Europe’s Justin Rose, left to right, Europe’s Danny Willett and Europe’s Andy Sullivan have some fun on the 10th tee during a practice round for the Ryder Cup golf tournament Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)
Europe’s Sergio Garcia looks at Europe’s Lee Westwood’s phone during a practice round for the Ryder Cup golf tournament Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)
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The Latest on the Ryder Cup (all times local):
11:30 a.m.
U.S. captain Davis Love III has left one of his groups alone for Wednesday’s practice — Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar. He inserted Ryder Cup rookie Brooks Koepka into the group of Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. And he took Zach Johnson and placed him with captain’s pick Ryan Moore, J.B. Holmes and Brandt Snedeker.
European captain Darren Clarke mixed up his foursomes for the second full day of practice. Rory McIlroy and Chris Wood were with Thomas Pieters and Martin Kaymer; Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick were with Lee Westwood and Rafa Cabrera Bello; and Sergio Garcia and Andy Sullivan were with Justin Rose and Danny Willett.
What does it all mean?
The pairings for the opening session are to be announced at opening ceremonies Thursday.
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10 a.m.
Phil Mickelson criticized another Ryder Cup captain in explaining why this American team at least will be prepared to play its best.
Mickelson was the catalyst for change in 2014 when he publicly questioned Tom Watson’s heavy-handed role as captain in Gleneagles in another American loss. That led to a task force that allowed for more player involvement.
Mickelson used Hal Sutton and his captaincy in 2004 as an example of players being set up for failure. He says Sutton only told him he was playing with Tiger Woods just two days before the start of the matches. Mickelson says he had to learn how to hit a different golf ball and it affected his preparations.
He says Davis Love III has them in a position to succeed at Hazeltine.