2011 Doral Pairings

[Caine]

Very interesting to see the first round pairings of Tiger, Phil, and Graeme and also Kaymer, Westwood, and Donald paired together. Should make for some very competitive golf.

[Thrash13]

I can't gripe about those pairings.  It's basically the same style they went with at the U.S. Open a couple years ago, and that made for great TV.  I'm sure one group will be in the afternoon Thursday, and the other group will be in the afternoon Friday.  It's pretty rare you get a field with every golfer currently in the top 50 in the World Rankings, but this week in Doral will have one.  If that's not enough to move the excitement meter, I don't know what is.

[franky21]

I am absolutly loving the fixed pairings that were put together for thur and fri.   Woods/Mickleson/McDowell.  Kaymer/Westwood/Donald.      D.Johnson/Watson/McRllory. These are sundays pairings that we will see in the first two rounds of the tournament. I am excited to see Woods and Mickleson because Phil hasnt been playing well and Tiger seems to always bring the best out of Phil and he has actually had Tigers numbers as of late so for me its a star studded line up that has me licking my chops. There are alot of great pairings but for me these are the featured ones .1-3 in one pairing and 4-5 in another and how about the fireworks off the tee when Dustin and Bubba start trying to out drive eachother  this is a way to bring up ratings.

[i-Guy]

Very cool...check out some of the main parings for Thurs/Fri:

Groups	Thursday tee time	Friday tee time
Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald	12:54 p.m. (1st tee)	12:02 p.m. (10th tee)
Graeme McDowell, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson	11:51 a.m (10th tee)	12:54 p.m. (1st tee)
Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Steve Stricker	12:02 p.m. (10th tee)	1:05 p.m. (1st tee)
Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els	12:44 p.m. (1st tee)	11:51 a.m. (10th tee)
Ian Poulter, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson	11:41 a.m. (1st tee)	12:44 p.m. (10th tee)
Retief Goosen, Francesco Molinari, Robert Karlsson	11:51 a.m. (1st tee)	12:54 p.m. (10th tee)
Hunter Mahan, Miguel A. Jimenez, Alvaro Quiros	12:54 a.m. (10th tee)	11:51 a.m. (1st tee)

[deasy55]

Originally Posted by franky21

I am absolutly loving the fixed pairings that were put together for thur and fri.   Woods/Mickleson/McDowell.  Kaymer/Westwood/Donald.      D.Johnson/Watson/McRllory. These are sundays pairings that we will see in the first two rounds of the tournament. I am excited to see Woods and Mickleson because Phil hasnt been playing well and Tiger seems to always bring the best out of Phil and he has actually had Tigers numbers as of late so for me its a star studded line up that has me licking my chops. There are alot of great pairings but for me these are the featured ones .1-3 in one pairing and 4-5 in another and how about the fireworks off the tee when Dustin and Bubba start trying to out drive eachother  this is a way to bring up ratings.

I'm not sure who that McRllory guy is but Dustin and Bubba are playing with Poults

[SticksStones]

I can't wait. Even more of a reason to not watch American Idol with my wife tomorrow night..lol

[Shorty]

You can "lick your chops" in anticipation at the groups (I'm not going to call threesomes "pairings"), but what you will see is players playing their own games.  They certainly won't be trying to outdrive each other and Phil and Tiger have their own games to concern themselves with. And they aren't stupid enough to try to outdo each other.  That's one of the reasons why they're where they are.

Apart from that, these limited field events are atmosphere free zones as far as I'm concerned.  They have the best players, but they have a very hollow feel to them.

Anyone who thinks there's going to be some kind of exciting showdown over the first two days will be disappointed.

That happens when the leaders come down the back 9 on Sunday.

[franky21]

yeah ur right i got confused it is Ian in that group

[franky21]

Originally Posted by SticksStones

I can't wait. Even more of a reason to not watch American Idol with my wife tomorrow night..lol

Well i cant say the same lol i have dvr but im sure the first round will be over by that time sorry to break the news. But your not alone i watch it with my wife aswell.lol

[franky21]

Originally Posted by Shorty

You can "lick your chops" in anticipation at the groups (I'm not going to call threesomes "pairings"), but what you will see is players playing their own games.  They certainly won't be trying to outdrive each other and Phil and Tiger have their own games to concern themselves with. And they aren't stupid enough to try to outdo each other.  That's one of the reasons why they're where they are.

