McGinley Strongly Hints In Splitting McIlroy & McDowell Pairing … First Photo Of European Team.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is prepared to split the all-Ulster pair of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in Friday’s commencing 40th Ryder Cup.

And McGinley says if he does not pair them together it will be nothing to do with events unfolding in a Dublin High Court.

“Three or four months ago, I had a very strong view that they would have been paired but the more I look at the statistics, the more I’m thinking in value in not doing it,” McGinley said.

“If I don’t decide to play them together it will be for tactical reasons.

“They have played six Ryder Cup matches together and they have won only two of them. So, it’s not like these guys are written in stone together. They are not a formidable foursome pairing, not a formidable fourball pairing that’s unbeatable.”

Jamie Corrigan writing in the London Telegraph says McIlroy intimated this evening the likelihood of some “surprise pairings” and the whisper the World No. 1 will be paired with Germany’s Martin Kaymer in the Friday afternoon foursomes.

If so, it could see Spain’s Sergio García as McIlroy’s partner in the opening FourBalls.

Then as Jamie suggested McIlroy could find himself teamed with Mr. Ryder Cup Ian Poulter.

And as www.golfbytourmiss.com reported earlier today USA Captain Tom Watson has set his team the target of bringing down Poulter.

“We’ve got a lot of players to look at, but Poulter, with his record, he’s an 80 per cent victor over the series of matches he’s played in so we’d like to reduce that,” Watson said.

“Certainly whenever you beat the stud on the opposing team that gives your team a boost, not a question, but when it’s all said and done it’s 12 guys out there trying to win a point each match. There are eight guys in the first four matches, and on the last on Sunday, 12 guys are trying to win a point.”

McDowell was the last of the European Team to check into the Gleneagles Hotel at 4pm this afternoon before joining his fellow team members for a welcome dinner while Watson hosted a similar team dinner for his side.

Here is the first photograph of McGinley’s men AND check out the one player not wearing team shoes !!!

 

The first official photo of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team.  (Photo - www.rydercup.com)

The first official photo of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team. (Photo – www.rydercup.com)



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