Padraig Harrington, the Europe captain, has entrusted with the all-Spanish pairing of Jon Rahm and Sergia Garcia to lead off the challenge in Friday morning’s first foursomes session here at Whistling Straits. The visitors are seeking the fast start that could prove crucial to their ambitions of stopping the US from winning their first back-to-back home games in 38 years.
Garcia and Rahm play against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in a match that at 1.05pm BST will electrify the grandstand surrounding the first tee that holds more than 3,000. Despite winning four of the six matches since the 2006 showdown, Europe have not won an opening session since the K Club.
Paul Casey and rookie Viktor Hovland go out second in another mouthwatering encounter against world No 2 Dustin Johnson and the two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who is also a debutant.
Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick take on Brooks Koepka and Daniel in the third match while Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy partner each other once again in the anchor match against two first-timers in Xander Schauffele, the Olympic champion, and Patrick Cantlay.
The pairings were announced in the traditionally OTT ceremony that featured both captain making speeches. Steve Stricker, the US captain, cried when he thanked his wife and daughters. “I had a couple of beers to try and get me through that. I just couldn’t do it,” the Wisconsinite said. The pressure is cleanly on Stricker on his home turf as the US try to turn around a run that has featured them losing seven of the last nine stagings.
There is obviously a big difference in rankings, with the US boasting an average of nine and Europe of more than times that at almost 30. But the alternate shot format favours the Europeans. In their last two victories – in Paris three years ago and at Gleneagles in 2014 – they won the foursomes by a combined 13-3. Harrington will be desperate for a victory this morning to take into the four afternoon fourballs.
Opening ceremony and pairing announcement as it happened
10:06 PM
To recap…tomorrow morning’s foursomes pairings
1305 BST Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia (EUR) vs Justin Thomas/Jordan Spieth (USA)
1321 BST Paul Casey/Viktor Hovland (EUR) vs Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa (USA)
1337 BST Lee Westwood/Matt Fitzpatrick (EUR) vs Brooks Koepka/Daniel Berger (USA)
1353 BST Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter (EUR) vs Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (USA)
10:03 PM
Match 4
Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter vs Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele…
That’s it.
10:02 PM
Match 3
Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick for Europe against Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.
10:01 PM
Match 2
Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland for Europe and Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa for the USA.
10:01 PM
Match 1…
It’s Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia together for Europe. They play Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
09:59 PM
Here we go…
The pairings!
09:56 PM
Stricker gets around to introducing his team
He signs off: “See you tomorrow on the first tee.”
Time for the Star Spangled Banner… thankfully they get a vocal group who does not absolutely mangle it as often happens at these sporting events. Good work.
09:50 PM
Steve Stricker begins his speech
It’s such an honour to be up here representing the PGA of America, the great state of Wisconsin and the United States as Ryder Cup captain. Being from Wisconsin, I’m so proud, honoured and humble to be part of this moment… to be part of this Ryder Cup team.
The message I’ve shared with our team throughout the week is… we’re all in this together. There’s certainly a rivalry between our two teams we’re in this as competitors and ambassadors for the sport we all love.
He goes on and thanks various people in his life. He thanks his wife and then chokes up when he thanks his daughters. A proud day for him, no doubt about that.
09:46 PM
The anthem of Europe (Ode to Joy) has been heard
So it’s the time of the United States of America to be introduced in traditionally bombastic style. Steve Stricker does not look like a man who will back that bombast up with his words, though. Nothing wrong with that at all.
09:42 PM
Might have to wait a bit longer for the pairings
Steve Stricker hasn’t even started his speech yet…
09:41 PM
Harrington eventually finishes his speech
And now begins to introduce the players. They, thankfully, do not have to make speeches. They stand up, wave and then sit down again. Easy, easy, easy.
09:34 PM
The home team
Fancy. Some ties need a bit of work, though.
09:32 PM
Padraig Harrington makes his speech
There is no question, the Ryder Cup is a special occasion. Has there ever been the prospect of a Ryder Cup quite as special as this one? I admit there were times when I feared this might not happen. Even after the match was rescheduled there was talk of whether there would be any fans at all.
Steve and I are here, our teams are here, our caddies are here but more importantly you are here. You, the fans make this Ryder Cup what it is. Let’s make this the best Ryder Cup there ever has been.
