Ryder Cup: Saturday afternoon pairings and predictions

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley will not for the American side in the Ryder Cup Saturday afternoon matches as they were benched Saturday morning. The pair played twice Friday after a long, tough 1-up win in 18 holes over Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy in the morning session. The U.S. captain decided to play the pair in the afternoon session over Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, but they were clearly gassed and lost their match.

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Now, Watson won’t be playing them.

The pairings for both sides are more strategic for the final day of paired match-play, and more players are sitting out. For the Americans, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley will not play Saturday. Bubba Watson will sit out in the afternoon session once again after an unimpressive morning match. Bubba has always struggled in Europe and the top-ranked player for the Americans has showed nothing has changed.

For the European side, Stephen Gallacher is the only player not getting the nod on Saturday, but in the afternoon session, Martin Kaymer will play with Justin Rose rather than Henrik Stenson who is 3-0 with Rose so far in this Ryder Cup. Ian Poulter also won’t play in the afternoon session after impressive play in Saturday morning’s match including a chip in on the 15th hole.

Europe leads 6.5-5.5 but after the afternoon matches, it’ll be the USA walking into Sunday with the lead:

Match 1: Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Jaimie Donaldson and Lee Westwood (Europe) 3 and 2

This will be a good match as Kuchar played very well Saturday morning with Bubba Watson in a losing effort but deserved a spot in Saturday’s afternoon play. Donaldson and Westwood struggled this morning, losing to Furyk and Mahan 4 and 3 without winning any holes. Johnson and Kuchar will win this match 3 and 2 as they pull away on the back nine.

Match 2: Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan (USA) vs. Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy (Europe) 2 and 1

McIlroy is 0-1-2 in the Ryder Cup so far after halving a match against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker in the morning session with playing partner Ian Poulter. Rory will be paired again with Sergio Garcia, who he went 0-1-1 with in Friday’s matches. McIlroy and Justin Rose are the only Europeans to play in all four opening sessions. Furyk and Mahan were impressive in the Saturday morning session 4 and 3 win over Westwood and Donaldson, but the No. 1 and No. 3 players in the world are finally going to get their first win for Team Europe in this Ryder Cup in a close battle 2 and 1.

Match 3: Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth (USA) vs. Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer (Europe) 1 up

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth will finally be tested. The won Friday’s morning session match 5 and 4 and Saturday morning’s session 5 and 3 over Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn. Now, they’ll face Justin Rose who is 3-0 in the Ryder Cup so far. This will be his first time without playing partner Henrik Stenson in this year’s cup. Rose had six birdies Saturday morning and will help Kaymer challenge the U.S. Ryder Cup rookies, but Reed and Spieth will pull this out 1 up with a win on the 18th and continue their impressive run.

Match 4: Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (USA) vs. Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell (Europe) 3 and 2

Fowler and Walker have halved all three matches that they’ve played in the 2014 Ryder Cup, and they’re the only Americans to play in all four opening sessions. They halved Saturday morning against a tough McIlroy and Poulter pairing, but they have a much lesser opponent in the afternoon alternate shot session and will get their first win. Dubuisson and McDowell played a tired Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in Friday’s afternoon session and didn’t play that well in a 3 and 2 win over the Americans. Fowler and Walker have played very well, consistently halving against some of Europe’s best pairs. I think this is one of Europe’s weakest pairs and the American duo should be able to get their first win 3 and 2.

Total score after Saturday: USA 8.5, Europe 7.5

More on FanSided.com

Europe ties score with U.S.A. with win
U.S.A. takes 1-point lead into afternoon session
Full 2014 Ryder Cup preview, predictions
Ryder Cup Friday afternoon session predictions

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