Langer keeps same pairs for final practice

Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer kept four of his pairs together for the final practice session at Oakland Hills today.

And since they were playing fourballs, it looked as though they were the eight who would be starting Europe’s defence of the trophy tomorrow.

The duos were Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke, Luke Donald and Paul Casey and finally Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.

The four remaining team members – Paul McGinley, Thomas Levet, Ian Poulter and David Howell – played together for the second morning running, but this time it was McGinley partnering Levet and Poulter linking up with Howell.

Harrington and Montgomerie were partners in the second day fourballs at The Belfry two years ago, ending the unbeaten run of Phil Mickelson and David Toms.

Westwood and Garcia had three wins together in that match, while new caps Donald and Casey were unbeaten in the 1999 Walker Cup victory over America’s top amateurs in Scotland.

The partnerships for the opening fourballs will be announced at the opening ceremony tonight.