Olazabal sets up Northern front

MAYBE HIS advice has fallen on deaf ears. Or, maybe, José Maria Olazabal simply didn’t want to hear it. Whatever Colin Montgomerie’s advance wisdom that Olazabal should be “flexible” and not be averse to splitting up the all-Northern Ireland pairing of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, it seems unlikely to happen; and certainly not in tomorrow’s opening series of foursomes.

For the past two days, McDowell and McIlroy have practised as one and, indeed, there would appear to be a certain shape taking place with regard to Olazabal’s intended opening pairings, which won’t formally be revealed until the opening ceremony (10pm Irish time). At this stage, the two seemed joined at the hips.

The other three potential foursomes seem to be emerging along anticipated lines: Ian Poulter with Justin Rose, Luke Donald with Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood with Paul Lawrie. “I do have a pretty good idea of what I want,” admitted Olazabal, who limited his players to nine holes yesterday to conserve energy. He did add, however: “I do have a few ideas in mind.” Those ideas are more likely to involve the fourballs.

As for Team USA? Well, Davis Love III appears to be holding his cards closer to his chest. Whilst Olazabal has had no qualms in dispatching McIlroy and McDowell together in successive days, and likewise putting Poulter/Rose, Peter Hanson/Martin Kaymer and Nicolas Colsaerts/Francesco Molinari out back to back, the Americans have chopped and changed over the two days.

Still, interestingly, Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker look set to revive their old foursomes from Celtic Manor, while Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar also look a likely match-up. Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker – putting the two wild cards together – is another possibility. After that? Phil Mickelson with Keegan Bradley? Jason Dufner with Dustin Johnson? Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson? Foursomes or fourballs?

Love admitted he didn’t get to sleep until 2.30am due to the pairings swirling around his head. “I have a feeling of some pairings, but no, I haven’t really put the pencil to that yet,” he Love.