Filed under: Ryder Cup
NEWPORT, Wales -- Five Ryder Cup rookies help make up the United States squad that begins play Friday against Europe when the 38th renewal of the biannual competition begins at Celtic Manor.
In a bold move, American captain Corey Pavin is playing four of the first-time members in the morning's open session of four-ball play -- two paired together in the fourth and final match of the best-ball competition. Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton will go against the Euro glamour-name pairing of Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington to close the morning session.
It's a decision that opens Pavin to a wave of second guessing.
Every captain speaks of a desire to grab control of the momentum early, so the American captain anchoring the opening session with a pair of rookies in front of a pro-European crowd attracted immediate debate.
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That's especially the case considering that Jim Furyk, a seven-time Ryder Cup performer coming off a big win Sunday in the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, was left on the sidelines.
"Well, he said he was tired," Pavin joked of Furyk. "He was counting the money and he's been very tired."
As for the Watson-Overton pairing, Pavin said he has a good feeling.
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