Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson will lead off Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup in Friday's opening foursomes matches against the United States.

Three-time major winner Harrington and Swede Karlsson take on US pair Phil Mickelson and debutant Anthony Kim.

Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey head out against Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan before Justin Rose and Ian Poulter face Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell.

Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are last out against Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk.

Captains Nick Faldo of Europe and Paul Azinger of the United States confirmed their initial foursome pairings at the opening ceremony in Valhalla, Kentucky.

Faldo said of his opening duo: "I had a couple of good options, but this is the one I've gone with - our current Open and PGA champion and the most recent winner anywhere out of the two teams."

Faldo said that in Stenson and Casey he had "two guys who bomb it a mile", Poulter and Rose were old friends keen to play together, while Westwood's consistency was the perfect foil for Garcia's passion.

"That's a pretty strong four pairings, eight pretty strong guys," he added.

Harrington said: "Robert has been playing great all year and he is certainly somebody I looked to play with and he looked to play with me."

Rose was delighted to be paired with old friend Poulter. "Ian and I have a great camaraderie and will find a way to get it done," he said.

"It's great to see it on paper. We can get the juices flowing and psyche ourselves up. I've been waiting a long time for this."

Poulter added:: "I can't wait. It is going to be awesome, and I have to say I am buzzing.

"I missed out the last time (2004) on the Friday morning and I really want to be a big factor in this side.

"This has totally made up for the last three or four weeks, which have been tough for me. But I am big enough and ugly enough to keep all of that at bay."

European debutants Soren Hansen, Graeme McDowell and Oliver Wilson, and their US counterparts Ben Curtis, JB Holmes, Steve Stricker and Boo Weekley, will have to wait until at least the afternoon fourballs to make their bows.

As will Miguel Angel Jimenez and Perry, both of whom have competed before.

Victory in Louisville would give the European team a fourth successive victory and a ninth in the last 12 Ryder Cups.

The US lost each of the last two biennial events by nine points and their last triumph came amid a controversial finish in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1999.

They are without the injured world number one Tiger Woods, who holds a superior Ryder Cup record than any of Paul Azinger's 12 players, and enter the contest as underdogs.

Europe are without Luke Donald because of a wrist injury and Faldo opted against selecting the experienced Clarke and Colin Montgomerie as his wildcard picks.

But in Harrington, winner of the last two Open Championships and this year's USPGA, Faldo has the game's in-form player at his disposal.

Garcia has a foursomes record of played eight won eight and Westwood has not lost a rubber of any description since the 2002 singles.

Azinger had hinted that he would send Kentucky locals Perry, the oldest player on the US team, and big-hitting Holmes out together in the opening foursomes pair to whip the home crowd into a frenzy.

But Perry replaces Woods alongside Furyk, who Azinger insisted on Thursday will play despite taking time out to visit his wife Tabitha in hospital after she experienced neck pains.

"Phil Mickelson expressed interest, along with about six others to team up with Anthony Kim, but Phil got the chance as they know each other well," said Azinger.

"My interest is to get 12 players out on the first day.

"Kenny and Jim are a good combination as they have been practising together all week, and I think they make a solid pairing.

"The only thing I was unsure about was the order. But I am secure about the first four pairings on the first day."

The first match starts 1.05pm BST, with the others following at 15-minute intervals.

The US have not won the opening session since Kiawah Island in 1991, and the last time they even shared it was 11 years ago at Valderrama.

Afternoon fourballs begin at 5.45pm BST, with Faldo and Azinger handing in their pairings 45 minutes beforehand.