The Pairings

By now you've seen them, but for anyone living in a cave in Tora Bora, here they are

Match One: Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, U.S., vs. Justin Rose and Henrik

Stenson, Europe. 

Match Two: Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, U.S., vs. Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer, Europe. 

Match Three: Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, U.S., vs. Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter, Europe. 

Match Four: Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, U.S., vs. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.

I'm more surprised by McGinley's lineup than Watson's.  Let me explain...

Amongst it's other benefits, the home team gets to decide which format to play in the morning and which in the afternoon.  In playing fourball in the morning, a format in which the Euro's have kicked American butt, Tom Terrific had to decide how to handle his rookies.  Conventional wisdom and captaincy logic pulls in two opposite directions:

1. As a visiting team that's a decided underdog, put your best teams out there early to quiet the crowds;
2. If you have rookies, especially rookies not on great form, hide them in fourballs.

Watson obviously decided that No. 2 was the higher priority, hence all three rookies have a morning tee time, with two of them paired.  Watson has left Kooch, Mahan, Zach and Poor Furyk on the bench, all of whom have been here before and all of whom have games suitable for alternate shot (in theory).

McGinley has all his show ponies out there in the a.m., and since he plans to play everyone tomorrow he's obviously using Jamie Donaldson and Victor Dubuisson in foursomes.  

I think I like Watson batting his namesake leadoff, though it's not without risk.  But I can't see the U.S. winning this thing without a big week from Bubba, so c'mon seven.  And in a funny bit I just saw on Twitter, where someone (sorry, but I can't find it now) posed the existential question, "Is Webb Simpson the Bubba-whisperer?"  Guess we're about to find out.

Lastly, can you call yourself a golf fan and not be salivating at that fourth match?  It doesn't get any better than that, though having said that it'll be a 7&6 blowout.

Now, what does a fellow do until 2:30 a.m.?