Ryder Cup Saturday Four-Balls pairings, predictions as Team USA leads Team Europe
HAVEN, Wis. – Europe is still in trouble.
After falling behind, 6-2, on the first day of the 43rd Ryder Cup, Europe needed to mount a huge comeback Saturday, starting with morning Foursomes.
World No. 1 Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, the all-time points leader in Ryder Cup history, stormed back from a 3-down deficit after three holes to topple Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger in the first match.
Exactly what Europe needed.
But then USA superiority took over. Once again.
Dustin Johnson teamed with Collin Morikawa to win for a second time, toppling Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, 2 and 1. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who lost Friday morning, pulled out a 2-up win over Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland. The U.S. was 3 down after six holes.
And in the anchor match, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay won their second match, 2 and 1, against Lee Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
And now the scoreboard reads 9-3 USA; they’ve won each session, 3-1.
The U.S. needs 5.5 points with 16 matches remaining to win back the Ryder Cup.
Europe captain Padraig Harrington needs a 3-1 session in afternoon Four-Ball play to have a chance in Sunday singles and is bringing Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood off the bench. U.S. captain Steve Stricker will just keep telling his charges to try and win every session.
Four-Balls pairings and predictions
Saturday, Sept. 25
1:26 p.m. ET
brooks koepka and jordan spieth (USA) vs. Jon Rahm and sergio garcia (EUR)
DiMeglio: Here’s the marquee match. An interesting pairing of Koepka and Spieth but it makes sense. Koepka probably still angry about not getting a drop Saturday morning and Spieth is playing well. But the Spanish Armada is too much to handle and the duo will go to 3-0 this week with another victory.
Schupak: I’m intrigued by this Koepka-Spieth pairing in what is going to be a fun match to watch. But the Spanish Armada 2.0 has been unsinkable so far and I don’t think the Americans can sink this battleship. Another point for the Spanish boys, who have been the lone bright spot for Team Europe.
1:42 p.m. ET
TONY FINAU and HARRIS ENGLISH (USA) vs. shane lowry and tyrrell hatton (EUR)
DiMeglio: Finau and English were sensational in Friday Four-Ball. Lowry was not, Hatton’s lost twice. The firepower of Finau and English proves too much as the U.S. continues to roll.
Schupak: This is a very evenly-matched Four-ball, but Finau was really feeling it on Friday afternoon. He and English gelled well and I expect them to earn another point for Team USA.
1:58 p.m. ET
Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler (USA) vs. tommy fleetwood and viktor hovland (EUR)
DiMeglio: Bombers DeChambeau and Scheffler against the precision of Fleetwood and Hovland. On the massive ground of Whistling Straits, that screams USA victory. But Fleetwood has never lost in Foursomes of Four-Ball and Hovland, playing in his fourth match, will provide the difference. Another desperately needed point for Europe.
Schupak: DeChambeau will be a blast to watch and pairing him with Scheffler was an inspired choice. Fleetwood still doesn’t have a loss in his Ryder Cup career and with Hovland as his partner he’ll stay that way – which begs the question, why didn’t he play in the morning session? And here’s one more question: Anyone know where in Europe Fleet-Land is located?
2:14 p.m. ET
dustin johnson and collin morikawa (USA) vs. ian poulter and rory mcilroy (EUR)
DiMeglio: Johnson and Morikawa have played as well as anyone, winning two matches. Johnson is 3-0. Still, while Poulter and McIlroy have been off form, the urgency of Europe’s situation gets the two going and McIlroy will be McIlroy in this anchor match. Another 3-1 session, but this time it’s Europe gaining the three points. That will bring that matches to 10-6 going into singles.
Schupak: Rory looked lost on Friday and sat the morning session. DJ and Morikawa, in contrast, are rolling and I expect them to continue to do more damage unless Poulter goes Poulter-geist mode. This is the better format for him, but Team USA will continue its rout in the afternoon session.
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