Ryder Cup: Sunday pairings and predictions
The final-day singles pairing are supposed to be a blind draw, with neither side knowing who the other will slot in what match. But this seems too perfect.
The match everyone wanted to see will happen, right from the get go: Patrick Reed vs. Rory McIlroy.
The two went scream-for-scream Saturday, with Reed playing the role of (as Jordan Spieth called it) Captain America, while McIlroy egged on the vocal American crowd at every opportunity.
Heading into the final day, the U.S. leads 9½ to 6½. The U.S. needs 14½ to win the Cup; Europe needs 14 to retain the Cup.
Here are the 12 matches, with the Yahoo Sports picks:
Match 1 (12:04 p.m.): Patrick Reed (USA) vs. Rory McIlroy (EUR)
Jay Hart’s pick: McIlroy
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: McIlroy
Match 2 (12:15): Jordan Spieth vs. Henrik Stenson
Jay Hart’s pick: Stenson
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Stenson
Match 3 (12:26): J.B. Holmes vs. Thomas Pieters
Jay Hart’s pick: Pieters
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Holmes
Match 4 (12:37): Rickie Fowler vs. Justin Rose
Jay Hart’s pick: Rose
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Fowler
Match 5 (12:48): Jimmy Walker vs. Rafa Cabrera Bello
Jay Hart’s pick: Walker
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Cabrera
Match 6 (12:59): Phil Mickelson vs. Sergio Garcia
Jay Hart’s pick: Mickelson
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Mickelson
Match 7 (1:10): Ryan Moore vs. Lee Westwood
Jay Hart’s pick: Moore
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Moore
Match 8 (1:21): Brandt Snedeker vs. Andy Sullivan
Jay Hart’s pick: Snedeker
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Snedeker
Match 9 (1:32): Dustin Johnson vs. Chris Wood
Jay Hart’s pick: Johnson
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Johnson
Match 10 (1:43): Brookes Koepka vs. Danny Willett
Jay Hart’s pick: Koepka
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Koepka
Match 11 (1:54): Matt Kuchar vs. Martin Kaymer
Jay Hart’s pick: Kuchar
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Kuchar
Match 12 (2:05): Zach Johnson vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick
Jay Hart’s pick: Johnson
Ryan Ballengee’s pick: Johnson