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Stephen Gallacher will make his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles in the third match of tomorrow’s morning opening session.
The Scot, who lives just a 25-minute drive from this year’s host venue, will team-up with Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter in their fourballs encounter with American rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will open the batting for Europe against American duo Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, before Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer take on Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.
The final match of the session is a positively mouth-watering encounter between Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, and the USA’s Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson.
However, for the home contingent in the galleries, it is the prospect of seeing Stephen Gallacher team-up with Ian Poulter that is sure to set the heather on the hills around Gleneagles alight.
“I can’t wait to smash it down the middle.” – Ian Poulter
“For my first Ryder Cup, having it in Scotland, I couldn’t have done better than to play with Poults,” said Gallacher following this afternoon’s opening ceremony. “He’s the epitome of the Ryder Cup. The passion, everything it involves and he’s been there and knows what to do.
“He will be a calming influence as well. We’re similar players, so we’re just going to go out there and enjoy it and, hopefully, make lots of birdies.”
Poulter, who takes a record of 12 wins from 15 matches into this year’s Ryder Cup, added: “I’m absolutely buzzing. Playing with Stevie G, on his home course, in Scotland, in his first Ryder Cup – it’s going to be amazing. We’re playing against two good rookies, two great players, and I can’t wait now to walk through that tunnel.
“The last picture we are going to see is Seve as we walk out the other end, walk on the tee to a loud, rapturous reception, and I can’t wait to smash it down the middle.”
He added: “It’s a big week, very big week in Scotland, obviously for Stevie, and it’s going to be amazing to see the crowd pulling, and that’s the energy you need out there in the Ryder Cup. You need to feed from them. You need to enjoy it, you need to embrace it and you need to play with passion.”
Gallacher, a three-time winner on the European Tour, remarked: “It’s such a big event. To be the only Scot in your home country is massive. We’ve got to give the fans something to see, something to cheer about.”
Ryder Cup :: Friday morning fourballs
7.35am
Justin Rose & Henrik Stenson
vs
Bubba Watson & Webb Simpson
7.50am
Thomas Bjorn & Martin Kaymer
vs
Rickie Fowler & Jimmy Walker
8.05am
Stephen Gallacher & Ian Poulter
vs
Patrick Reed & Jordan Spieth
8.20am
Rory McIlroy & Sergio Garcia
vs
Keegan Bradley & Phil Mickelson
Ryder Cup :: Opening Session matches :: Your thoughts
What do you make of the pairings and matches announced this afternoon for the opening session of the 2014 Ryder Cup? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.
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