Nick Faldo made some stunning changes to his lineup for Saturday morning’s foursomes in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club. The most suprising moves were the omissions of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, two European stalwarts that had never sat out a session before in their celebrated Ryder Cup careers.

Garcia and Westwood have combined for 31 1/2 points in Ryder Cup play, easily more than the entire U.S. team. Yet, both were left off the Saturday morning list of pairings for foursomes. Faldo - conveniently enough - had the lineup issued just after concluding his post-round press on Friday evening.

Thus, reporters had no opportunty to ask questions about the notable development.

Naturally, Faldo was willing to speak on the matter for television cameras on Saturday morning and explained that Westwood - who managed to participate in two halves on Friday - had blisters. And, according to Faldo, Garcia made it known that he was “spent” on Friday afternoon. Garcia participated in one halve on Friday, which means Garcia and Westwood had a hand in 1 1/2 of Europe’s 2 1/2 points.

Don’t be surprised to hear more on this later.

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Westwood tied Arnold Palmer’s record of 12 straight unbeaten matches by getting halves in both of his matches on Friday. Westwood last lost a Ryder Cup match in 2002 and has seven wins and five halves to his credit in the streak. And, apparently, he also had blisters.

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Much was made of the Kentucky guys - J.B. Holmes and Kenny Perry - being on the team at Valhalla. Interesting that both spit the bit at No. 18 on Friday. Both were playing on teams that took a 1-up lead to 18. But Perry, playing in alternate shot with Jim Furyk in the morning, put his tee ball i the water down the right side.

Holmes, playing in four-ball with Boo Weekley, watched Weekley hit it in the water on 18, then stepped up and drove his shot through the green and into the hazard, all but conceding the hole to Soren Hansen and Westwood.

Oddly enough, Perry did the same thing in losing a 1996 PGA Championship playoff with mark Brooks.

“The 18th hole hates me,” Perry said.