Ryder Cup: 5 Most Intriguing European Pairings

Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick

Yet another example of where pairing an old hand of the Ryder Cup spectacle with a newcomer would make sense, the oldest and youngest players on the European team would seem like a pretty natural fit together.

Fitzpatrick has burst on to the scene in tremendously convincing fashion over the past 18 months or so, but having only just turned 22 it seems unlikely that he’d be immune to the unique pressures that Hazeltine will offer.

With Westwood’s experience of playing on seven winning Ryder Cup sides, but relative inactivity this year, a pairing where he can mentor a young player who’s playing well enough to help carry him makes sense. Fitzpatrick could deliver that, as evidenced by the duo’s one match together at January’s EurAsia Cup where they prevailed with a dominant 5 and 4 win. Together, the present and future of English golf would seem unlikely to let their team down.