By Craig Swan
Copyright dailyrecord
Luke Donald and his European heroes have headed into New York aiming to keep a hold of their cherished Ryder Cup. The visitors go into the tough environment of Bethpage to face a hostile home crowd and a fired-up United States team. With individuals such as Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau looking to claim a win on their home soil, their motivation is clear. However, Donald is determined his boys manage to open their own piece of history by becoming the fifth European team to win across the Atlantic. The Ryder Cup takes place over three days through Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the first foursomes matches taking place on the day one morning before an afternoon session of fourballs. That pattern is repeated on Saturday before the fifth and final sessions sees 12 head-to-head singles matches conclude the tournament. DAY ONE FOURSOMES MATCH ONE: 12.10PM (UK TIME) BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU/JUSTIN THOMAS vs JON RAHM/TYRRELL HATTON Both teams send strong pairings into the opening game. The American duo are outstanding players, have both won two Majors and, into the bargain, are crowd-pleasers who will help to whip up the atmosphere with their spirit. Rahm and Hatton have a close bond having won points together at the last Ryder Cup in Rome and they are also team-mates on LIV. MATCH TWO: 12.26PM SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER/RUSSELL HENLEY vs MATT FITZPATRICK/LUDVIG ABERG America boasts the World No.1 player and Scheffler is a man who could stamp his class through the weekend and bank a raft of points. He teamed up with henley to have success at last year’s Presidents Cup and the duo meshed nicely. The Europeans, however, are a new team. The English star has played in three Ryder Cups and the Swede in one and this pairing is facing a big test. MATCH THREE: 12.42PM COLLIN MORIKAWA/HARRIS ENGLISH vs RORY McILROY /TOMMY FLEETWOOD Europe’s talisman McIlroy is back alongside Tommy Fleetwood after the pair were titans for their team in Rome. The World No.2 is determined to land a second Ryder Cup on away soil and joins the Southport star in facing Collin Morikawa and Harris English. The American duo are precise iron players and have the skill-set to perform well in the foursomes formula. MATCH FOUR: 12.58PM PATRICK CANTLAY/XANDER SCHAUFFELE vs BOB MacINTYRE /VIKTOR HOVLAND MacIntyre didn’t play foursomes two years ago in Rome as a rookie, but, now established in the World’s Top 10, he’s got the nod from his impressed captain and goes in with his Norwegian sidekick, who was a star in Italy with a stunning performance and a high haul of points. Cantlay and Schauffele were once a fearsome duo and, although they had some setbacks in Italy and also at last year’s Presidents Cup, they remain a powerful pairing. WHERE TO WATCH: Live coverage will be screened on Sky Sports.
