Split decision: Steve Stricker’s bold plan pays off on Day 1 of Ryder Cup

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – Those expecting to see the Americans’ two heavyweight partnerships all weekend were probably surprised by captain Steve Stricker’s fourballs lineup.

No Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

No Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, either.

Stricker informed his team of his Day 1 plan on Monday, and he wasn’t about to deviate from that even when staked to an early 3-1 lead.

“I didn’t second-guess myself at all,” Stricker said Friday night. “We were committed to this plan. We were all-in on this plan. The guys were all-in and committed to this plan. It really wasn’t a difficult decision at all just to stick with what we had.”

Thomas and Spieth played all four team sessions together at the 2018 Ryder Cup, compiling a 3-1 record, and figured to go the distance this week at Whistling Straits.

Ditto for the impressive team of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who had successfully teamed up at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

But in the Friday fourballs session, Stricker sent out Schauffele with Dustin Johnson, Cantlay paired with Thomas, and Spieth sat out the afternoon.

They went 1-0-1 as the Americans built a 6-2 lead, their largest first-day lead since 1975.

“We were trying to give everybody a little bit of rest along the way,” Stricker said. “That was part of it. Just making sure guys get their rest.

“It’s a big course. Tough conditions this afternoon. Guys from both sides looked whipped after playing 36 holes. A big key is to make sure these guys are rested and ready for Sunday as well. You have 12 points on Sunday. Sunday is a big day.”

Match scoring for the 43rd Ryder Cup

The Americans’ foursomes lineup will look the same Saturday as it did on Day 1, with Cantlay and Schauffele together, Spieth and Thomas teaming up again, as well as the teams of Brooks Koepka-Daniel Berger and Dustin Johnson-Collin Morikawa.

Cantlay, Schauffele, Thomas and Johnson will have appeared in each session to this point. When asked before the matches if any player on the U.S. side would go all five matches, Stricker said: “We are conscious of that, and trying to look at that going forward as well. It’s definitely on our plate to try to make sure that guys are getting their rest.”