Thomas Bjorn: I'm 80 or 85% certain of my European Ryder Cup pairings

European Ryder Cup captain Bjorn puts together some interesting fourballs in practice.

Andy Roberts's picture
Tue, 25 Sep 2018
Thomas Bjorn: I'm 80 or 85% certain of my European Ryder Cup pairings

 

Thomas Bjorn has revealed he is "80 or 85% certain" of his European Ryder Cup pairings to face United States at Le Golf National this week.


 

European Ryder Cup captain Bjorn gave fans a flavour of what to be possibly expect this week when setting his three practice fourballs out earlier today.

Sergio Garcia, Alex Noren, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose went out in match one. From past experience of Ryder Cups together and their close bond off the course, you'd anticipate Stenson and Rose being a guaranteed pairing, while Garcia and Noren use the same Callaway ball.

Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey and Thorbjorn Olesen went out in match two, so we'll have to see whether the skipper opts for a power pairing of McIlroy and Rahm. 

Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton then went out together in match three. Make your minds up about that one, but we for one would love to see the fiery English duo of Poulter and Hatton teaming up, while Fleetwood and Molinari would likely prove a very steady combination around the tight Le Golf National test.

But Bjorn doesn't want fans to get too carried away by these fourballs. 

“You get some of the new guys out with somebody with a bit of experience so they can talk the way around," said Bjorn, "but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are pairing up together."

“I don’t feel like I’ve given away anything in what’s happening on the golf course today.” 

Still, Bjorn said that he’s “80 or 85%” certain of the pairings he’d like to use this week.

“I’m pretty set in my mind,” he said.