Ryder Cup: 5 Most Intriguing European Pairings
By Adam McGee
![Sep 27, 2016; Chaska, MN, USA; The European Team photo on the 10th Fairway at Hazeltine National Golf Club ahead of the 41st Ryder Cup. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports Sep 27, 2016; Chaska, MN, USA; The European Team photo on the 10th Fairway at Hazeltine National Golf Club ahead of the 41st Ryder Cup. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3a2aad79f6bcf67020d124bf34941b6ccfea800359b3eade8f2e6a8366fd0285.jpg)
As Darren Clarke’s players got their final practice rounds underway before the Ryder Cup starts on Friday, what are the most intriguing pairing possibilities for the European team?
Darren Clarke’s European team may tee off on Friday playing under the tag of underdogs, as they’ve done so successfully over the past decade or so, but they certainly won’t be free of any pressure at Hazeltine.
Having won eight of the last 10 Ryder Cup matches and landing on US soil as defending champions, no player on the European squad for 2016 will want to be seen as a blemish or exception to the continent’s impeccable recent record in golf’s showcase event.
With that comes challenges for the players, but before they can even take to the course, the responsibility falls at Clarke’s feet to get his pairings right and maximize the talent at his disposal.
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The Europeans have countless wins around the world to their names, as well as major championships and Olympic medals. The Ryder Cup is said to deliver a different kind of pressure, though, and with six rookies suiting up in the blue of Europe in the Twin Cities, Clarke will have to be more mindful of groupings than many of his predecessors have needed to be.
That doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and the Northern Irishman certainly has some intriguing routes he could take in forming his pairs for the team formats on Friday and Saturday.
Which combinations make for the most interesting European pairings? Let’s take a look at some of the standout options.