Ryder Cup: Davis Love III, Darren Clarke on Friday Pairings

On the eve of the Ryder Cup’s first session, Davis Love III and Darren Clarke opened up to the media about their strategies.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III was far less forthcoming in describing the rationale for his Friday morning foursomes pairings than European counterpart Darren Clarke. Both met with the media after making their selections. Foursomes is alternate shot.

At least one of Love’s players is enthusiastic about the eight men who will play first for the U.S.

“I hopped on a cart and raced back up here with Dustin Johnson on the back and he immediately said, ‘I love these pairings.’ That’s what you want to hear from your players, that they are excited,” Love said.

He explained that they anticipated Clarke would send out Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the first match, as that combination enjoyed plenty of foursomes success at the 2014 Ryder Cup. Love picked Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed to go up against them.

“We just picked four of our best alternate shot pairings, foursomes pairings, and lined them up in the best order we thought for getting started,” Love said. “Every time I looked at this lineup, I just got more and more excited about all four matches.”

Patrick Reed is in the leadoff position because, according to Love, he is excited about the competition.

“Our most fired-up guy is going to be in front of the most fired-up crowd maybe in the history of golf. So that’s a good start,” Love said about Reed. “And then you have a guy that can handle that crowd and handle the pressure playing with him; two of their best players, obviously. So I think I might watch that match right off the bat.”

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As for Europe, Clarke said there was never any doubt as to who would lead off for his team.

“Justin and Henrik are a very proven, successful Ryder Cup pairing. Both very strong players. Got the Olympic champion and The Open champion,” Clarke added. “They were always going to be my choice for leading Europe off in this match.”

Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler will face Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan.

“Phil always has a plan; that’s where he likes. Everybody kind of weighed in where they felt they would be most comfortable and where they would like to play,” Love added.

However, as far as why the pairings and partnerships were created, Love would only say that they matched up well.

“Those are guys that have played a lot of golf together over the years, that have played a lot of practice rounds together,” he semi-explained. “But they have played a lot of golf together before, and they know who they want to play with and who they are comfortable with.”

The biggest factor, Love said, was trust.

“Those pairings trust each other in a pressure situation.”

According to Clarke, the McIlroy-Sullivan combination came about because they wanted to play with each other.

“Both Rory and Sully have expressed their interest and desire to play with each other this week,” Clarke explained. “And with the form that Rory is currently in, and Sully playing very nicely, it would be foolish of me not to give them the opportunity.”

Still, he said, he had to be fluid in his pairings.

“With all the previous captains I’ve spoken to, they have had the ideas of pairings and who is going to play with who. And that sometimes changes. It rarely goes exactly as you think,” Clarke said. “We have, as I’m sure Davis has, he has plans for if they are two points ahead, three points ahead, we are three points ahead, whatever. You have to have ideas there that you can put into action if need be.”

Clarke said all his players will have played before Sunday singles.

Next: Ryder Cup: 5 Most Intriguing U.S. Pairings

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