McIlroy confident of chemistry with Olesen

2018 Ryder Cup opening ceremony. Picture: Getty

Rory McIlroy insists he can form an explosive partnership with rookie Thorbjorn Olesen in the Ryder Cup fourballs today.

He believe that the Dane, whose name translates as "Thunderbear", will be no cuddly toy in the hands of US stars Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler and that they had the chemistry to produce some fireworks in Paris.

"The dream team," McIlroy joked of his partnership with Olesen who has had two top-three finishes in his seven French Open starts.

"We are a team, and one is not necessarily more important than the other. I actually lost some money to Thorbjorn today. 

"I think it's a comfortable pairing for both of us. I have played a lot of games against Rickie in the Ryder Cup, and Thorbjorn knows Dustin pretty well from the management company they share.

"So it's a comfortable grouping, and Thorbjorn is talking about being nervous so that should settle him down a little bit. 

"The first tee in the Ryder Cup is a little different than most others, so it's exciting.

"I think our game styles are pretty similar.  We both hit the ball a long way, and we see the game similarly, and it's about chemistry.

"And as one of the more experienced players, I wanted to, not necessarily take a rookie under my wing, but if it was called upon me to play with someone with a little less experience, I was all for that.

"I just can't wait to go out with him and try to win a point for Europe."

Olesen played with McIlroy for the first time yesterday and can't wait to get out there alongside a player he admires.

"It means a lot," said the Dane, who has won just two of his six matches in the WGC-Dell Matchplay but excelled under pressure finish tied sixth on his Masters debut and third on his first appearance at Firestone.

"As a rookie, you don't know how you are going to react when you get on that first tee, but I think it will make me more comfortable standing alongside Rory, that's for sure.”

European skipper Thoms Bjorn felt his five rookies were straining at the leash to get going.

And after sitting out the entire first day under Seve Ballesteros on his debut at Valderrama in 1997, he wanted to throw them straight into the action.

"You work so hard for so long to get in the team, and you want to be out on that golf course, and that's how you are as a player," Bjorn said. 

"When you look at this group of guys that's come into this team, you know, they are really hard competitors, and I believe in them so much.

"And I wanted to give them that responsibility of standing up and going out there to enjoy it."

Jon Rahm was handed the stellar slot alongside FedExCup champion Justin Rose in the opening fourball against US bridie machines Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau.

With Paul Casey partnering rookie Tyrrell Hatton against pals Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas at number three and Open champion Francesco Molinari paired with European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood against Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed, Europe has the firepower to emerge from the session unscathed.

Three of Bjorn's four hugely experienced wildcards are ready to come into the fray in the foursomes — Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter — with French Open champion Alex Noren, the fifth rookie, a major weapon for the alternate shot format.

Winning 2014 skipper Paul McGinley reckons Bjorn's decision to blend his senior players with his rookies makes complete sense given the make up of the team.

"What I am seeing quite clearly — and he illustrated it with his picks — is he is a little worried about having five rookies in the team," McGinley told Sky Sports. 

"I think it's a good strategy. He has a rookie in name in Fleetwood. But it looks pretty safe and pretty solid, and he is trying to play his cards without the risk by blending his experienced players with his rookies."

Bjorn was persuaded to put McIlroy with Olesen together because both men were keen to form that partnership. 

"That's a good start," Bjorn said. "If you asked the guys in our team, 'Who do you want to play with,' Rory is not far away, is he, from most of their lips. It's a pretty easy choice."

Woods was the star of the opening ceremony with the crowd giving him a standing ovation to chants of "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!"

But while Furyk has decided to leave Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Webb  Simpson and Bubba Watson on the bench, he has what he called an "explosive" partnership in Finau and three-time major winner  Kopeka at number one.

As for splitting up "Captain America" Patrick Reed's partnership with the struggling Jordan Spieth and giving him the anchor role with the resurgent Tiger Woods, he believes he's created two strong pairings instead.

"I think you saw those guys [Spieth and Reed] together a lot with Tiger as a vice-captain, and you also saw them in practice this week," Furyk said. 

"We had one very good pairing. I think we came out of it with two very good pairings. The idea was to double up and try to get two."