00:00Hello, it's Martin Dempster, the Scotsman Golf Correspondent here, coming to you from the People's Plaza here at Bethpage State Park, venue for this week's 45th Ryder Cup, and as you can see behind me, we're all set to go for Friday's opening foursome session.
00:28As Team Europe, led by Luke Donald once again, a bid to hang on to the coveted trophy.
00:37The first game out tomorrow, as was the case in Italy two years ago, that for Europe involved Spaniard John Ram and Englishman Terrell Hatton.
00:49They played in the opening match, in that win in Rome. Since then, they've become live golf teammates, and that was really one of the stick-on pairings for Luke Donald for this opening session.
01:06They'll be up against Bryson DeChambeau, another live golf player, and he'll have double PGA champion Justin Thomas alongside him with Keegan Bradley, the American captain, saying that he's hoping that pairing can spark the home side in their bid to win the trophy.
01:30In the second match, that will involve, from the American perspective, world number one, Scotty Scheffler.
01:37He's been paired with Russell Henley. That was a pairing that the Americans seem to expect.
01:44And they'll be up against Swede, Ludwig Eberg, an Englishman, Matthew Fitzpatrick.
01:53In Rome, Eberg, a rookie on that occasion, formed a really good partnership with a Norwegian, Victor Hovland.
02:03But for this opening session, Luke Donald put him up with former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who was in good form in the summer, as he earned his place on this team.
02:18A real stick-on for the Europeans, after they won both their foursomes in Rome, was the pairing Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.
02:28McIlroy's making his eighth appearance in this event, having made his debut in 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales.
02:35And they'll be up against Colin Morikawa and Harris English.
02:38The bottom match, and really exciting news from a Scottish perspective, we'll see Bob McIntyre playing in his second Ryder Cup after being unbeaten in three games in Italy.
02:55Alongside the aforementioned Hovland, and they'll be taking on a pretty strong US duo in Xander Shoffley, the 2024 Open champion.
03:07And Patrick Cantley, a former FedExCup winner.
03:12McIntyre didn't play in the foursomes in Rome, partnering Justin Rose twice in four ball matches.
03:20But the way he's developed in the last two years has given Donald the belief that the Open man is ready for the alternative shot format.
03:31In Rome, Europe won the foursomes 7-1 over the two sessions.
03:37And Donald will certainly be looking for his tide to get off to a strong start on this occasion.
03:43And of course, tomorrow's opening day, Friday's opening day, will be witnessed at some point by US President Donald Trump.
03:52To keep up to date with everything about the 45th Ryder Cup, log on to scotsman.com or buy the Scotsman.
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