Ryder Cup practice has a familiar look

United States captain Paul Azinger stayed with the same playing groups for the second day of practice at Valhalla as preparations for the 37th Ryder Cup matches resumed today.

Azinger sent out Jim Furyk and Boo Weekley with Kentucky favourites Kenny Perry and JB Holmes once again, as he did during yesterday’s first official day of practice, although instead of pairing the he paired the locals together the American skipper put Perry with Furyk and sent out debutants Holmes and Weekley together.

The second group out saw Stewart Cink paired with Steve Stricker while Ben Curtis played with Chad Campbell, Cink having partnered Campbell 24 hours earlier alongside Curtis and Striker.

The final group also saw the same quartet together, albeit mixed up from yesterday, with world number two Phil Mickelson switching from a pairing with Justin Leonard to accompany rookie Anthony Kim and Leonard partnering another first timer – Hunter Mahan.

Asked yesterday whether anything could be read into his choice of groupings, Azinger joked: “You just don’t throw them out willy-nilly. I’m not drawing names out of a hat.”

He also stated he would like to send Perry and Holmes out early on the opening day on Friday “to get the crowd rocking”, while Mickelson and Kim are rumoured to be another probable pairing.