Nick Faldo was caught out yesterday and he did not relish the experience. There is so much bluff and counter-bluff in the jaw-jaw days leading up to the start of the Ryder Cup that the Europe captain probably thought that any dirty tricks inflicted on him would have been perpetrated by Paul Azinger, the United States captain, or a US supporter.

Instead, Faldo brought yesterday's episode on himself. When he was on the golf course watching his team playing four-balls, he held his hand-written notes in such a way that they were snapped by alert photographers.

Tackled about these jottings later, Faldo tried to pretend that they were the lunch orders for his team members. The Times pointed out to him that, far from being orders for “chicken salad, tomatoes and mayonnaise on rye” and “a ham and cheese toastie on wholemeal”, the jottings were the initials of members of his team. Again he tried to dismiss it as inconsequential. “If the photographer was on the 7th tee, then they had all changed by the 13th,” he said.

When the pairings were read out to Faldo, he realised that the game was up and his disappointment was clear to see. If there is one thing that irks him, it is when something he has done goes wrong. “They are the Thursday pairings, tomorrow's pairings,” he said, adding: “OK, I've been caught out. We are going to play foursomes on the front nine. I've learnt a lesson.”

The pairings were Sergio García and Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, and Graeme McDowell and Paul Casey. At the bottom of the sheet were the initials of Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen and Miguel Ángel Jiménez, while Henrik Stenson's name was elsewhere on the sheet of paper.

These pairings could be the ones Faldo will use this morning, when his men will play nine holes of foursomes to prepare for the first session against the US tomorrow morning. García and Westwood were first paired together in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry and won both their matches.

Poulter and Rose proved to be a successful foursomes partnership at the World Cup in China last year. Harrington and Karlsson is a partnership of Europe's leading player (Harrington) with the man who won a tournament in Germany on Sunday (Karlsson), while McDowell is a straight hitter and Casey very powerful, a pairing that does not always come off in foursomes.

Another picture shows what looks to be the reverse of the same sheet. This time the pairings were Westwood and Hansen, García and Jiménez, Harrington and McDowell, Karlsson and Casey. This would look to be a decent line-up for Europe in tomorrow afternoon's four-balls.

This episode illustrated that there has been more interaction between the captains this week than at any Ryder Cup in memory, and this is not based solely on the famous taped interview in April when Azinger called Faldo a p**ck. One reason is because of the scrutiny the men are under, but, more significantly, the men were rivals as players, shared the commentary booth where their jobs were to be engagingly argumentative on ABC TV in the US and, anyway, are equally feisty.

As the week has unfolded, the two have been appearing in television advertisements on behalf of an American bank, competing against one another at fishing, poker and golf.

Both men might be accused of laying false trails to confuse the other. Perhaps Azinger was doing this when, on Tuesday and yesterday, he announced his intention of pairing Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes to rouse the Kentucky crowd to a frenzy of support for their home-town boys. Few captains are likely to make their thoughts as public as this unless they do not intend to do anything of the sort.

“Hmm,” Faldo said when Azinger's comments were relayed to him. “Paul is trying to pull a poker move here.”

How they shaped up in practice

Nick Faldo Happier on the course than off. Could be seen sharing his thoughts and had a long pow-wow with Ian Poulter and Justin Rose on the 12th green.

Padraig Harrington Looked in fine fettle. Carried himself like the three-time major champion he is, hitting the ball cleanly and focusing on the job in hand.

Graeme McDowell Got his wish to play alongside Harrington. Worked hard on his game, but did not strike the ball as well as he would have liked.

Sergio García His superb ball-striking produced a wonderful sound off the clubface. Looked confident in the extreme.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez Puffing on a cigar, he appeared relaxed and comfortable. His unorthodox swing elicited comments from the crowds, mostly in admiration for its effectiveness.

Oliver Wilson Outdriven by Paul Casey and Lee Westwood, and with a tendency to drift right, he looked a little overawed. Still finding his feet.

Paul Casey Opened his shoulders and let rip on a course made in heaven for the game's big hitters. Looking good.

Soren Hansen As with Wilson, he seemed to be easing his way into the set-up. Had a few wayward shots, but struck the ball nicely.

Lee Westwood Showed why he is likely to figure in all five matches. Played controlled golf and was the only one to attempt to reach the island green at the par-four 13th. Missed narrowly.

Ian Poulter Had three attempts to get near the pin on the par-three 14th, only once finding the putting surface.

Robert Karlsson Fresh from his victory at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne, looked in good shape. Hit the ball a long way and displayed good rhythm.

Henrik Stenson A little wayward over both days of practice. With the rough so light, this may not be a concern for the four-balls, but could prove a liability in the foursomes.

Justin Rose Nothing about his bearing and his play suggested that he is a team rookie. Looked at home in this environment, which, of course, he is.