Holmes has the range to wow US team

Published on Friday 19 September 2008 09:51

JB HOLMES has had his praises sung for a week as he has wowed American team-mates and fellow Kentuckians but the big-hitter from Campbellsville will have to wait a little longer to make his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla.

Holmes, one of Paul Azinger's four captain's picks, was left out of today's opening foursomes but, with the American skipper promising to use all 12 of his team during the first day's play, he is set to tee it up for the first time during tonight's fourball matches.

Holmes, 26, has been a huge hit in his home state as the United States prepared for this weekend's matches at a course his team's longest hitter has played so many times. He opened the week in Tuesday's first official practice session by amazing his captain, driving Valhalla's signature hole, the 352-yard, par-four 13th as he played in an all-Kentucky pairing with Kenny Perry.

The captain eventually decided against the combination but the prospect of Holmes and the more experienced Perry linking up for the better ball format, to which their contrasting styles are better suited, will be difficult to resist.

When Holmes does get the call at Valhalla he will be raring to go. "It felt amazing," he said. "I mean, what else would you expect? You're going out there and you've got thousands of people cheering for you. It feels awesome."