Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood will contest the third foursomes match of the opening session of the Ryder Cup on Friday at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy and Fleetwood will face Collin Morikawa and Harris English.
European skipper Luke Donald sent Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm out in the opening foursomes tie two years ago and his first copy and paste job from Rome is to do so again.
The New York crowd will have the opportunity to get rowdy early as USA captain Keegan Bradley has opted to send Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas out in the top match.
Ludvig Åberg and Matthew Fitzpatrick is the first new pairing unleashed by Donald in match two and they will face Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley who won two from three matches together in last year’s Presidents Cup.
In the anchor match, Donald has again switched things up from Rome, pairing Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland together to tackle the tried and tested partnership of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
Shane Lowry, who played both foursomes sessions last time out with Austria’s Sepp Straka sits this session out.
Both captains know the importance of a fast start, particularly in foursomes. Whoever comes out on top after both foursomes sessions usually wins the Ryder Cup so it’s no surprise that Rahm and Hatton are out together first.
Rahm has a 4-0 record in foursomes and he and Hatton were two for two in Rome.
“We know in match play you have to get off to a good start and these guys have had a lot of success together. Rahm is 4-0 in foursomes,” said Donald.
“They know how to win, get on well and are a strong partnership. We are very happy to send them out first.”
Bradley believes his opening pairing can bring the early fireworks on Friday morning.
“Besides the fact they are both phenomenal players, they bring a spark to our team.
“Bryson has been incredible in the locker room and we really want him to lead our team out.
“Everyone really wanted to play with each other.”
