THE UNITED STATES will start major winners Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in today’s Ryder Cup singles while Europe counters with former world No. 1 Luke Donald and crushing force Ian Poulter.
Masters winner Watson will get the day started by teeing off to an ear-splitting roar from the partisan US gallery at the No. 1 tee box for the third day in a row. He will face Donald who has been one of Europe’s most steady forces this week.
US skipper Davis Love chose reigning US Open champ Webb Simpson as his second singles player but he will have his hands full with firebrand Poulter who stormed to the finish line Saturday, closing with five straight birdies and for the come-from-behind win in afternoon fourballs.
In a surprise move, Love placed 14-time major winner Woods last in the group of 12 Americans. Woods will face Italian Francesco Molinari.
“Individually I wouldn’t want to play anybody on our side, so we didn’t really try to match up,” Love said.
“But we just felt like there was a group of guys that like to play pretty fast, and there’s a group of guys that are more comfortable playing later in the day. Tiger is used to teeing off at 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon.
“That’s kind of his usual time on weekends. So we looked at a lot of different things.”
Other key matchups include, Keegan Bradley against Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson taking on Justin Rose, Jim Furyk against Sergio Garcia and Brandt Snedeker squaring off with Paul Lawrie.
The draw for Sunday’s closing round of singles in the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club:-
Overnight score: United States 10 Europe 6
(Times are local which is GMT minus 6 hrs)
11:03 am – Bubba Watson (USA) v Luke Donald (Europe)
11:14 am – Webb Simpson (USA) v Ian Poulter (Europe)
11:25 am – Keegan Bradley (USA) Rory McIlroy (Europe)
11:47 am – Phil Mickelson (USA) v Justin Rose (Europe)
11:58 am – Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Paul Lawrie (Europe)
11:58 am – Dustin Johnson (USA v Nicolas Colsaerts (Europe)
12:09 pm – Zach Johnson (USA) Graeme McDowell (Europe)
12:20 pm – Jim Furyk (USA) v Sergio Garcia (Europe)
12:31 pm – Jason Dufner (USA) v Peter Hanson (Europe)
12:41 pm – Matt Kuchar (USA) v Lee Westwood (Europe)
12:53 pm – Steve Stricker (USA) v Martin Kaymer (Europe)
01:04 pm – Tiger Woods (USA) v Francesco Molinari (Europe)
