Ryder Cup captains Darren Clarke and Davis Love prepare for the crunch

In terms of pairings, only time will tell if either captain avoids the type of blunder committed by Hal Sutton in 2004.

Whatever the outcome of the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, one thing is for certain. Either Darren Clarke or Davis Love will be hailed as a brilliant captain and vital part of their team's victory.

The man not drenched in champagne by his adoring players will be derided for making poor pairings and woeful wild card selections - which everyone else knew at the time were wrong, of course - and join the likes of Hal Sutton, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo in the captaincy 'Hall of Shame'.