Ryder Cup Friday pairings reaction: Surprise omissions from foursomes?

We still haven’t seen our first real golf shot, but at least we have a real piece of news! Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald have announced their respective teams for Friday’s first foursomes session.

On site at Bethpage Black, our writers give their instant reactions — from the biggest surprise to the most exciting match to whether one side has already gained an advantage.

Dylan Dethier: Okay gang, I’ll serve as host here. We’ve just watched the pairings come out — here’s what we’ve got:

FRIDAY FOURSOMES (all times ET)

7:10 a.m. Rahm / Hatton vs. DeChambeau / Thomas

7:26 a.m. Aberg / Fitzpatrick vs. Scheffler / Henley

7:42 a.m. McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Morikawa / English

7:58 a.m. MacIntyre / Hovland vs. Schauffele / Cantlay

Sitting for Team USA: Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, Cameron Young

Sitting for Team Europe: Rasmus Hojgaard, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka

1. Which match are you most excited to follow?

Sean Zak: The first one, duh! There will be fireworks, perhaps from the first swing of the event if DeChambeau can drive the 1st green. But Vegas likes the duo of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, and with good reason. 

James Colgan: That first match has the chance to end Western Civilization before most of the Bethpage faithful have gotten their first cup of coffee. Holy hell, what a good time.

Bastable: If Bryson doesn’t have a go at the first green, I’m hopping on the media shuttle and heading back to New Jersey. Rory and Tommy also will be a joy to watch, and I’m eager to see if Xander and P-Ice still possess their match-play magic. Xander’s form is, pun very much intended, a big X-factor this week. 

Dethier: Bryson’s rightfully the headliner. But that second match is such an interesting mix of styles — and includes the undisputed World No. 1. Time to stress-test that Scheffler-Henley duo that looked promising at the Presidents Cup. And if Team Europe steals a point in the second or fourth match, that could be a harbinger of an upset to come…

2. Any surprising omissions — or inclusions?!

Zak: Really thought New York’s very own Cam Young would be playing as many matches as possible. He’s playing the best golf of his life and he uses the same ball as DeChambeau. Would imagine he goes out early in the afternoon. The biggest surprise? Per DataGolf’s fascinating optimal pairings breakdown, Morikawa / English is among the worst possible fits. (Depending on who hits the first tee shot they’re either the 130th or 132nd best fit out of 132.)

Colgan: Not necessarily a talent omission, but I was surprised to see Luke Donald break up the Aberg/Hovland pairing. That duo was so freaking good in Rome. I think a lot of golf fans are forgetting how important they were to the European success in ‘23. Maybe we’ll see them in the afternoon.

Bastable: I was still holding out hope that Keegan would rethink his decision to bench himself. Nah, honestly, no big surprises here. Given a third of the U.S. Open team are rookies, figured we’d see the vets leading the way in the opening sesh.

Dethier: I would have guessed we’d see either Young or Griffin instead of Harris English — but I guess that’ll be the case Friday afternoon instead. Morikawa / English should be the biggest underdogs of the first session, though. I’d also suspected we’d see Shane Lowry in foursomes. One other bit of note: Even though Justin Rose is 7-2-1 in his foursomes career, he didn’t play a foursomes session in Rome and it looks like he may not play one here, either.

3. Based on these matchups alone, which side has the first-session advantage?

Zak: Slight advantage to the Euros, who are playing their literal eight best players. If the Americans win this session, it’s a big statement. 

Colgan: Agreed, Sean. Major pressure right off the bat on Morikawa and Harris English — long viewed as two of the more vulnerable Americans — not to get smoked by McIlroy/Fleetwood in that third group off. It really does feel like that first pairing of Bryson/JT vs. Rahm/Hatton has the chance to set the tone for the entire Cup.

Bastable: The U.S. cannot fall in an early hole, but, yeah, when I look at those names, it’s not to give the on-paper edge to the Euros. JT’s form is concerning. In that opening match, I definitely give the edge to Rahm and Hatton.  

Dethier: I’d give a slight edge to the Euros and it appears Vegas would, too; the Americans’ odds went from -155 to -145 after the announcement. Recent history, though, would tell you not to count out the home team in any foursomes match. Real answer? Giant shrug.

4. Which players do you think will go all five sessions?

Zak: It’s a LOT, but I could totally see all of McIlroy, Rahm, Aberg, Fleetwood play five sessions. As for the Americans, it’s Scottie Scheffler, Russ Henley and maybe Bryson DeChambeau.

Colgan: McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm, Scheffler, DeChambeau, Cantlay.

Bastable: Scheffler, Scheffler and Scheffler.

Dethier: Scottie, Rory, Tommy, Rahm. I think we see a pretty balanced attack from the Americans.

5. You may have said this in other roundtables, but just to be clear: Which team wins and what’s the final score?

Zak: The Europeans lead early. The Europeans lead in the middle. But the Americans lead late. I’ll say Europe enters Sunday leading 9-7 and loses the depth battle on Sunday. U.S.A. wins 15-13.

Colgan: I’m changing my score prediction. 15.5-12.5 USA. The Euros are 100 percent the better team, but home-field advantage is so important. 

Bastable: [checks last week’s Tour Confidential] Europe 14.5, USA 13.5, in a thriller for the ages.

Dethier: It scares me to line up with these other two jokesters but I’m staying strong at 15.5-12.5 USA.

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