Ryder Cup 2018: Europe and USA confirm Friday afternoon pairings

Rory McIlroy has been handed a Ryder Cup stay of execution and will line up for the afternoon foursomes with Ian Poulter

Ben Burrows
Friday 28 September 2018 12:28 BST
Comments
Ryder Cup 2018 Footage of Le Golf National in Paris

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Rory McIlroy has been handed a Ryder Cup stay of execution and will line up for the afternoon foursomes with Ian Poulter.

The Northern Irishman was well and truly off his game as he and Thorbjorn Olesen lost their opening fourball to Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson to give USA the early advantage at Le Golf National.

But while many would have expected captain Thomas Bjorn to sit McIlroy for the afternoon session he has instead given him a vote of confidence by sending him out alongside Poulter.

There will also be no Tiger Woods in the afternoon action, who looked stiff this morning playing alongside Patrick Reed.

Elsewhere Henrik Stenson will get his first taste of action alongside Justin Rose. They play Johnson and Fowler who already claimed one European scalp on Friday in dominant fashion.

Sergio Garcia and Alex Noren will also make their bows against Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, both of whom didn't play the fourballs either.

McIlroy struggled in the fourballs
McIlroy struggled in the fourballs (PA)

The afternoon will be rounded out by Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who impressed in the morning session, who will play Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood after they showed well winning Europe's solitary point against Woods and Reed earlier in the day.

Friday afternoon foursomes:

Stenson/Rose v Johnson/Fowler
McIlroy/Poulter v Watson/Simpson
Garcia/Noren v Mickelson/DeChambeau
Molinari/Fleetwood v Thomas/Spieth​​

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in