India's golfing star Anirban Lahiri has been paired with Thongchai Jaidee for the opening foursomes at the Presidents Cup on Thursday.
At the draw today, International Team captain, Nick Price put Lahiri and Thongchai together for his third pairing while the US team captain Jay Haas chose Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker to play against them at the Jack Nicklaus Golf and Country Club.
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated clash between World No. 1 Jordan Spieth and No. 2 Jason Day will have to wait, as they find themselves against different opponent. Spieth has been paired with the long-hitting Dustin Johnson, and they take on Korea-born Kiwi, Danny Lee and Australian Marc Leishman in the final clash of the first day.
The first match-up will see Adam Scott and Hideko Matsuyama, a tried and tested pair from 2013 Presidents Cup take on twice Masters winner Bubba Watson and the last minute substitute JB Holmes, while South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open winner, pair with Branden Grace against the consistent Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed of the US.
As Lahiri-Thongchai take on Fowler and Walker, while Jason Day goes with rookie Steve Bowditch against veteran Phil Mickelson, who has played every Presidents Cup since its inception, and the reigning Open champion Zach Johnson.
The final pairing features in-form Danny Lee and Marc Leishman against Spieth and Dustin Johnson.
Price talking about his reasoning to pair Lahiri and Thongchai said, "Both Anirban and Thongchai play a lot on The European Tour together. So they have played a lot of golf over the last four or five years. It was sort of a pairing that we thought, they are both very good friends, and that was one of the compatible things that we wanted to do. I think both Anirban and Thongchai could play just about anyone on our team."
"But when I mentioned to them that I want them to play together, they were very excited about that. That's what I wanted. I wanted that enthusiasm and I wanted to see that -- I don't know, that feistiness in them. They were really excited about that.
