Ryder Cup captains Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman have promised hard-fought golf played in a chivalrous spirit at the K Club in County Kildare.
The pair held a joint news conference at Dublin Airport on Monday after Lehman's Americans finally touched down in Ireland following a three-hour delay in their flight from Washington.
"We're going to play to win and play hard but, at the end of the day, we're going to shake hands like sportsmen," Lehman said.
Woosnam, a veteran of eight Ryder Cups as a player, added: "We look forward to another week of great golf and, above all, fun.
"We'll try our damnedest to keep the Ryder Cup here for another two years."
Europe have won four of the last five matches, including the last two.
Lehman, who brought his entire 12-man team to the K Club for a sneak preview last month, is happy for Europe to be billed the favourites for the first time in the biennial competition.
"I'm not opposed to it," he said. "The European team is extremely strong top to bottom and, playing here in Ireland, they are favourites
"I do think it's going to be a phenomenal week and both teams have a lot to play for. We'll be trying extremely hard to get the cup back."
The U.S. last won the trophy at Brookline in 1999.
Lehman was delighted to report that Scott Verplank, one of his two wildcard picks, was fully fit after struggling with a back strain two weeks ago.
"He rested after the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, played last week at the 84 Lumber (Classic) and is now 100 percent," he said.
The three-day Ryder Cup, being staged on Irish soil for the first time in the competition's 79-history, starts on Friday.
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