Possible Ryder Cup pairings for Europe and USA

Some of the Ryder Cup pairings look fairly obvious, while others not so, but based on our assumptions Luke Donald and Bubba Watson look reasonable prices to top-score for their respective teams.

Donald is 6/1 to score the most points from the 12-man European team, with Watson a lengthy looking 11/1 to do the honours for the US.

Possible European pairings

Rory McIlroy & Graeme McDowell
Justin Rose & Ian Poulter
Luke Donald & Sergio Garcia
Lee Westwood & Paul Lawrie
Francesco Molinari & Peter Hanson
Martin Kaymer & Nicolas Colsaerts

The top two pairs in this group look nailed on as they both put close friends together. Rose and Poulter took two points from a possible three together at Valhalla in 2008.

Donald and Garcia are arguably Europe’s top two Ryder Cup players, with the former winning eight of his 11 total matches, including a 100 per cent record from six foursome encounters.

Meanwhile, Garcia is unbeaten in nine games of foursomes and has four victories to his name overall when paired with Donald.

Although not the biggest names in the team, Molinari and Hanson could prove a dream team, with the Italian impressive tee to green and Hanson coming into his own on the greens.

Lawrie and Westwood have gone out together in the larger practice groups and so may be being primed to pair up, leaving Kaymer and Colsaerts as the other duo.

Possible US pairings

Tiger Woods & Steve Stricker
Phil Mickelson & Keegan Bradley
Jim Furyk & Matt Kuchar
Dustin Johnson & Zach Johnson
Bubba Watson & Brandt Snedeker
Jason Dufner & Webb Simpson

Woods and Stricker look a likely pairing as they won all four matches together at the 2009 Presidents Cup, while the unrelated Johnsons look well-matched partners, with Dustin’s ball striking complementing Zach’s short game.

Mickelson has three or four potential partners, namely Furyk after the duo won all three matches together at the 2009 Presidents Cup.

However, preference is that he will be paired with Bradley, given that he is almost a mentor for the youngest member of the US team.

Furyk may instead join forces with Kuchar, with the pair largely steady and cancelling out each other’s weaknesses.

Watson and Simpson were impressive in tandem at the last Presidents Cup, but Davis Love III may be against pairing up two players with some putting concerns.

Snedeker’s speed around the course would sit well with Watson and he could profit from the 2012 Masters winner’s extreme length off the tee.

This leaves Simpson to partner Dufner.

All odds and markets correct as of publication