Predictions for the Friday foursomes session of the 2023 Ryder Cup

The 2023 Ryder Cup gets underway Friday morning with a foursomes session. If you’re unfamiliar, foursomes is alternate shot. In the afternoon, the teams will battle in a fourball (best ball) session.

There are several star-studded tandems going out in the opening matches at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, including Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton.

A surprise for the Americans: Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are sitting for the first session (Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark are the other team members not participating in Friday foursomes).

Ryder Cup: Tournament hub

The Golfweek staff has taken a look at the matchups and has made predictions for all four:

1:35 a.m. ET: Scottie Scheffler-Sam Burns (USA) vs Jon Rahm-Tyrrell Hatton (Europe)

Team USA golfer Scottie Scheffler talks to Sam Burns about putts on the 11 green during a practice day for the Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Schupak: Rahm and Hatton are both such fiery players and I’m digging this pairing. I expect them to feed off the energy from the partisan crowd and pick up a full point for Team Europe.

Riley Hamel: Luke Donald is playing with fire with this Rahm/Hatton pairing. Arguably the two most fiery players in the world, Rahm and Hatton will have to hold it together against the best-buddy tandem of Scheffler/Burns. Burns can get hot with the putter, while there isn’t a better ball striker in the world than Scottie.
Match prediction: Team USA, 2 and 1.

Cameron Jourdan: Scottie’s putting is bound to find some rhythm, and with his new putting coach, he and Burns will help the U.S. get off to a strong start with the first points of the Ryder Cup.
Match prediction: Team USA, 2 and 1.

1:50 a.m. ET: Brian Harman-Max Homa (USA) vs Viktor Hovland-Ludvig Aberg (Europe)

Viktor Hovland of Team Europe throws a ball into the crowd following a hole-in-one on the fifth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Adam Schupak: I’m expecting big things from Harman this week, but Hovland is going to be a force to be reckoned with, too. I’m predicting this one to go down to the wire and finish as a tie.
Match prediction: Halved

Riley Hamel: Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are two of the hottest players in the world right now. They’re both at the top of their game, and I think they beat Homa and Harman.
Match prediction: Team Europe, 4 and 3.

Cameron Jourdan: Hovland and Aberg’s prowess off the tee is just too much for Harman and Homa to overcome, even with stellar putting. 
Match prediction: Team Europe, 3 and 2.

2:05 a.m. ET: Rickie Fowler-Collin Morikawa (USA) vs Shane Lowry-Sepp Straka (Europe)

Team USA golfers Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler walk to the 11th fairway during a practice round of the Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Schupak: This is the one match that the Americans are favored in but it feels like a coin flip to me. Will Lowry be inspired? How will Straka play in his debut? Will Rickie’s putter be hot? I trust Morikawa will ball-strike them to death when it is his turn to hit but I think this one may be too close to call so I’m taking the easy way out and saying a half-point for each.
Match prediction: Halved

Riley Hamel: I think Morikawa and Fowler will complement each other well during the opening foursomes section, and they’ve both played in this event before. I like them to take down Lowry and Ryder Cup rookie Straka.
Match prediction: Team USA, 3 and 2.

Cameron Jourdan: This seems like the one clear match the Americans should be favored in, but Lowry and Straka use the momentum of the home crowd to get half a point. 
Match prediction: Halved

2:20 a.m. ET: Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele (USA) vs Rory McIlroy-Tommy Fleetwood (Europe)

Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy of Team Europe react as their first match is announced during the opening ceremony for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Adam Schupak: This has the potential to be the best match of the session. “Pander” as I like to call the U.S. pairing of Xander and Patty Ice took down Rory and Poults at Whistling Straits two years ago and I think they can beat Rory again. That tandem is just relentless.  Full point for the U.S.

Riley Hamel: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay have been virtually unbeatable in team competitions, but Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood are red-hot, and I think McIlroy will send a message after a tough week at Whistling Straits two years ago.
Match prediction: Team Europe, 1 up.

Cameron Jourdan: The match of the day will come down to the final hole, when McIlroy and Fleetwood will use a stellar drive to set up a chance at eagle on the closing par 5, but nevertheless, the Europeans prevail.
Match prediction: Team Europe, 1 up.

Score after opening session

Team Europe golfer Sepp Straka (right) is congratulated by golfer Shane Lowry (left) after making a putt on the sixth hole during a practice day for the Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Schupak: 2-2

Riley Hamel: 2-2

Cameron Jourdan: 2½-1½, Team Europe