United States captain Tom Watson put his faith in his three youngest players to kickstart his side's bid for an unlikely Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles on Sunday.

Trailing 10-6 going into the 12 singles matches, Watson put 21-year-old rookie Jordan Spieth out first, his playing partner thus far and fellow rookie Patrick Reed, 24, out second and 25-year-old Rickie Fowler third.

That meant a third head-to-head battle of the season for Fowler with world number one Rory McIlroy, the American having finished joint second behind McIlroy at the Open Championship and third in the US PGA Championship.

Spieth was up against former US Open champion Graeme McDowell - unbeaten in two foursomes with Victor Dubuisson - with Reed taking on Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who won three games alongside Justin Rose before sitting out the fourth session to rest a sore back.

"I knew Paul was going to put out his best players first," Watson said. "That's typical of what happens with European captains, they put their strongest players out first. I think we have a good line up."

Draw and tee-off times for the singles matches:

(Europe names first)

1136 Graeme McDowell v Jordan Spieth

1148 Henrik Stenson v Patrick Reed

1200 Rory McIlroy v Rickie Fowler

1212 Justin Rose v Hunter Mahan

1224 Stephen Gallacher v Phil Mickelson

1236 Martin Kaymer v Bubba Watson

1248 Thomas Bjorn v Matt Kuchar

1300 Sergio Garcia v Jim Furyk

1312 Ian Poulter v Webb Simpson

1324 Jamie Donaldson v Keegan Bradley

1336 Lee Westwood v Jimmy Walker

1348 Victor Dubuisson v Zach Johnson