Afternoon fourballs set for Friday at the Ryder Cup

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley will be paired again for fourballs on Friday afternoon at the Ryder Cup. (Getty Images)

The afternoon fourball matches are set for Friday at the Ryder Cup, so let's jump right into the action.

Match #1 -- Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson vs. Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson -- This American pairing had some success at the Presidents Cup and seemed like a no-brainer for this format for Davis Love III. All four of these players sat out the morning foursomes. I'll give this one to the major championship duo from the United States.

Match #2 -- Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley vs. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell -- The battle of winning teams - both teams won their morning matches against solid groups from the other side. Both Love and Jose Maria Olazabal had to play these four again, and it is the match of the week so far at Medinah. I love the passion that the Americans bring, but I feel the Northern Irish duo will catch fire and snag this point.

Match #3 -- Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar vs. Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer -- Another American group that sat out the morning matches, Johnson and Kuchar will look to improve on their Ryder Cup records with probably the most brittle golfer on the European team in Kaymer. Rose looked solid early with Ian Poulter, but I think the Americans are the favorite in this match.

Match #4 -- Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker vs. Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts -- Probably the strangest group of them all with the way that Tiger hit the ball and Westwood putted; this one could get ugly. While I think the Americans are the more talented bunch, I give the Euros a slight advantage here because Colsaerts, the only rookie on the European team, could be fired up to get on a golf course with no rough going up against Tiger and company.