McIlroy and G-Mac lead Euro charge

European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal threw down the gauntlet to his American hosts last night when he opted to send out world No 1 Rory McIlroy and fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell as his opening pairing in today’s foursomes matches.

McIlroy, playing his first Ryder Cup on American soil, will renew a partnership with fellow former US Open champion McDowell first forged in 2010 at Celtic Manor when they square up against Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker in the first match of the day.

Olazabal has stacked his line-up for the opening session with all his heavyweights. Sergio Garcia is reunited with Luke Donald for a partnership that has an unbeaten record in foursomes, with four wins from four in 2004 and 2006. The Europeans will face another veteran-rookie US partnership in nine-time Ryder Cupper Phil Mickelson and rookie Keegan Bradley.