Ryder Cup 2016 opening ceremony as it happened: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson to lead Europe charge

There we have it, then. The fourball pairings for the opening round of the 2016 Ryder Cup (all times BST):

Match 1: 1:35pm
USA - Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed

Europe - Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson

Match 2: 1:50pm
USA - Phil Mickelson and and Rickie Fowler

Europe - Rory McIlory and Andy Sullivan

Match 3: 2:05pm
USA - Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson

Europe - Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer

Match 4: 2:20pm
USA - Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar

Europe - Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters

Excited yet? There's not much longer to wait. Join us for the next three days for every shot.

Nick Howson at Hazletine

No doubt where the standout match of tomorrow's fourballs comes from, with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed - who enjoyed such great success at Medinah - facing the Olympic champion Justin Rose and The Open winner Henrik Stenson. That is a cracker waiting to happen.

"There are few other shocks to really speak of, but perhaps worth noting that Danny Willett has been omitted from the opening round after he admitted to being distracted by his brother's controversial column. Thomas Pieters and Andy Sullivan will both make their debuts in the morning.

Match 4

USA - Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar
Europe - Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters

Match 3

USA - Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson
Europe - Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer

Match 2

USA - Phil Mickelson and and Rickie Fowler

Europe - Rory McIlory and Andy Sullivan

And the first pairing teeing off at 7:35am (1:35pm BST)

Match 1

Europe - Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson
USA - Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed

Darren Clarke and Davis Love III are back on stage to share the pairings with us. Here we go...

We've just surged past the hour mark here, but we still have the fourball pairings to be announced! Hang on for a bit.

Phil Mickelson gets the biggest cheer of the lot and the crowd breaks out into chants of 'USA, USA, USA.' Right on cue, it's time for The Star-Spangled Banner...

And now we head down the USA line as Love introduces his select 12.

After introducing his vice-captains, Love makes pays one more brilliant tribute to The King.

There is one more captain here working for both teams. Our friend, Arnold Palmer.

Davis Love III:

Darren, you and I became friends through our play at the Ryder Cup. We will talk about what happens here for rest of our lives, whatever happens. We will be talking about it forever and remain friends no matter what. That is the spirit of the game.

Davis Love III:

Darren, you and I became friends through our play at the Ryder Cup. We will talk about what happens here for rest of our lives, whatever happens. We will be talking about it forever and remain friends no matter what. That is the spirit of the game.

Team USA captain Davis Love III is now summoned to the stage.

And up goes the European flag to the anthem Ode to Joy. It's good, but I preferred it when it was used in Die Hard.

Nick Howson at Hazeltine

Very nicely done by Darren Clarke, a speech he had mentioned this week he was concerned about delivering. He can relax now.

Clarke now takes us down the line, individually introducing the members of Team Europe, who whip their sunglasses off to give the applauding crowd a smile and a wave.

Clarke now pays tribute to the caddies and the WAGs, before thanking his "friend" Davis Love III.

Darren Clarke continues:

What does it mean (representing Europe?) There are many elements that epitomise whats it is all about. For me, more than more any other, one thing sums up what it feels like to represent Europe. Pride. I am so proud to be captain and that pride stems from the people I am representing.

Team Europe captain Darren Clarke hits the stage now.

It is an honour and privilege to stand here today as captain of Team Europe.

"It's been a long road but we are delighted to be here. The start of the week was tinged with sadness here and around the world at passing of Arnold Palmer.

"Golf didnt just lose the King, it also lost a true legend of the game, the thoughts of everyone from Team Europe are with his friends and family at this time.

Nick Howson at Hazeltine

Plenty of derision at role of this opening ceremony, but it is fair to say the tribute played to Palmer makes all the pomp and circumstance complete worth it. If the two presenters could dial down their painted on smiles that would be superb, too.

David Murchie, Chairman of The PGA, is now on stage, thanking everyone and everything, even the weather.

It's like a Blues Brothers tribute in the front row where Team Europe are sat.

Now a video tribute to the late, great Arnold Palmer is being shown on the big screen on stage. A who's who of golfing icons pay their respects to The King, whose death was announced at the start of this week.

A moment of silence follows.

Nick Howson at Hazeltine

After that fine tribute to Arnold Palmer by Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus, it's time for both teams to take to the stage. More aviators than Beverly Hills Cop.

And here come the two teams, all looking very dapper.

USA - Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reeds, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes and Ryan Moore

Europe - Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Thomas Pieters, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer

Nick Howson at Hazeltine

For veterans of the Ryder Cup opening ceremony, you'll be delighted to hear that Nick Faldo is in situ for this afternoon's proceedings. His performance as captain in 2008, which included the most ill-judged and ill-timed stand-up routine in the history of comedy, is etched in opening ceremony folklore.

"It was a simply magnificently tragic performance. I have no doubt Davis Love III and Darren Clarke will not stray into such dangerous waters today."

Golf legendsTony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus are now out on stage to address the crowd...

IBTimes UK sports editor Nick Howson is out in Hazeltine for us. Not a bad afternoon for it...

And the opening ceremony is underway. Please try and remember we're only 12 hours or so off from some actual golf.

Nick Howson at Hazeltine

It has turned into the most glorious day in Chaska, Minnesota for the opening ceremony ahead of the 41st Ryder Cup. Over the next hour we will have performances from winners of The Voice and American Idol, speeches from both captains, no fewer than six national anthems and the most irrelevant fireworks display in history.

"All this pomp and circumstance builds towards the real reason thousands of fans are camped out on the practice range and millions more are watching across the world - the announcement of the foursome pairing for tomorrow morning's opening round of matches. It might however be a long hour.

Tonight's opening ceremony will have a very poignant feel with both teams set to pay their tributes to the great Arnold Palmer, whose death was announced at the start of the week.

The death of a true icon had a galvanising effect on Team Europe in 2012 with the spirit of Seve Ballesteros, who died 16 months previous, inspiring perhaps the most memorable comeback in this competition's history. Can Team USA harness the legacy of Palmer in a similar way? Nick Howson looks at how a team who so usually come undone by a lack of unity can do that this time round.

Masters champion Danny Willett's final preparations were disrupted somewhat this week after his brother Pete labelled the US golf crowds, among other things, a "baying mob of imbeciles" in an editorial for the National Club Golfer.

Pete Willett, who was in fine form on social media during his younger brother's first major triumph in April, tweeted 'he meant every word', but it's left his brother to deal with some awkward conversations at Hazeltine. Here's our story on the incident.

It's been the calm before the storm at Hazeltine this week, despite the best efforts of Danny Willett's brother Pete. But we are almost ready for golf's showpiece event to get started.

The opening ceremony for the 2016 Ryder Cup will see captains Davis Love III and Darren Clarke announce their foursome pairings ahead of the first round of action on Friday. But it will also be a chance for both teams to pay tribute to the late, great Arnold Palmer whose death aged 87 was announced at the start of the week. Palmer won this competition seven times as a player and captain and will be firmly in the minds of both Team USA and Team Europe ahead of the three days of competition.

Love and Clarke have given little away this week as to who will be pairing up tomorrow afternoon just after lunchtime.

Over the next hour or so, they will be showing their first hands as we get you warmed up for the start of the action.