Steve Palmer's Ryder Cup day-one foursomes predictions & free golf betting tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Golf, 1pm Friday

Best bets

USA to win opening session 2.5-1.5
2pts 6-1 bet365

Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth to beat Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia
2pts 6-5 bet365

Story so far

The wait for the draw for the opening foursomes of the Ryder Cup finally ended last night, with Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington revealing their pairings, and the away skipper has opted to pair Spanish duo Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia in the top match.

The action starts at 1.05pm UK and Ireland time at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, and Harrington is clearly hoping Rahm and Garcia can build a partnership similar to that which made Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal the greatest double act in the competition's history.

Rahm and Garcia have never shown a particular fondness for each other, so it may take time for the relationship to blossom, but playing for Spain and Europe should result in a fierce focus. Garcia has a superb foursomes record in Ryder Cups and will be playing alongside world number one Rahm for the first time.

Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter resume a successful Ryder Cup partnership in the bottom match. Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland, and Lee Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick are two new pairings Harrington has introduced.

American skipper Stricker caused less surprise with his selections. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are out first, with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele out last. Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa - the two highest-ranked Americans in the competition - are paired. And fellow Floridians Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger join forces, as they did for Stricker in the 2017 Presidents Cup.

Day-one foursomes line-up (with best prices)

1.05pm & UK Ireland time: Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth (6-5) versus Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia (5-4); tie (13-2)

1.21pm Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa (11-10) versus Paul Casey & Viktor Hovland (11-8); tie (13-2)

1.37pm Brooks Koepka & Daniel Berger (4-5) versus Lee Westwood & Matthew Fitzpatrick (15-8); tie (13-2)

1.53pm Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele (10-11) versus Rory McIlroy & Ian Poulter (13-8); tie (13-2)

Best outright prices
1-2 USA, 13-5 Europe, 12 draw

Day-one foursomes preview

Despite having a squad full of Ryder Cup veterans, Padraig Harrington has got three brand new pairings going to post for the opening foursomes, and will praying that they gel quickly.

Steve Stricker has got only one new pairing teeing off, but the world rankings say it is their strongest of all. A Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa combination can hardly be considered a weakness.
The USA are difficult to oppose in the outright market and the home side can get their Cup campaign off to a solid start with a 2.5-1.5 opening-session victory.

The best value on the foursomes card is arguably in the top match. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth have relished every chance they have got to join forces in team competition. Even on a side which was thrashed in Paris three years ago, Thomas and Spieth won three of their four matches together over the first two days.

The only pairing who could beat Thomas and Spieth in Paris was the relentless Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood combo. Le Golf National was a terrible set-up for the Americans - and they faced a partisan home crowd - but JT and Jordan rose to the challenge and scored points.

This time, with 95 percent of the gallery on their side and a much more suitable track - one on which Spieth finished runner-up in the last US PGA staged there - these great pals should prove an irresistible force.

Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, teaming up for the first time, both prone to poor spells with putter in hand, and both typically suffering serious mood swings on the course, appear overrated in the betting for the opening match. A decent start from the Yanks should whip the Wisconsin crowd into a frenzy, then the Spaniards may struggle to retain composure, particularly on the greens.

The other three matches could be close. Johnson and Morikawa both play a TaylorMade ball and should be a hugely effective foursomes pairing, but Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland both play a Titleist ball and could be an excellent combination. Casey and Hovland seems a potential masterstroke from Harrington.

Lee Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick looks a vulnerable pair on current form, but they should be a tight unit, with Westwood's old caddie Billy Foster carrying Fitzpatrick's bag. Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger should edge the match, but this is Koepka's first outing since he injured his wrist at the Tour Championship, and Berger is a Cup debutant. Europe are not without hope.

The final match should be a ding-dong affair. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele is a formidable foursomes pairing. They should arguably be favourites against any duo Europe could offer. Harrington has teed up a tough gig for the Californian, though, in Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.

McIlroy and Poulter is a proven Ryder Cup combo - they were the inspiration for the famous comeback at the Miracle of Medinah - and they could easily battle to a half in what may prove the closest contest of the day. An American win in the top match followed by three ties in entirely feasible, so the 13-2s chalked up by Coral and Ladbrokes for each tie could see plenty of action.

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