Ryder Cup Update Pairings & History

FRIDAY MORNING FOURSOMES SET: The 39th Ryder Cup officially begins on Friday morning with the playing of four Foursomes matches.

The matches were announced during the Opening Ceremonies today here at Medinah Country Club. The matches and times (Central Daylight) for tomorrow: 7:20 a.m. - Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy (Europe) vs. Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (United States) 7:35 a.m. - Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe) vs. Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (United States) 7:50 a.m. - Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe) vs. Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (United States) 8:05 a.m. - Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe) vs. Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods NOTES ABOUT MCDOWELL/MCILROY VS. FURYK/SNEDEKER McIlroy and McDowell have been paired together in three team matches, all in 2010 in Wales, when McIlroy was a Ryder Cup rookie. They were 1-1-0 in Foursomes and 0-1-0 in Four-Balls. McDowell is 1-1-1 in Foursomes and 2-2-2 in team play. Furyk is 1-3-1 in the first session of matches in the Ryder Cup. NOTES ABOUT DONALD/GARCIA VS. MICKELSON/BRADLEY Donald and Garcia are 4-0-0 in Foursomes matches in which they have played together - two wins in 2004 and two wins in 2006. Donald is 6-0-0 in Foursomes matches and Garcia is 8-0-1 in Foursomes matches. Mickelson is 1-5-1 in the first sessions in which he has participated. Mickelson will be competing in his 35th Ryder Cup match, second only among United States players to Billy Casper (37). NOTES ABOUT WESTWOOD/MOLINARI VS. DUFNER/Z. JOHNSON Westwood is 7-2-4 lifetime in Ryder Cup Foursomes play. Zach Johnson is 1-1-1 in Foursomes and 2-2-1 in Team Play.

NOTES ABOUT ROSE/POULTER VS. WOODS/STRICKER In 2008, Poulter and Rose were paired in three of the four team matches four Europe. They went 2-1-0 overall and were 1-1-0 in Foursomes. Poulter is 2-1-0 lifetime in Foursomes play. Stricker and Woods have been paired in three team matches, all in 2010 in Wales. They were 1-1-0 in Foursomes and 1-0-0 in Four-Balls. THREE ROOKIES FOR U.S.: There are three rookies competing for the United States tomorrow in the Morning Foursomes (Snedeker, Bradley and Dufner). There were four rookies who played for the U.S. in the opening session in Wales (Dustn Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton). Nicolas Colsaerts is the only rookie on the 2012 European Team. FIRST SHOT IN DOUBT: Neither Captain has determined who will hit the first shot for their respective teams tomorrow morning in the alternate-shot format. RECENT FIRST-SESSION RESULTS: Here are the results and formats used for first sessions since all of continental Europe became eligible for the Ryder Cup in 1979 ... 2010 - United States 2 1/2, Europe 1 1/2 (Four-Balls) 2008 - United States 3, Europe 1 (Foursomes) 2006 - Europe 2 1/2, United States 1 1/2 (Four-Balls) 2004 - Europe 3 1/2, United States 1/2 (Four-Balls) 2002 - Europe 3, United States 1 (Four-Balls) 1999 - Europe 2 1/2, United States 1 1/2 (Foursomes) 1997 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Four-Ball) 1995 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Foursomes) 1993 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Foursomes) 1991 - United States 3, Europe 1 (Foursomes) 1989 - United States 3, Europe 1 (Foursomes) 1987 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Foursomes) 1985 - United States 3, Europe 1 (Foursomes) 1983 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Foursomes) 1981 - Europe 2, United States 2 (Foursomes)

1979 - United States 3, Europe 1 (Four-Ball) AFTERNOON FOUR-BALLS INFORMATION: Friday afternoon Four-Ball pairings will be submitted by both Captains no later than 11:20 a.m. Central Time, and will released soon after.