September 16th, 2004, 07:04 PM
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Golf Enthusiast
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Iceland
Posts: 57
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From Ananova
Quote:
Sutton pairs Woods and Mickelson
Hal Sutton has decided to go where five American captains have never dared to tread - by pairing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson together.
For the opening fourballs of the 35th Ryder Cup the two superstars of the match at Oakland Hills will launch America's bid to win back the trophy.
And they will do so against Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie - Europe's leading player in the current world rankings and Europe's outstanding player of the last three matches.
"I don't know how many people the first hole can hold, but we will find out," said Sutton, who added that Harrington and Montgomerie were exactly the opponents he wanted to tee off proceedings.
In three Ryder Cups and three President's Cups Woods and Mickelson were kept apart throughout by Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Ken Venturi and Jack Nicklaus (twice).
European captain Bernhard Langer added: "It looks great on paper to me. A win would be fantastic and would really pump us up."
Langer made a late change down the order with 2002 match-winner Paul McGinley being drafted in to partner Luke Donald instead of Paul Casey. He said it was because McGinley was playing "awesome".
They will take on Stewart Cink and Chris Riley in the third game. Ahead of them will be Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez against Davis Love and Chad Campbell and bringing up the rear are successful Belfry duo Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, who face major winners Jim Furyk and David Toms.
Donald is the only new cap in the side to see action straight away, with Ian Poulter, David Howell and Thomas Levet missing out.
Sutton has already decided the four he has left out - 50-year-old Jay Haas and rookies Fred Funk, Kenny Perry and Chris DiMarco - will play in the afternoon foursomes, but Langer is making no promises.
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