Woosnam will retain Europe's tried-and-tested formula in Ireland

As the home captain, Woosnam had the option of changing the order of the fourballs and foursomes gameplay.

But the Welshman has kept the formula of fourballs (better ball) on Friday and Saturday morning and four foursomes (alternate shot) in the afternoons.

The match concludes with 12 singles matches on the Sunday.

Woosnam, 48, reasoned: "We've done better in fourballs and the quicker we can get points on the board the better.

"It wasn't very difficult to think about. It's been the best way for us over the last few times."

Since Seve Ballesteros introduced the idea in 1997 at Valderrama, Spain, the Europeans have favoured starting with fourballs, which they feel is to their advantage, in the mornings.

Sam Torrence, though, mixed things up in 2002 by starting with fourballs on the Friday but the foursomes on the Saturday, as Europe won 15 1/2-12 1/2.

The Americans have always favoured starting the days with foursomes, with Hal Sutton's decision to reverse that in 2004 resulting in a record 18 1/2-9 1/2 defeat for his side.