The Loop
Saturday afternoon fourball pairings: Bombs away as Brooks Koepka-Dustin Johnson face Rory McIlroy-Thomas Pieters
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CHASKA, Minn. -- In the unofficial morning captain’s strategy match, Darren Clarke edged Davis Love. The morning’s 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 session win included a point from Justin Rose and rookie Chris Wood, while Henrik Stenson and Matthew Fitzpatrick ran into the Brandt Snedeker buzz saw.
The European captain’s risky call to get rookie’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood experience at the expense of the Rose-Stenson duo could have been Cup killer. Instead, he now sends them back out for a rematch with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who they routed Friday afternoon 5 and 4.
Love’s decision to play the struggling duo of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler in foursomes led to a fairly resounding 4-and-2 defeat at the hands of Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters, setting up inevitable questions about sending Mickelson back out Saturday afternoon with Matt Kuchar.
The headline match, however, will be the all-power foursome of Brooks Koepka/Dustin Johnson taking on Europe’s surprise duo of McIlroy and Pieters. All four average players average over 300 yards on their respective tours.
12:30 PM: Brooks Koepka/DustinJohnson (USA) vs. Rory McIlroy/Thomas Pieters (Europe)
12:45 PM: J.B. Holmes/Ryan Moore (USA) vs. Danny Willett/Lee Westwood (Europe)
1:00 PM: Phil Mickelson/Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Martin Kaymer/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
1:15 PM: Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (USA) vs. Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson (Europe)