Paul McGinley drops Stevie G

Stephen Gallacher will not be given a chance to make up for a stuttering start at the Ryder Cup after European captain Paul McGinley opted not to pick the Scot for tomorrow morning’s fourballs.

Home hero Gallacher and Ian Poulter lost to young American rookies Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth 5&4 this morning.

The rookie Scot – a wild card pick by Paul McGinley – admitted he didn’t get off to the best of starts at a cold Gleneagles today. “We just never got the birdies, “ he said. “That was all.”

Poulter said he would shrug the defeat off and “look forward to tomorrow”. He’s been given a spot in the last match of the morning alongside world No.1 Rory McIlroy.

The Europeans who won’t play in the morning are Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson, who team up this afternoon for a 3&2 win over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. That loss was the US pair’s first defeat in five Ryder Cup matches.

But both G-Mac and Dubuisson will have to wait and see whether Paul McGinley picks them for the afternoon foursomes.

“We just never got the birdies” – Stephen Gallacher

The brilliant pairing of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson – who were never down in any of their two matches – will kick off proceedings at 7.35, playing against Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar, a new pairing for this week.

Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson – who beat Jim Furyk and Kuchar in the first match out this afternoon – will pair up again in the second match. They face Furyk and Mahan, another new pairing this week for Watson.

“Stevie will likely play tomorrow afternoon” – Paul McGinley

The brilliant Spieth and Reed will get their second bite at the Ryder Cup cherry against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer. The Europeans will be hoping to get more from their match – out in the third grouping tomorrow morning, having led all the way today against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler only to settle for a half.

The last pairing of the morning session sees McIlroy and Poulter face Walker and Fowler.

Europe lead the Ryder Cup 5-3 after day one.

Paul McGinley – his Saturday morning pairings

Match 1 (7.35am)

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson vs Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar.

Match 2 (7.50am)

Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood vs Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan.

Match 3 (8.05am)

Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer vs Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth.

Match 4 (8.20am)

Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter vs Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.

Follow Paul McGinley & Co. with bunkered

Keep up-to-date with all the latest goings with Paul McGinley and the rest of Team Europe direct from Gleneagles courtesy of the bunkered team. Follow us on Twitter (@BunkeredOnline) and Facebook (facebook.com/BunkeredMagazine).

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered