No backroom deal for marquee Ryder Cup matchup

USA skipper Davis Love dismissed any notion of a backroom deal with his European counterpart to arrange for a Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy marquee singles matchup at the Ryder Cup. "I definitely don't want to be the first one to cross over into their room and start rigging pairings, so I would say no," Love said on Wednesday. "I'm sure it's not in the captains' agreement that we don't do that, but I'm sure it's against the spirit of it. "I said it yesterday or the day before up here; it would be neat to sit up here and match them up. It would be pretty good theatre to match groups, and it would be fun." European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said he knows people are clamouring to see 14-time major winner Woods go head-to-head with the world number one McIlroy on Sunday but he has to think about the rest of the team as well. "Sunday will be what it will be," Olazabal said. "We will wait and see what happens and first of all how the matches develop the next few days. Obviously Friday and Saturday are going to be crucial to know what we're going to be doing on Sunday. "My guess is as good as yours. I know (everyone) is eager to see that match but I think the Ryder Cup is more important than that single match." The Americans spent Tuesday night going to a steak restaurant where they watched a short video put together by Love to try and rally the troops. The players were back on the course Wednesday morning for another practice round, teeing off in three groups of four each. Jason Dufner, Phil Mickelson Keegan Bradley and Zach Johnson comprised the first group. The second group included Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson. Woods played in the third group with Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson. But Love said Wednesday that it hasn't been all about golf in the lead up to the 39th Ryder Cup which begins Friday at the Medinah Country Club. The USA team is staying loose by going to concerts, dinners and playing some spirited games of table tennis in the team's lounge. "We want them to enjoy the experience and not put too much pressure on themselves," Love said. "We have unbelievably fast thoroughbreds here and if you don't ever let them out of the pasture to kick their heels up and eat some grass and keep them in the stall and make them run hard all the time, they are never going to run. So we are letting them be themselves." Love said the players will have enough to worry about on Friday. "I honestly don't think you get any more nervous on Sunday trying to win your singles match than you are Friday morning hitting the first shot," he said. "I've been in this situation a couple times where you knew your point was going to matter to win the Ryder Cup. "I'm telling you, it's not any different putting that putt than it is hitting off the first tee Friday morning." Love said he's probably been the most nervous of the bunch since arriving in Chicago, losing sleep at times while worrying which pairings he is going to put together. Love said he hasn't even thought about who the Europeans are going to pair up because he has enough to worry about on the US side. "I've been trying to focus on our team," he said. "I can't really guess how he's (Olazabal) is going to put them out. "I didn't go to bed until 2:30 already thinking about my team; and if I had to think about their team I wouldn't get any sleep."