Ryder Cup 2016 pairings: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson tee off Europe's defence at Hazeltine National

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Carl Markham30 September 2016

Ryder Cup captains Darren Clarke and Davis Love have backed their two top partnerships to get their sides off to a good start at Hazeltine National on Friday.

Europe tee off the foursomes with the Olympic gold and silver medallists in England's Justin Rose and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who won three out of three together at Gleneagles two years ago.

Unsurprisingly they will be up against two-time major winner Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who were America's best combination in Scotland with two wins and a half in three matches, in the first match off at 7.35am local time (1.35pm BST).

However, Clarke - despite protestations to the contrary - was forced into a late change when he paired rookie Thomas Pieters with veteran Lee Westwood in the fourth match, when the evidence all week had pointed to Danny Willett going out with his fellow Englishman.

Willett was caught up in a storm following a column written by schoolteacher brother Peter which described American fans as a "braying mob of imbeciles" - among other derogatory things - and his form appeared to suffer.

In his final practice round on Thursday the Masters champion hit one spectator on the head at the second hole and produced a number of other wayward shots which prompted several on-course discussions between Clarke and his vice-captains.

The upshot appeared to be a late switch which handed Belgian Pieters his chance to take on the in-form Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.

"Danny's playing fine. I have no worries about Danny whatsoever, mentally or otherwise," said Clarke, who denied he had had a last-minute change of heart over the Yorkshireman.

"His golf game's good. He's ready to go play. Obviously the incident that has happened has created a bit of a furore but Danny himself is the Masters champion.

"He's like all the guys; he's disappointed he's not playing in the morning, and he understands what I'm trying to do is for the team.

Foursomes pairings

1:35pm: Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed vs Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson

1:50pm: Phil Mickelson and and Rickie Fowler vs Rory McIlory and Andy Sullivan

2:05pm: Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson vs Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer

2:20pm: Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar vs Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters

"Danny will play in the afternoon and he may well play four times."

If there was room for debate over that decision there was none over his decision to send out the big guns of Rose and Stenson to face America's main men.

"I could have almost given you the first match whenever we arrived here or before we got here," added the Northern Irishman.

"Justin and Henrik are a very proven, successful Ryder Cup pairing, and both are very strong players.

"We've got the Olympic champion and the Open champion. They were always going to be my choice for leading Europe off in this match. That was never, never in doubt."

World number three Rory McIlroy will play with another rookie Andy Sullivan against Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, while Europe's third group of Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer face Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson.

Love is confident Reed and Spieth will rise to the challenge and he hopes to harness the energy of a fervent home crowd.

"Our most fired-up guy is going to be in front of the most fired-up crowd maybe in the history of golf so that's a good start," he said.

"We just felt like that first tee atmosphere just fit him and Jordan to get it kicked off.

"And then you have a guy (Spieth) that can handle that crowd and handle the pressure playing with him."

30 September 2016

Spieth & Reed win 3&2 over Rose & Stenson

Europe are on the back foot on this hole after finding the bunker with their tee shot and it's left to Rose to make a huge putt to keep Europe in this match... he misses.

Patrick Reed has 14ft for the win and makes no mistake. The first point of the 2016 Ryder Cup goes to the USA!

26 August 2018

Johnson & Kucher vs Pieters & Westwood

Our first points of 2016 look like they could be coming in the final match, with Johnson & Kucher moving five up with five holes left as Johnson buries a mega putt. Westwood can't respond with a comparative tiddler - this one is as good as done.

30 September 2016

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Stenson's chip onto the green is all wrong and Rose has a difficult putt down the hill to save a half.

He goes long, but Europe get a lucky break as Reed follows up with a disastrous miss from four feet.

Perhaps he's regretting making Stenson putt that gimme on the ninth. 

30 September 2016

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Rose and Reed find the fairway with their tee shots on the seventh and Spieth goes brazenly for the pin with water hazards lurking. It's impressive, while Stenson is more tentative and the Americans have a chance to go 3UP here. 

Reed holes his effort to assume control in match one. 

30 September 2016

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

An opportunity for McIlroy and Sullivan to wrestle control of match two as Mickelson goes out of bounds. 

30 September 2016

Dustin Johnson & Kucher vs Pieters & Westwood

Westwood misses the line of the fairway completely with his tee shot, but recovers and the Englishman putts to half the hole on the third green. That will settle the nerves after a difficult start. 

30 September 2016

Dustin Johnson & Kucher vs Pieters & Westwood

Pieters misses another putt on the second green as Dustin Johnson and Kucher accept the gift and move 2UP after two. Some interesting storylines developing at Hazeltine.

30 September 2016

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

1UP

Mickelson's putting has been expert so far, especially under pressure on the third, but he misses a par opportunity here and sets up McIlroy to win Europe the hole. 

He delivers and Europe are up in two. 

26 August 2018

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

McIlroy is greeted onto the first tee by this rowdy lot and he's joining in the dance moves. 

30 September 2016

"I believe that we will win!"

The US fans in fine voice as Rose stands over the first tee.

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