Oakland Hills all set for 35th Ryder Cup

After four days of mind games and official practice at Oakland Hills, holders Europe and hosts the United States are ready to contest the 35th Ryder Cup.

Eight-times major winner Tiger Woods and U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson will launch proceedings in Friday's opening fourball match, a mouth-watering clash with seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie and Irishman Padraig Harrington.

The two pairings are, arguably, the strongest on either side and will provide an electric start to one of the biggest occasions in sport.

"I don't know how many people that first hole can hold, but we will find out tomorrow, won't we?" said U.S. captain Hal Sutton.

"It should be a thrilling match and it will come down to who makes a few putts here and there, as it usually does," added Sutton's opposite number Bernhard Langer.

"I think it's a wonderful pairing for the spectators and it's a great way to start off the 35th Ryder Cup matches."

Sutton's U.S. team have home advantage and the stronger line-up, but Langer's Europeans have deep self-belief and relish their perennial 'underdogs' tag.

In Woods, Mickelson, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk and David Toms, the Americans have five major winners.

For the first time since 1981, when Seve Ballesteros was not selected following a dispute with European officials over appearance money, Europe have none.

"Of course we are the underdogs," said Langer. "We have been the underdogs many, many times and we are definitely the underdogs this year, if you look at the world rankings which reflect how well the guys have played the last months or years.

"I don't know if we enjoy being the underdogs, but I don't mind it."

Not that the Americans are happy to be installed as favourites, though, with Europe having won the trophy three times in the last four encounters -- and fives times in the last 10.

While the U.S. traditionally shine in the last-day singles matches, Europe have recently dominated the first two days of team play.

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.

Sutton, a member of the victorious U.S. team at Brookline in 1999, is confident his men can reverse that trend.

"Perceptions may change this week," he said. "We are going to do something about that this week. The Americans are ready.

"If we get beat this week, which is a possibility, this is sports, it can happen. But it won't be because these guys don't care and aren't playing their heart out. They are ready to play."

Since 1981 there has been very little to choose between the sides in terms of match-play grit and ability in the biennial competition.

Although the Americans always have the edge in individual world rankings, the Europeans seem to gel better as a 12-man unit.

The result of all that? A series of tight encounters in the last 10 matches with Europe winning five, the U.S. four and one tied -- at The Belfry in central England in 1989.

Sutton expects the pattern of closely-fought matches to continue.

"It's going to boil down to who makes the most putts this week," he said. "And sometimes the greatest player in the game doesn't make enough putts that week to win.

"One thing that is great about the game of golf is that David actually beats Goliath sometimes.

"When it comes to the individual match-ups, I don't think there is a shoe-in, I really don't. Nobody would have guessed that Phillip Price would have beat Phil Mickelson last time, but it happened."

Briton Price produced the shock result in the last-day singles in 2002 at The Belfry, where Europe regained the trophy from the U.S. by 15-1/2 points to 12-1/2.

Then ranked 119th in the world, Price reeled off five birdies to upset then world number two Mickelson 3 and 2, inflicting upon the left-hander his first Ryder Cup singles defeat in four matches.

More often than not, the Ryder Cup produces that sort of upset. Strokeplay prowess is no guarantee of match-play success and even Woods has lost more matches than he has won.

Woods has not won a major since the 2002 U.S. Open and was deposed as world number one by Vijay Singh two weeks ago, but Sutton expects him to shine at Oakland Hills.

"I feel strongly that Tiger Woods is ready," he said. "I think y'all might see some of Tiger's greatest golf this week, so buckle your chin straps."