Clarke and Bjorn bid for Woods repeat

Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn will try to repeat the greatest performances of their careers when they take on Tiger Woods in the opening match of the Ryder Cup at The Belfry tomorrow.

Clarke beat the world number in the final of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California two years ago – it earned him a million dollars - while Bjorn defeated him in Dubai last year after they had gone head-to-head for 72 holes.

It is Clarke and Bjorn against Woods and Paul Azinger, United States captain Curtis Strange having changed his mind about pairing Woods with Mark Calcavecchia in the fourballs rather than the foursomes.

Neither Strange nor Europe’s leader Sam Torrance has pulled any real surprises with their line-ups, though.

Lee Westwood’s form in practice has brought him into action straightway in partnership with Sergio Garcia – against David Duval and Davis Love.

Garcia was unbeaten with Jesper Parnevik on his debut three years ago, but Parnevik has had terrible problems with his putting lately and while he hopes that is behind him his overall form did not match that of Westwood in the final build-up.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer resume the partnership they had at Valderrama in 1997 – in fact, they first played together in 1991 – and face Scott Hoch and Jim Furyk.

Then, to complete the morning action, Padraig Harrington links up with in-form Swede Niclas Fasth, the only one of Torrance’s four rookies who does not have to wait to be involved.

Fasth was preferred to Paul McGinley, who looks certain to be with his fellow Dubliner Harrington in the afternoon foursomes.

Harrington and Fasth are up against what many think will be American’s strongest duo – world number two Phil Mickelson and last year’s USPGA champion David Toms.

The four players left out by Torrance are McGinley, Parnevik, Phillip Price and Pierre Fulke and there are no guarantees from their captain yet they will be brought in before Saturday or even before Sunday’s singles.

“I’m intending to play everybody, but I am not going to give points away,” he said.

Waiting in the wings for the Americans are Calcavecchia, Scott Verplank, Stewart Cink and Hal Sutton.

Calcavecchia, playing for the first time since 1991, has the curious record of having lost all four of his fourballs and having won all four of his foursomes.

But the fourballs records of both Woods and Azinger should not cause Clarke and Bjorn a sleepless night.

In Ryder and Presidents Cup matches Woods has won only one of eight and Azinger only one of seven. And one of Woods’ defeat came at the hands of Clarke and Westwood at Brookline.

“Clarke and Bjorn have been fantastic all week,” said Torrance. “They’re birdie machines.”

And when reminded of the pair’s wins over Woods he added: “Thanks. I’ll remember that for the team meeting tonight – that might be my best point.”

On opting for Westwood, at 148th easily the lowest ranked player on either side, rather than Parnevik the 49-year-old Scot commented: “Jesper is not on top of his game yet, but he’s very close. I didn’t want to put the pressure on him in the first match.”

Parnevik has even said he will not be complaining if he plays only the singles.

“Lee has been struggling,” added Torrance. “But he’s been great through this week and I liked what he said. It’s not how you’re playing it’s how you respond to pressure. He’s very good at that.

“He’s a class act. Class is forever; form can come and go.”

Montgomerie said last week he was expecting to play with Langer, even though they are the two most experienced members of the team, and Torrance said: “I considered splitting them up at the start of the week, but the other teams gelled so well together that I didn’t have to.”

Strange’s press conference after the pairings were revealed was dominated by questions about Woods – and Calcavecchia – practising before most of the crowd had arrived.

“He’s not breaking ranks. He’s doing what he’s allowed to do. I told them to prepare like a major championship and if somebody (among the crowd) is upset get upset with me.

“But this is not an exhibition. This is a helluva competition that we take great pride in winning. I’m sorry if somebody didn’t get to see Tiger play – but they’ll get to see him play the next three days. If he plays.”

It is hard to imagine Strange omitting Woods from any series however well or badly he starts.