Apart from that, these limited field events are atmosphere free zones as far as I'm concerned.  They have the best players, but they have a very hollow feel to them.

Anyone who thinks there's going to be some kind of exciting showdown over the first two days will be disappointed.

That happens when the leaders come down the back 9 on Sunday.

I totally disagree with you Dustin and Bubba will definetly put a little extra on the tee shot to out do the other and for Phil and Tiger they definetly want to play better then the other they have had many battles and thur will not make them hold back. They may never admit to it but these guys are competitive and they will not hold back.

[Bullitt5339]

Ian and Bubba have a lot of personality on the course, and Dustin isn't a bore either, so that should be a great group to watch.  Ian is already making remarks on Twitter about feeling "short" playing along with those two, and expects to be hitting first a lot.

[Thrash13]

I agree with you to a certain extent, but you can't tell me it will feel the same between the ropes as it would if Tiger was playing alongside the Molinari brothers or something.  There is definitely going to be a little different vibe than the first couple days usually produce, and I'm looking forward to it.  I agree the guys won't necessarily be trying to outdo the others in the group, but I guarantee there will be a touch more motivation within those big-time groups.  Regardless of how Tiger is driving it right now, I guarantee he will come out ready to go knowing Mickelson is in his group.

I'm pretty excited about the pairings, and I'd like to see more of the big events go with the same approach.

Originally Posted by Shorty

You can "lick your chops" in anticipation at the groups (I'm not going to call threesomes "pairings"), but what you will see is players playing their own games.  They certainly won't be trying to outdrive each other and Phil and Tiger have their own games to concern themselves with. And they aren't stupid enough to try to outdo each other.  That's one of the reasons why they're where they are.

Apart from that, these limited field events are atmosphere free zones as far as I'm concerned.  They have the best players, but they have a very hollow feel to them.

Anyone who thinks there's going to be some kind of exciting showdown over the first two days will be disappointed.

That happens when the leaders come down the back 9 on Sunday.

[jamo]

Tiger said in an interview that he hasn't paired with Phil in the first and second rounds of a non-major since sometime in '98.

[ghalfaire]

I like it and will be watching (or recording if I'm not home).  Ought to be interesting with these pairings.

[franky21]

i am super excited and im never this excited on thur unless its a major and the big stars are usually scattered around and when they finally air it they are pretty much done. If im not mistaking the tee times are a little later so we shouls see a good chunk of there round which is awesome. I mean Phil and Tiger are still trying to find there groover and Graeme is trying to prove himself that last year wasn't a fluke so they will try to make there mark. Westwood wants his number one back Kaymer wants to establish himself and Luke wants to keep the momentum going so there is alot to take into consideration when you look at these pairings maybe im looking into it a little to much but you cant blame me.lol

[SticksStones]

Originally Posted by Thrash13

Regardless of how Tiger is driving it right now, I guarantee he will come out ready to go knowing Mickelson is in his group.

If I were Tiger I wouldn't be worrying about Phil as much as I would Gmac. You know he still has a sour taste in his mouth from the Chevron. I actually am picking Gmac to atleast place top 10 an maybe even win the event. He had a great closing round last week.

[franky21]

Originally Posted by SticksStones

If I were Tiger I wouldn't be worrying about Phil as much as I would Gmac. You know he still has a sour taste in his mouth from the Chevron. I actually am picking Gmac to atleast place top 10 an maybe even win the event. He had a great closing round last week.

He wants them both G-Mac sunk the 20 footer then give him that look like i beat you so he wants to play well but Tiger and Mickelson have a rivalry going that has went on for years they dont play together much so they want to play well and i fully expect Tiger to play well.

[sean_miller]

Hey Erik, how about some merge action.

PS. I think Tiger's thinking most about his game plan for Doral. You know - hitting fairways and greens and sinking putts.