There is just over a week to go until the Ryder Cup, and there already seems to be confusion in the American camp.
Speaking ahead of this week's Tour Championship in Atlanta, US Open champion Dustin Johnson has said he doesn't want to be paired with Phil Mickelson during the opening two days of the competition.
The two men played together in Wales in 2010, losing both of their matches. Despite both qualifying for the 2012 matches, their partnership was not renewed.
"I love Phil and we’re great friends, but we have a lot more fun when we’re playing against each other, not as partners", Johnson revealed. Both stars regularly play together in practice rounds ahead of tournaments.
Johnson has said he learned his lesson from Celtic Manor. "We wanted it [in 2010]. We thought it would be great." The 32-year-old admitted that the duo "played like crap" in Wales.
Despite the throwaway remark from Johnson, it may point at a deeper malaise in the American team. The last time they won the tournament, the then-captain Paul Azinger split the team into three four-man 'pods' ahead of the event. All pod member would know who they would play with at Valhalla weeks before the event. Johnson seems to still be unsure who he will be partnering at Hazeltine.
In more recent times, Graeme McDowell was told by Paul McGinley months before the 2014 Ryder Cup that he would only play on the Friday and Saturday with Victor Dubuission in the foursomes. Both men won their two matches.
Davis Love's American team will be confirmed on Sunday evening, when the American Ryder Cup captain reveals his last captain's pick after the Tour Championship.
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