CHICAGO, Illinois: Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will kick off Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup on Friday when they take on Americans Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker in the first of four foursomes.

Phil Mickelson will win a US record ninth cap when he goes out in the second tie with rookie Keegan Bradley, up against Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia who are unbeaten in four previous foursomes matches.

The third tie sees rookie Jason Dufner partner Zach Johnson against Europe's most experienced campaigner Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari of Italy.

In the morning anchor match Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker resume the winning partnership they formed two years ago against the English pair of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.

World No.1 McIlroy made his Ryder Cup debut with close friend McDowell at his side at Celtic Manor, Wales two years ago and they had one win, one loss and one half.

But since then the 23-year-old from Holywood near Belfast has shot to superstardom with eight stroke triumphs at the 2011 US Open and 2012 US PGA Championship.

Up against them will be the veteran Furyk and Snedeker, who won over 11 million dollars last weekend by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Mickelson had already let slip in the pre-tournament press conferences that he would be "playing a lot" with Bradley who won the US PGA title last year in what was his first major championship.

The Donald and Garcia pairing had been considered a shoo-in as neither has ever lost a foursomes match playing together or with other partners. Garcia is back in the Ryder Cup mix after a loss of form meant he was absent from Celtic Manor.

Dufner has suddenly emerged as a force in world golf at the relatively late age of 35, while Johnson is back to the kind of form that saw him win the 2007 Masters.

Westwood at 39 is considered the rockbed of the European side especially in foursomes and fourballs where he has enjoyed great success with an assortment of playing partners.

The top draw in the morning looks sure to be the anchor match with Woods, back to No.2 in the world and quiet man Stricker taking on Ryder Cup firebrand Poulter and Rose, who has risen to No.5 in the world.

The pairings for Friday morning's opening foursomes in the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe:-

(Times are local which is GMT minus five)

0720 - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)

0735 - Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) v Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe)

0750 - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe)

0805 - Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) v Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe)

Non-playing

United States: Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson

Europe: Nicolas Colsaerts, Paul Lawrie, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer Fourballs to follow at 1205, 1220, 1235, 1250 (pairings announced after foursomes finish) - AFP

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