The wait is almost over. The 2023 Ryder Cup is set to begin in just 12 hours, and the Day 1 pairings and tee times have finally been announced. There are some surprising choices made by both the United States and European teams, adding excitement and intrigue to the opening session.
One of the most notable changes for the United States team is the absence of the long-time pairing of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. This dynamic duo, who have been successful in previous Ryder Cups, will be sitting out the opening foursomes session. Instead, U.S. captain Zach Johnson has decided to mix things up and give other players a chance to secure some points early on.
On the European side, almost all notable players will be competing in the opening session. The European team is going all out in their attempt to take an early lead against the Americans. Leading the way will be the pair of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, followed by Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood. The European team has also thrown in a surprising and intimidating pairing of Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, adding another layer of excitement to the matchups.
Here’s a look at the foursomes matchups for the first session on Friday morning:
Match 1 (1:35 a.m.) – Scottie Scheffler & Sam Burns vs. Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton
Match 2 (1:50 a.m.) – Max Homa & Brian Harman vs. Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg
Match 3 (2:05 a.m.) – Rickie Fowler & Collin Morikawa vs. Sepp Straka & Shane Lowry
Match 4 (2:20 a.m.) – Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele vs. Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood
There are several interesting storylines to watch out for in these matchups. In Match 1, Scheffler and Burns will be aiming to defeat Rahm, who Scheffler defeated in the last Ryder Cup. Match 2 is the most intriguing, as it features the unpredictable pairing of Homa and Harman against the formidable duo of Hovland and Aberg. Match 3 sees surprise pairings on both sides, with Fowler and Morikawa teaming up against Straka and Lowry, who have similar playing styles. Finally, Match