Pairings and pageantry
- 21 Sep 06, 11:08 AM
K CLUB – A couple of weeks ago I immodestly claimed this was the blog that moved markets, as the price on an American win plummeted after my plea for Europe to return to their time-honoured underdog status.
Well, given yesterday’s “K Club chaos” kerfuffle, I can now claim this is the blog that moves car parks. In this, case from to .
But after a lengthy editorial meeting in our Dublin HQ – “Ireland’s largest genuine Irish brewery”, The Porterhouse – we decided that we would no longer write about traffic, tickets, security or the weather. We also decided to wait a bit longer before retiring as it was “80s night” and they still hadn’t played “Ghostbusters”.
We should, however, close this chapter by giving credit where credit is due. Today’s “North Car Park” experience was first-rate. No idea if we had anything to do with that – we did make the Irish press and radio, after all – but well done to all involved. Now let’s get on with the golf.
And on that subject, here’s the agenda for today:
The Americans, who had their official team photographs at 1015 on the 10th fairway, are starting their practice session on . Not sure what format they’re playing, or what the pairings are, but I can confidently predict they will not be repeating yesterday’s swimming pool finale-style pitch & putt.
(News flash: Just heard that they are playing foursomes – Woods & Furyk v Mickelson & DiMarco!!! Toms & Wetterich v Campbell & Johnson, Cink & Taylor v Henry & Verplank…bets on which one will have the biggest gallery???)
The Europeans had their photos taken in the media centre’s interview room and have just moved off to the 1st tee. They line up like this: Clarke & Westwood (for third straight day) v Olazabal & Garcia, Montgomerie & Harrington v Casey & Karlsson, Stenson & Howell v McGinley & Donald.
And then the day’s big news event: the announcement of Friday’s pairings.
Woosie is on first at 1400 to reveal what he has scribbled on the back of his cigarette packet and then Tom Lehman will take to the pulpit to deliver his sermon.
Having seen today’s practice line-ups, what are everybody’s Friday fourballs predictions???
After all that it’s shower and shave time for the opening ceremony at 1530. More on that later but let me warn you that the organisers have warned us that “relatively speaking, it will deliver the visual impact which one would typically associate with ”. Oh goody.
Actually, I’m going to have to tell you a bit more as it’s too good to hold back.
Apparently, “MacTeo, Cosceim and Els Comediants (Ernie, is that you???) will create a pageant which tells the story of Ireland’s relationship with golf but which is rooted in Irish music, story, legend and myth.”
There’s much, much more but we’ll reveal the full horror, sorry, spectacular, later.
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Morning Matt
Fourball predictions...I think Messrs Woosnam & Lehman are going to send their strongest pairings out first (no surprise here). Look for Clarke/Westwood; Garcia/Donald -v- Woods/Furyk.
I don't think Woosnam is going to chop and change a lot of his pairings, he's going to look for consistent pairings with a good bond. McGinley/Harrington wouldn't surprise me, they'll certainly have the crowd around them but I wouldn't expect to see this in the Foursomes.
What does everyone else think? Who would be your fourball pairings?
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Hey Matt,
Park-n-Ride-Gate certainly stirred up a storm. I'm personally disapointed that you guys are restricting yourselves to golf (yes we DO want to hear all you have to say about the golfing but it's also great to get the overview of what's actually going on).
You guys are doing a great job and the blog is fascinating - keep up the good work. Quality journalism in the jungle of the blogosphere - refreshing!
JohnP
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Friday 4-balls is about getting points on the board. Expect the in form 8 from each side; my guess:
1) Montie & Harrington vs Mickleson & DiMarco
2) Garcia & Donald vs Woods & Furyk
3) Karlson & Casey vs Verplank & Cink
4) Clarke & Westwood vs Toms & Campbell
Think all 12 europeans will go out tomorrow at some point and 10 americans.
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Sergio with Jose again today then? I fear for this partnership and, with better and more established pairings, I wonder if Sergio will get the full complement of matches he deserves. Sergio is favourite to be top European points scorer?! This would be my LAY of the tournament.
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My guess given the pairings used by Woosnam:
Fourballs:
- Monty/Howell
- Donald/Casey
- Sergio/JMO
- Stenson/Karlsson
Foursomes:
- Donald/Sergio
- Casey/Howell
- Monty/Harrington
- Clarke/Westwood
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I have no idea about how the Americans will line up, apart from the fact that Woods and Furyk are a dead cert!
However, my pick for the European opening fourballs, and also the pairings I think Woosnam will go for, would be the following:
1) Montie & Howell
2) Clarke & Harington
3) Westwood & Garcia
4) Paul Casey & Donald/Olazabal
(couldn't quite put my finger on Ollie or Donald. McGinley will not play to start with in my opinion, I just don't think his form is such that Woosnam can pick him.)
However, I reckon this group of fine men would send out a signal of intent, and could potentially haul us a full hous in the morning! (am I getting carried away now?)
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Voilent Storm Force 11 for Irish Sea tonight.
Blowing through by dawn tomorrow. Lets hope there is some of the K Club left!
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Fourballs
Monty / Harrington
Donald / Casey
Garcia / Olazabal
Clarke / Westwood
Foursomes
Monty / Harrington
Garcia / Westwood
Casey / Howell
Clarke / McGinley
USA any combination you like - the result will be the same!!
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fourballs
Monty/harrington
Donald/Casey
Clarke/Westwood
Garcia/Howell
Foursomes
harrington/Mcginley
Clarke/Westwood
Monty/Howell
Casey/Donald
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why on earth would you have donald/casey, garcia/howell when you would definitely put garcia with donald and casey with howell, both tried and tested and prolific.
and you can't not play garcia in the afternoon foursomes
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Just back from what I can only describe as an extraordinary opening ceremony (more on that later) but who got the pairings right? Strewth, none of us! But Billyo, good on yer son for getting closest. Not many in this tent picked Casey and Karlsson so well done. What does everybody think? Donald, Howell and Stenson on the bench...reminds me of Argentina's substitute options during the World Cup. Let's hope things work out better for Woosie than they did for Jose Pekerman.
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