Hi °C | Lo °C Padraig Harrington will lead Europe into battle at Valhalla as they press for an unprecedented fourth successive Ryder Cup victory.
In a blockbuster of a start, Nick Faldo has paired Harrington, winner of the British Open and the USPGA titles this year, with Robert Karlsson, and they will take on Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson, the man who is expected to shoulder the burden for the US this year in the absence of the injured Tiger Woods.
Northern Ireland’s Ryder Cup debut boy Graeme McDowell won’t take part in the morning session, which begins at 1.05pm (BST), but he is expected to have his wish granted in the afternoon fourballs as he teams up with Harrington. It’s been an amazing few days for McDowell who had another dream fulfiled when he met boxing legend Muhammad Ali at the Kentucky course.
Harrington is out to make up for his poor start last time — only one half-point from five games at the K Club.
And he is looking forward to linking up with Karlsson, who won in Germany last weekend.
"Robert has been playing great all year and he is certainly somebody I looked to play with and he looked to play with me,” said the Dubliner.
In the other opening pairings, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey are in the second game against Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan, while Justin Rose and Ian Poulter are up against Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell. Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood take on Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk.
