CHASKA, Minnesota, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Very rarely is a reigning major champion benched for the opening session of a Ryder Cup, but Masters winner Danny Willett found himself in exactly that position at Hazeltine National on Thursday.
Though Willett was a notable absentee from the pairings for Friday's foursomes matches, Europe captain Darren Clarke said his omission had nothing to do with the off-course furore sparked earlier in the week by the player's brother, Pete.
"No, it's a little bit of cat-and-mouse whenever you put pairings out together in practice rounds this week," Clarke told reporters after announcing his four pairings for Friday to get the 41st Ryder Cup under way.