MEDINAH, Ill. — Rory McIlroy, who’s leading off Thursday morning’s first Ryder Cup match with Graeme McDowell, said Brandt Snedeker and Jim Furyk were not the opponents he was expecting U.S. captain Davis Love III to send out first.
“We know that their team is so strong all the way through, but it was a little surprise to see a rookie in their first group,” McIlroy said Thursday.
“I was expecting Phil [Mickelson] and Keegan [Bradley] to go first, but obviously Davis has his strategies,’’ McDowell said. “Jim is a hell of a player, a seasoned campaigner and Brandt is obviously on a hell of a high after last week and winning the FedEx Cup.”
McDowell, indicating European captain Jose Maria Olazabal’s directive was for his players to produce a fast start, said he is bent on giving the Europeans an early lead to set a tone in the opening match.
“The morning’s session is hugely important and José María has stressed that,’’ he said. “We know they are all important but we really feel that it is very important to make a fast start. We are going to use the world No. 1’s power and precision and I will just knock a few tap-ins in.”
When asked what “message’’ he wanted to send out by playing McIlroy in the first group, Olazabal said, “Well, we are not hiding anything. We are not second guessing here. We are just going out and try to win points, period, that’s it. We have to go for it. That’s the only way we are going to win these matches. I know we are playing away. The crowds are going to be on their side. They set up the course to their liking.
“So, you know, at the end of the day, you have to make a bunch of birdies out there to win points.’’
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Ian Poulter said he “had a feeling’’ he and partner Justin Rose were going to get a first-day foursomes matchup with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker and that’s exactly what they got. The two teams will play in the anchor match of the morning session.
Rose said he quietly hoped for the matchup with Woods, too.
“He is one of the greatest players to have played the game, if not the greatest, so he is the scalp,’’ Rise said. “I think we go into this game with nothing to lose. They are at home, they will have the crowd behind them, so we have everything to gain.’’
Woods, who traditionally has been used in the leadoff position, sounded comfortable with playing fourth.
“Our captain said that would be a good fit, and he wanted us out there to anchor,” he said. “It’s just a matter of what our captain thinks is best for the team. In either case, we’ve got to go out there and earn our point for the team.’’
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Olazabal bristled when a reporter asked him if Seve Ballesteros taught about gamesmanship.
“Have you ever seen me showing any kind of gamesmanship on the golf course?’’ Olazabal said. “All right. So he didn’t teach me well, did he? That was not the spirit of the Ryder Cup. That was not his idea at all. It’s true that sometimes he had certain tics, but he never did it on purpose. If anyone thinks that way, well, sorry. But I don’t think I’ve shown any gamesmanship in my career.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com