Sutton seeking improved team play

The pressure is on the United States to improve their poor Ryder Cup record over the first two days, says U.S. captain Hal Sutton.

The U.S. have led Europe going into the last-day singles just once in the last 10 matches and Sutton is determined his 12-man team reverse that trend at Oakland Hills this week.

"It's extremely important to get off to a great start," Sutton said on Wednesday. "I think when we announce our pairings you'll see that that's weighed heavily on my mind. I'll put out the guys that I think can get it done.

"I've expressed -- and it goes back to being patient and staying in the present, one step at a time -- we've got to get the first morning matches behind us in a successful way in order to move to the afternoon matches.

"I do not want to be put behind the eight-ball."

The 35th Ryder Cup starts on Friday morning with the opening fourball matches, followed by the opening foursomes that afternoon.

Sutton, a member of the victorious U.S. team at Brookline in 1999, has said he will advise his players of the initial fourball pairings before noon (1600 GMT) on Thursday.

Foursomes matches involve two-man teams, with each playing one ball. The players take alternate shots until the hole is completed. The lower of the two scores wins the hole.

If the same amount of shots on both sides is recorded, the hole is halved.

Fourball matches involve two-man teams with each player playing his own ball and completing the hole. The best score of the four wins the hole.

The only time the U.S. have led Europe going into the third and final day in the last 10 Ryder Cups was at Oak Hill in 1995, when they held a 9-7 lead.

For the 2004 team to match that achievement, Sutton believes they must feel nervous on the first day.

"Nerves are good," he added. "There's nothing wrong with being nervous. That means you care about something.

"I think facing your fears, being comfortable with that, is a good thing. If you can corral that and channel that into the right spot, that's good."

Holders Europe won the last Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 2002 by 15-1/2 points to 12-1/2.