09:23 PM
Reminder that the first day’s pairings should be confirmed/revealed/announced at 10.45pm BST
That’s the most significant thing happening this evening.
09:20 PM
And now it’s the turn of the home team
Yeah. They are winning the style game if nothing else. Not sure if they are woollen blazers (or sports jackets…), but a nice contrasting light blue (Oxford?) shirt with darker tie.
09:18 PM
Out come the European team
Here they were, a little earlier on…
09:14 PM
Wisconsin native Steve Stricker…
This is my back yard. This is home. Those are my people out there. This is Wisconsin’s finest right here. We couldn’t be happier or prouder.
09:14 PM
Padraig Harrington speaks
We’ve been waiting for years… it was so much in doubt, even at one stage we were wondering if there would be spectators. We’re raring to go.
09:13 PM
Out come the European captain and his vice-captains
They get a smattering of applause…
Steve Stricker and his gang come out to something a little more, if not entirely… rapturous. Have to say I prefer the outfits of the Americans.
09:09 PM
What, exactly, is a Ryder Cup opening ceremony?
We’re about five minutes in and I am still not sure. A lot of hot air and bluster and not a lot of substance. A quick roll call from the presenters finds out that most of the fans are there to support USA (USA! USA! USA!).
Out come the wives and partners of the players and captains. How very quaint…
09:04 PM
The opening ceremony has started
Rob Riggle is on MC duties. Weather looks a bit grey.
08:49 PM
How Europe can upset the odds and win the Ryder Cup on American soil
USA are odds-on favourites to keep the Ryder Cup on their side of the Atlantic, but the winds could be blowing in Europe’s favour. James Corrigan takes a look at how the visitors can retain the Cup.
08:37 PM
Europe’s players share their thoughts ahead of the first day’s play
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08:13 PM
How will it go? Ryder Cup predictions: Our experts’ verdicts – from which team will win to most likely flashpoint
These events can often be tempestuous and feisty affairs. Even when they are good-natured, the crowd can whip things up. That’s no bad thing. But how do our team of experts think this one will play out? The USA team is packed with star talent, but lacks the experience of the European’s line-up. Does that matter? Read the full piece here.
07:43 PM
Want to know more about the challenges of Whistling Straits?
Severe drop-offs, dunes, a near 100-yard bunker and Lake Michigan await the players at the 43rd Ryder Cup. Read our comprehensive hole-by-hole guide to the Wisconsin course here.
05:29 PM
Good evening
It’s the eve of the 2021 Ryder Cup and that means two things. One, the opening ceremony. Two, the pairings for tomorrow’s foursomes and fourballs will be announced by both captains. Now, you may find one of those things more exciting and interesting than the other but we have it all covered. The opening ceremony begins at 9pm BST and at the end of it all, the pairings will be announced.
Meanwhile, Paul Casey is hoping to make the most of another Ryder Cup appearance, this time as an automatic qualifier.
Casey played in Europe’s successive nine-point victories in 2004 and 2006 – famously ending one match at the K Club with a hole-in-one – as well as the defeat at Valhalla in 2008.
But he was then overlooked for a wild card in 2010 by captain Colin Montgomerie, despite being ranked seventh in the world at the time, and was not even a member of the European Tour for a number of years before rejoining in 2017 and getting a wild card the following year in Paris.
“There was a time pre-Paris that I thought I might never play another Ryder Cup, having missed a couple, more than a couple,” said Casey.
“I was quite emotional in Paris because of that gap. The form I had been through and to be part of that great team in Paris has been one of the most special moments of my career.
“The fact I was a pick made me sort of nervous coming down the last few weeks. This one I felt much more comfortable.
“And now I’m even looking at Westy [Lee Westwood] going, ‘How many more can I play? I think Westy is 48. I’m 44 thinking can I squeeze a couple more out?
“It’s amazing how my view on it has changed going from maybe I’m done, to what does the future hold?”
A United States team featuring eight of the world’s top 10 are odds-on favourites to regain the trophy after their comprehensive defeat in Paris, but Casey is quietly confident the visitors can pull off another upset victory.
“I think firstly the dynamic is brilliant,” the 44-year-old added. “I don’t like to compare teams and say this team is better than another team I’ve played on. But this team as a unified team is so strong.”
PA Sport