what could be a pivotal final encounter of the Ryder Cup’s first session.

Foursomes is played with one ball between each pairing, with players playing alternate shot.

Team-mates will alternate who tees off from hole-to-hole.

At the previous Ryder Cup in 2018, the event opened with fourballs with the USA jumping into an early 3-1 lead.

Read More

Ryder Cup 2021: Brooks Koepka dodges questions about Bryson DeChambeau rivalry

Ryder Cup 2021: Paul Casey eager for more ahead of his fifth event at Whistling Straits

Ryder Cup 2021: Tyrell Hatton promises to keep his cool at Whistling Straits

Ryder Cup 2021: American team single out Ian Poulter to quash European momentum