TODAY’S PAIRINGS

8:20 a.m.: Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson vs. Justin Rose/Ian Poulter

Can buddies Webb and Bubba set the early tempo like they did Friday afternoon?

 

8:35: Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson vs. Lee Westwood/Luke Donald

Huge match for the Europeans, who need to slow down what was best U.S. pair Friday.

 

8:50: Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson vs. Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia

Colsaerts got everyone’s attention with his Friday performance.

 

9:05: Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker vs. Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell

If Europe can’t count on Rory and G-Mac, it probably can’t win the Cup.

 

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THE WEATHER

The forecast calls for another nearly perfect fall afternoon Saturday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-70s under mostly sunny skies with relatively light winds. Sunday’s forecast is for cooler temperatures and gustier winds.

OBSERVATIONS

• Captain Davis Love III said his decision to keep Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker out of the Saturday morning foursomes wasn’t based on their play but on wanting them rested for Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Asked if that means he’ll sit Mickelson and Bradley Saturday afternoon, Love hedged, saying it would depend on how many holes they play in the morning.

“I think Tiger needs a rest. I think Steve needs a rest,” Love said.

“They told me they would do whatever I asked them to do and I can guarantee you neither one of them is happy about it. Not because they are sitting out. Because they have to wait until (Saturday) afternoon to come back.”

If Mickelson and Bradley win Saturday morning, it will be tough for Love to sit them down in the afternoon.

• Brandt Snedeker got his first Ryder Cup scar the hard way. He and Jim Furyk had clawed their way back from 3-down on the back side of their morning foursomes match against Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, but Snedeker lost his tee shot on the par-4 18th hole far to the right.

Furyk was left with no option but to punch out to the fairway. Snedeker hit the third shot to 15 feet but the Europeans won when McDowell holed a 5-foot par putt on the final hole.

“I haven’t hit a shot like that since I can’t remember,” Snedeker said. “It was Ryder Cup pressure.”

• If you didn’t know much about Nicolas Colsaerts before Friday, his eight-birdie, one-eagle performance in a 1-up victory with Lee Westwood over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker told plenty. Woods and Stricker shot 9-under par in the match and got beat, essentially single-handedly, by Colsaerts.

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THEY SAID IT

“It could be the best day of my life.” Keegan Bradley after his 2-0 Friday with Phil Mickelson.

 

“That may be the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” Caddie Paul Tesori on Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson’s eight birdies in the first 10 holes.

 

“I’ve never seen men shopping like this.” Woman in the very crowded Ryder Cup merchandise tent.

 

“Tiger has had two of my three (Ryder Cup) defeats and I never wanted to have another.” Ian Poulter, who teamed with Justin Rose to beat Woods and Steve Stricker in the morning foursomes.