Ryder cup dream pairing for Stephen Gallacher

Stephen Gallacher will start his Ryder Cup debut alongside European talisman Ian Poulter.
Stephen Gallacher on the seventh tee during the third practice day at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Pic: Jane BarlowStephen Gallacher on the seventh tee during the third practice day at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Pic: Jane Barlow
Stephen Gallacher on the seventh tee during the third practice day at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Pic: Jane Barlow

The pairings for the opening fourballs of the 40th Ryder Cup were announced by the team Captains today ahead of the starrt of the showpiece Europe v United States at Gleneagles tomorrow.

And home favourite Gallacher - who lives just 35 miles from Gleneagles - was given an ideal start as he was paired with Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter, who has won 11 of his last 12 matches in the biennial contest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pair will take on Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed in the third match of the morning.

Rory McIlroy will get the chance to let his golf do the talking against Phil Mickelson on the opening morning, after the American veteran made a joke about McIlroy’s court case against the Northern Irishman’s former management company Horizon, which has seen team-mate Graeme McDowell dragged into the dispute as he is still represented by them.

“Not only are we able to play together, we also don’t litigate against each other and that’s a real plus, I feel, heading into this week,” Mickelson said.

McIlroy and the rest of the European team laughed off the remarks on Thursday, but things may be more serious when the action finally gets under way.

World number one McIlroy and Spain’s Sergio Garcia were kept till last in the opening fourballs by captain Paul McGinley and will take on Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who won all three of their matches together at Medinah in 2012.

Another pairing from Chicago, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and wild card Webb Simpson, will take on Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the opening clash at 7:35am, followed by Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker against Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Medinah hero Martin Kaymer, the US Open champion.