Strange, Kite Team for Ryder Opening Round

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — U.S. Open golf champion Curtis Strange and American teammate Tom Kite will go against Masters champion Nick Faldo of Britain and countryman Ian Woosnam in the opening match of the Ryder Cup.

Captains Ray Floyd of the United States and Tony Jacklin of Europe announced their pairings today for Friday morning’s foursomes after the squads got in final practice rounds over The Belfry’s Brabazon course.

In the opening round, the teams play with a single ball each with the two members playing alternate shots.

The other foursomes pit Americans Lanny Wadkins and PGA champion Payne Stewart against Howard Clark and Mark James of Britain; Tom Watson and Chip Beck of the United States against Seve Ballesteros and Jose-Maria Olazabal of Spain, and British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia and Ken Green of the U.S. team against Bernhard Langer of West Germany and Ronan Rafferty of Northern Ireland.

New Friday Pairings

New pairings will be drawn for Friday afternoon’s four-ball play.

Floyd said he is happy with the first-match pairing.

“That’s the pairing I’d like to have,” he said. “Curtis beat Woosnam in the U.S. Open (by one stroke). It’s a great way for the team to kick off.” Strange is the first person since Ben Hogan to win the U.S. Open two years in a row.

Floyd said he feels sure of a victory that would snap the Europeans’ four-year hold on the cup, “but I imagine if you asked Tony he’d say the same thing.”

Jacklin is, indeed, confident of victory for the home team.

“We’re ready,” he said. “I am absolutely 100% certain that we will retain the trophy. It isn’t going anywhere this week.”

The latest odds established by Britain’s legal bookies strengthened the odds favoring the Americans from 8-13 to 4-7.