Tom Watson announces his first four pairings. (Getty Images)
The pairings have been announced for the first session of Ryder Cup play and they are incredible.
The morning session will be of the fourball variety which means a team's score is the best score posted by one of the two golfers on a given hole. So if Keegan Bradley birdies the first hole and Phil Mickelson pars it then the US score for that hole is a birdie.
The matches are decided match play style so if Mickelson and Bradley are playing Sergio Garica and Rory McIlroy (they are) and McIlroy and Garcia both par the first hole then the United States is one up in that match.
But enough about that, let's look at the matches. Match 1
United States: Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson
Europe: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson
A ball-striking extravaganza here. The problem for the United States is that the two best of the four are on the European side. Match 2
United States: Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler
Europe: Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer
This might be the match where the US has the biggest advantage. I think the United States needs this one if it wants to win the whole thing (that's how big it is). Match 3
United States: Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed
Europe: Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter
Two upsets happening here. First, we thought Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed would be split up because they're both Ryder Cup rookies. They aren't, which is awesome because they're both fearless.
We also thought Ian Poulter would be with Justin Rose. He isn't. Which means he's playing against Patrick Reed which is equally awesome. Match 4
United States: Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson
Europe: Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy
Oh my gosh. A dream matchup to get things going on Day 1 of the tournament. This one has 'going to be played on the Golf Channel in 40 years' written all over it.
The US will sit Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, and Matt Kuchar in the first session while Europe will rest Jamie Donaldson, Lee Westwood, Victor Dubuisson, and Graeme McDowell
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