Ryder Cup captains looking forward to tough matches

By Peter Auf der Heyde Sep 30, 2010, 18:33 GMT

Newport, Wales - Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin said Thursday that they were looking forward to tough matches in Friday's opening session.

The two captains announced their four pairings for the morning session at the official opening ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, where the three-day competition between a 12-man European team and their American golfing counterparts starts on Friday.

Pavin chose Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to be the first off the tee for the US, while Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer will be the European players to start.

The other pairings of the morning session see Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar up against the Irish combination of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, while Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods face Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.

The final pairing of the fourballs, during which each golfer plays his own ball and the player with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole for his team, sees US Ryder Cup rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton take on Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.

Pavin said that he could have taken any two names out of a hat and would have come up with an excellent team. 'I did not take them out of the hat, but that is how strong my side is.'

He said he was now looking forward for the actual competition to start. 'From tomorrow I can ride around in a cart and cheer on players.'

Pavin said that he had not thought much about what Montgomerie would be doing with his pairings. 'I did not choose my teams with particular opponents in mind. I only had one goal and that was to do was was right for the US team.'

Although the captains could only pick eight of their 12 players for the morning session, both said their intention was to let all 12 players play on Friday.

'I will only finalize my team 45 minutes before the first tee-off time in the afternoon though,' Pavin said.

He defended his choice to pick two rookies in Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton for the final game. 'They were so eager to go out and play. I thought they would get crazy just waiting.

'I played them in the last pairing as I wanted them to see and experience what was happening in earlier matches. They will feed off that,' he said.

He said that the team would be spending a relaxing evening with their families on Thursday ahead of the games. 'In previous competitions, the players have not seen much of their families, so we changed that this time around and the parents and in-laws are here.'

His European counterpart Montgomerie said that he would be presenting the players with specially commissioned gifts on Thursday evening.

'I can't say what they are at this stage, but they are special.'

He said that he was pleased that Lee Westwood would have the honour of playing the first shot for Europe. 'Lee came to me and asked me if he could do that and I could not really deny him that opportunity after he asked me.'

Montgomerie said that he did not think either side would find it easy. 'I think these matches will be very closely contested.'

He said that being Ryder Cup captain was incredibly important for him. 'I will be remembered as a Ryder Cup player more than as an individual player and this is the biggest honour.

'It is the greatest time in my career to captain 12 of my peers. I have received great support from all of them and have enjoyed the least days we have spent together.'

The Scotsman said his plan was to try to get the momentum going early in the morning. 'We want to gain the momentum then and then hold on to it in the afternoon. I hope that we have a lead on Friday evening.'