Faldo keeps everyone guessing

11:12pm Tuesday 16th September 2008

Nick Faldo put his personal stamp on Europe's Ryder Cup side again before a ball had even been struck in practice at Valhalla.

Faldo gathered all 12 players together on the first tee just after 8am and gave a team talk before leading them off for the official photo shoot.

Then he revealed that he was sending them off in threes, which meant nothing much could be guessed about possible pairings for the match itself.

"It's an observation day - learning the course," said Faldo.

The groups were as follows: Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Soren Hansen; Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell; Paul Casey, Robert Karlsson, Ian Poulter; Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson, Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Of those Garcia and Westwood were a partnership in 2002 and 2004 (4 1/2 points out of six) as were Casey and Karlsson at The K Club two years ago (two halves), while there has been speculation that Open and US PGA champion Harrington could play with fellow Irishman McDowell this week.

Rookies Rose and Wilson, meanwhile, were partners under Faldo at the Seve Trophy last year, although they lost their only game together, and 13 years ago were England boy team-mates.

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