by Jeff Skinner
Armchair quarterbacking is usually reserved for the NFL on Sunday but with the Ryder Cup I get to do it all weekend. Here are a few thoughts on the happenings so far at a very exciting 40th Ryder Cup.
Euro Captain Paul McGinley struck gold with his Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson pairing and looks like he’ll ride that one all weekend. He has them leading off on Saturday… smart move.
McGinley has broken up the very attractive pairing of Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia to put the world number one with Ian Poulter who uncharacteristically is struggling on his favorite stage. He’s hoping Rory can jump start Poulter who has looked nothing like the star he was at Medinah.
Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood who won in foursomes get the chance to go back out there early Saturday. Sergio Garcia is on the bench and while he’s a great cheerleader I can’t imagine he’s thrilled about not playing.
U.S. captain Tom Watson shook things up with his lineup a bit as he tries to overcome that two point deficit that Europe holds. 
Watson benched Webb Simpson and rightly so but his ineffective partner, Bubba Watson will be back out there in the opening fourball pairing with Matt Kuchar. I saw nothing from Bubba that warranted another start in team play. He and Webb Simpson needed to be buried until Sunday. And they are facing the hottest team in the Ryder Cup, Rose and Stenson.
That’s a tough task for Bubba who has major problems staying focused. Kuch will have his hands full trying to handle Bubba. This could be construed as a bit of a panic move from Watson: Bubba and Kuch never practiced together all week.
Jim Furyk will team with Hunter Mahan (both lost on Friday) against Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood who won on Friday. Furyk and Mahan are straight hitters who should be able to compete with the Euro’s.
Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth were the biggest surprise on Friday and were chomping at the bit to play in the afternoon. Watson elected to sit them and I can understand that he wanted to get all his players on the course but the way those two were playing demanded an afternoon start. They will face the formidable pairing of Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer. But these two have such confidence right now they will be tough to beat.
Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler were the unsung heroes of Friday’s play. In the morning they battled back from 3 down and birdied two of the last three holes to halve the match against Bjorn and Kaymer. In the afternoon they faced McIlroy and Garcia who were hurting from their morning loss and the Americans struggled over the last few holes to salvage a half point. But against such grand competition they have to be thought of as a very strong team. That is why Watson put them in the anchor spot to face McIlroy and Poulter.
Missing from Saturday’s morning fourballs is Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. Watson says they are tired and they need rest but they will be out in the afternoon foursomes. And this is where Watson blew it. 
Phil and Keegan outdid themselves in the morning fourballs on Saturday beating the marquee pairing of Rory and Sergio. That took a lot out of them and they should have been rested in the afternoon.
The both of them while very long drivers aren’t accurate at all. They can make birds by the bunch and their fourball play was stellar. But their foursome (alternate shot) play left them standing in ankle deep, punishing rough or deep sand all afternoon.
Phil is 44 and battling arthritis and had to be gassed after that emotionally draining win in the morning. The time to rest him and maybe Keegan was in the afternoon. Not Saturday morning when he and Keegan could be working their magic together.
Alternate shot (foursomes) is a tough task. Hitting from the fairways is the way to go and that means players like Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, and Hunter Mahan. This is some very deep rough at Gleneagles and Phil finds about as much rough as anyone out there.
Phil and Keegan should be playing on Saturday morning not Saturday afternoon. That would have given them some rest, some wins and maybe a chance at reclaiming the Ryder Cup.
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