MEDINAH, ILL. - European captain Jose Maria Olazabal nominated the world's No. 1 player. U.S. captain Davis Love III countered with the game's hottest.
No keeping the big guns in reserve. The Ryder Cup may set up as a three-day marathon, but history shows it's far easier to win from the front.
"I just can't wait to get out there to try and get the first point," said Rory McIlroy, teamed with Graeme McDowell for Friday's opening match at Medinah Country Club. They'll face newly crowned FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker -- a Ryder Cup neophyte -- and Jim Furyk.
Two other U.S. rookies will go out for the opening session of foursomes, better known as alternate shot. Keegan Bradley will team with Phil Mickelson in Match 2, trying to knock off Europe's juggernaut of Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald. Jason Dufner goes next, paired with Zach Johnson against Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari.
Tiger Woods was slotted for the anchor match, joined by Steve Stricker, against the English duo of Ian Poulter and Justin Rose. This marks the first time since 1995 that neither Woods nor Mickelson was sent out for the opening match.
"Both sides obviously are going to want to come out very, very strong to make a statement," Poulter said. "If we can do that early, then it definitely opens it up."
Recent history bears that out. In four of the past five Ryder Cups, the team that won the opening session wound up taking home the 17-inch gold trophy.
The lone exception came two years ago in Wales, where incessant rain drenched Celtic Manor to the point officials were forced to rework the schedule.
