Ryder Cup

McIlroy to partner Garcia in opening fourballs

Alex Perry at Gleneagles

September 25, 2014

Put it there, partner: Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia will go toe-to-toe with Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley © Getty Images

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When US captain Tom Watson announced the final pairing for Friday's opening Ryder Cup fourballs as Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson - fingers were crossed throughout Europe that they would be up against Rory McIlroy.

None were crossed tighter than the world No.1's.

Mickelson's barb at McIlroy and McDowell on Wednesday raised eyebrows and sparked laughter - but on the inside the Northern Irishman will be delighted that he gets to ram his American friend's words down his throat.

While McIlroy won't be partnered by McDowell, he will have another dangerous Ryder Cup player in Sergio Garcia alongside him in what is a fourball already whetting appetites across the continent.

McGinley prepared to make the big calls

Paul McGinley has picked one rookie for Friday's fourballs © Getty Images

Paul McGinley has insisted he is not afraid to adapt his tactics if the Ryder Cup takes a turn for the unexpected when the competition gets underway on Friday.

The European captain also admitted there will be times when decisions do not go his way, but that he was confident his selections for the opening morning fourballs would deliver at Gleneagles.

"I've gone with one rookie in the morning and Tom has gone with three. That might be a genius move by Tom, it might not," McGinley said.

"My ideas might backfire, as well, but that's what you do as captain, make your decisions, set out your stall, watch what happens and you adapt to what happens.

"There will be decisions I'll get wrong as captain, I'm prepared for that. But I'd like to think that I'll be able to adjust things and go forward."

"Things evolve and move. The template doesn't mean pairings have to be the exact same pairings."

And Mickelson remains wary of his competition. "It's going to be a difficult match against what we perceive as the strongest team that Europe has," he said. "We all know what great players Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia are.

"We really have our work cut out, but we're on top of our games as well - and hopefully we'll have a good match."

There were surprises from both captains as they announced their first four pairings at the competition's opening ceremony.

Watson has teamed debutants Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reid, while European captain Paul McGinley will throw local lad Stephen Gallacher straight into the mix, but he will have the relative comfort of having Ian Poulter alongside him.

Getting the 40th Ryder Cup underway will be Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, who will take on Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson - a pairing that won two of their three matches at Medinah two years ago.

Following them will be Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn, who face young guns Rickie Fowler and another rookie, Jimmy Walker.

"For the three rookies, the morning fourball is a good place for them to get their feet wet - they'll be playing every shot," captain Watson revealed. "I have every confidence in them getting out and doing very well.

"Of course, the match everyone is looking at is Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, at the end of the fourballs. That ought to be a barn-burner.

"But the first match with Bubba and Webb taking them on, that will get us off to a good start."

Watson - the player, that is - is also excited, but revealed partner Simpson isn't much of an early riser.

"First of all, I had to explain to Webb that we were playing at 7.35am. He was like, 'Whoa, buddy, that's a little early for me!' We'll have to get a couple of coffees and we'll be ready to go..."

Friday morning fourballs in full

7.35am: Justin Rose & Henrik Stenson v Bubba Watson & Webb Simpson
7.50am: Thomas Bjorn & Martin Kaymer v Rickie Fowler & Jimmy Walker
8.05am: Stephen Gallacher & Ian Poulter v Jordan Spieth & Patrick Reed
8.20am: Sergio Garcia & Rory McIlroy v Keegan Bradley & Phil Mickelson