NEWPORT, Wales – Rory McIlroy won’t be facing off against Tiger Woods in the Ryder singles matches Monday at Celtic Manor.
Woods will meet Francesco Molinari.
Notably, European captain Colin Montgomerie strongly front loaded his lineup, sending out his highest ranked player, Lee Westwood, as the leadoff man. Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter follow. He said he did it knowing American captain Corey Pavin needed to put strength out early, too.
The lineups were submitted an hour after the completion of Sunday’s play. By rules, neither captain knew the other’s lineup when they were submitted.
Here’s how they’ll go off with all times local:
9:05 a.m. – Europe’s Lee Westwood vs. USA’s Steve Stricker.
9:17 a.m. – Europe’s Rory McIlroy vs. USA’s Stewart Cink.
9:29 a.m. – Europe’s Luke Donald vs. USA’s Jim Furyk.
9:41 a.m. – Europe’s Martin Kaymer vs. USA’s Dustin Johnson.
9:53 a.m. – Europe’s Ian Poulter vs. USA’s Matt Kuchar.
10:05 a.m. – Europe’s Ross Fisher vs. USA’s Jeff Overton.
10:17 a.m. – Europe’s Miguel Angel Jimenez vs. USA’s Bubba Watson.
10:29 a.m. – Europe’s Francesco Molinari vs. USA’s Tiger Woods.
10: 41 a.m. – Europe’s Edoardo Molinari vs. USA’s Rickie Fowler.
10:53 a.m. – Europe’s Peter Hanson vs. USA’s Phil Mickelson.
11:05 a.m. – Europe’s Padraig Harrington vs. USA’s Zach Johnson.
11:17 a.m. – Europe’s Graeme McDowell vs. USA’s Hunter Mahan.
Though singles was long considered the strength of the American squad, Europe’s won the singles session three of the last four Ryder Cups.
In the 37 previous Ryder Cups that have been staged, the team trailing going into the singles matches has come back to win just seven times. The ’99 American team, down 10-6 going into Sunday singles at The Country Club at Brookline, was the last to do so in the largest come-from-behind victory in Ryder Cup history.
