The battle lines for the 34th Ryder Cup have been drawn with the announcement, by both captains, of tomorrow¿s opening fourball pairings after the opening ceremony at the Belfry this afternoon.
Speculation has now been replaced with anticipation as the formidable European pairing of Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn will pit their wits against the runaway world number one Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger in tomorrow's top match.
Both Europeans can be considered Tiger beaters in their own right. Clarke defeated Woods in the final of the 2000 WGC-Accenture Matchplay while Bjorn went head-to-head with Woods on all four days of the 2000 Dubai Desert Classic and won.
Asked if he purposely put the Tiger killers in the top match, Torrance replied: "I'd no idea where he'd (Curtis Strange) play Tiger. But thanks for reminding of their personal wins, I'll remember that for the team meeting tonight. Thank you, that'll be my best point," he quipped.
In the bottom match, Padraig Harrington with team up with Niclas Fasth to take on Phil Mickelson and David Toms, ending any hopes of an all Irish pairing with Harrington and Paul McGinley.
However, Torrance said he had given it much consideration after the Dublin duos success in playing together to win four out of five points in the Seve Trophy and previously their 1997 World Cup triumph in Ireland jerseys.
"Paul (McGinley) is more of a foursomes player, which might give you a wee indication of when he's coming in," responded Torrance, suggesting the Dubliner will start in the afternoon foursomes.
"Fasth has made a lot of birdies this year where Paul is very steady and doesn't miss much . . . that's the reason why Fasth is the only rookie I'm playing the first morning" added Torrance.
The highly successful and flamboyant pairing of Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik from Brookline three years ago has been dismantled due the Swede's recent loss of form. Instead, Garcia will team up with Lee Westwood in the second game as they take on two long-hitting Americans in David Duval and Davis Love III.
Torrance gave his reasons for substituting one out of form player with another: "Lee has been struggling, but he's been great through this week, all matches. It's not how you're playing, it's how you respond to the pressure and he's very good at that."
As for their opponents, US captain Strange felt that particular pairing was an easy choice for him: "Duval and Love have played together in President's Cups, they are good friends, big hitters and play a similar game."
That leaves Scott Hoch and Jim Furyk's challenge a menacing one as they will have to overcome Europe's two most experienced players, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie, in the third match. Collectively the two Europeans will have played in 16 Ryder Cups when they tee it up tomorrow.
The two captains indicated differing intentions as to how they would use all their players over the week. Strange confirmed that all 12 of his players will play at least once before the Sunday singles. Torrance on the other hand was not so forthcoming with his guarantee of the same.
"I'm intending to, but there's nothing cast in stone. I'm not going to give points away. If someone is not right, I'm not putting them out," was Torrance's typically frank response.
The waiting is nearly over, all that remains is for the battle of the Continents to commence.
Morning fourballs:
Match 1- 8 am: Woods & Azinger v Bjorn & Clarke
Match 2- 8.15 am: Duval & Love III v Garcia & Westwood
Match 3- 8.30 am: Hoch & Furyk v Montgomerie & Langer
Match 4- 8.45 am: Mickelson & Toms v Harrington & Fasth