They've Met Their Match

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Ryder Cup Preview

The Washington Post's Len Shapiro previews the Ryder Cup, which begins Friday morning at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

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Clearly, this is no Kentucky Derby, but Azinger will go to the starting gate Friday with two of his most talented thoroughbreds leading off for the American side. He matched Phil Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world, with 23-year-old Cup rookie Anthony Kim, a two-time winner this season, because both had lobbied hard to play with each other. They'll face off in the opening match against Padraig Harrington, winner of two major championships this summer, and the Irishman's Swedish partner, Robert Karlsson, who won on the European tour last Sunday.

"They expressed an interest in being paired together as soon as Anthony Kim locked up his spot," Azinger said. "Mickelson called me personally and said he'd love to play with him, but so did about six other guys. I said: 'Way to go out on a limb, Phil. You want Anthony Kim? Really?' "

Azinger had hinted earlier in the week that he might send off Kentucky natives Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes in the first match in alternate-shot play to get the galleries "rocking" right from the start. Instead, Holmes, a Ryder rookie, will sit out the morning session, and Perry, at 48 the oldest man on the team, will partner with Jim Furyk. They'll face the powerful team of García -- 8-0 in alternate shot over his career -- and Westwood, 6-2-2 in the format.

"Kenny and J.B. together is a fantastic idea," Azinger said. "I thought [Perry and Furyk] both had alternate-shot experience. That would be a nice format for [Furyk] as well as he hits it, and Kenny Perry actually likes alternate shot better than anything else. It just made sense to me. I feel like Kenny Perry will go out there and be freewheeling knowing that Westwood and García are pretty formidable. I couldn't draw it up any better."

Azinger also said he planned to use all 12 of his players Friday and might still pair the two Kentuckians in the best-ball afternoon portion of the program. Those pairings will be announced following the morning alternate-shot round.

In the middle two morning matches, Americans Justin Leonard and rookie Hunter Mahan will take on Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Casey, and Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell will play Englishmen Justin Rose and Poulter.

Azinger said when he announced his four captain's choice picks on Sept. 2 that he already knew his first-day combinations, but was not exactly sure about the lineup.

"I was really happy during the week to see that everybody was playing well and that I didn't have to make any real adjustments," he said. "I haven't focused on anything that Nick [Faldo] is thinking or doing. I haven't seen any of his guys hit a practice ball or a chip shot or play a hole, except for TV a little bit on the news. My feelings right now, I'm happy. I'm confident."

Faldo was a tad emotional in a news conference to announce his pairings, particularly when he was asked about his team meeting with boxing great Muhammad Ali, a Louisville native, on the first hole Thursday morning. Ali, sitting in a golf cart, shook hands and posed for pictures with players on both teams, catching the Americans on the 10th tee.

"It was just an incredible moment, as you can tell," Faldo said, with eyes tearing and his voice choking up. "I thought it was special, really was . . . I'm about there with emotions this week already. I need to get it out somewhere. . . . This really is the best experience I've ever had inside, outside the ropes, the most special moment, week of my life, and we haven't even started yet."