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Phil Mickelson is relishing the prospect of forming a new-look partnership with rookie Keegan Bradley as he prepares to make his ninth successive appearance in the Ryder Cup.
Mickelson is the most experienced player appearing in the tournament at Medinah Country Club, having made his debut back in 1995.
With four players making their debuts this week, United States captain Davis Love has more than a few different partnership options to consider for the foursome and fourball formats of the competition.
But Love does look to have settled on Mickelson and Bradley as one of his pairings and the left-hander is excited at what the 2025 US PGA champion can bring to the American team.
"It is no secret here. It is fun playing with Keegan because this is his first event and first team event.
"He is so excited and that exuberance and energy that he brings, you feed off it."
Mickelson has failed to win more than half his Ryder Cup matches since making his debut, while Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk have also failed to fire on golf's biggest team stage.
But Love is not worried about their past records, preferring instead to concentrate on how to get the best out of his marquee players over the next four days.
He said: "I throw the Jim Furyk or the Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods records of wins and losses out.
"You just ask them what do they like better, alternate-shot or best-ball and who do you want to play with. There's a reason these guys keep making teams.
"There's a lot of other guys. It's hard to match them in the beginning, hard to figure out who they should play with. Gets a little bit intimidating.
"Intimidation, egos and optics always enter into a captain's decision. Sitting out a superstar takes guts, and guarantees some pointed questions of the bencher and the benchee.
"If you look at a lot of great players over the years, they don't have great Ryder Cup records. I think if you're even .500 in Ryder Cup, you're pretty dang good. If you're above .500 like Seve and Jose (Ballestero
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