GOLF RYDER CUP 2010:GRAEME McDowell and Rory McIlroy won a few quid playing against Edoardo and Francesco Molinari during Tuesday's first official practice day. The Irish-Italian double acts were the only ones replicated by captain Montgomerie yesterday, which suggests he has already decided two of Friday morning's fourball pairings.
Pádraig Harrington has run into form at just the right time and now needs to make this sixth consecutive Ryder Cup count by putting points on the board. The Dubliner opened his practice account alongside Luke Donald and yesterday he played with rookie Peter Hanson, but the smart money says he will line out alongside the Englishman.
In the American camp there was further evidence to suggest Tiger Woods will, as expected, play alongside Steve Stricker. They teamed up in last year’s President’s Cup to win four points and they too have played in the same fourball for the two opening practice days.
Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson played in the same group as Phil Mickelson for the second day, while Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan and Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar were in the same company for two days.
Yesterday Mickelson was surrounded by rookies with Ricky Fowler as the fourth. With his flamboyant style and silky touch around the greens, combined with Dustin Johnson or Watson’s length, Mickelson could have an opening date with one of the big hitters.
The Europeans were paired off both days while the American fourballs had no defined pairings.
Tuesday’s practice session
Europe
Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy and Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari
Miguel Angel Jimenez/Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer/Lee Westwood
Luke Donald/ Pádraig Harrington and Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher
United States
Zach Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods
Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Jeff Overton
Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson
Wednesday’s practice session
Europe
McDowell/McIlroy and Kaymer/Donald
Hanson/Harrington and Fisher/Westwood
The Molinaris and Poulter/Jimenez
United States
Dustin Johnson, Mickelson, Overton and Watson
Stricker, Woods, Fowler and Furyk
Cink, Kuchar, Zach Johnson and Mahan
– Paul Gallagher
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