How times have changed. Once considered Europe’s permanent tag in the Ryder Cup, it is now America’s turn to embrace the status of underdog.
Having lost seven of their last nine encounters, and having never won on European soil since Tom Watson led them to victory at The Belfry in 1993, and considering how the two teams stack up on the basis of recent form, not even someone as pumped as Keegan Bradley was willing to talk up their chances.
Being the underdog is the most comfortable position in any sport. It means there is no pressure on your side. If you lose, it was supposed to happen. If you win, what can be better than that?
Even Phil Mickelson, one of the most optimistic sportspeople you can come across – after all, even at the age of 44, he believes he is headed into the “five best years of his career” – accepted it would be difficult to beat the Europeans this year.
Mickelson said: “It takes some of the pressure off knowing that we are on away soil. We have not won here in 20 years.
“We’ve got a team that is a heavy underdog, and the expectations certainly aren’t high.”
At best, the Americans are cautiously optimistic about their chances.
“As favourites are concerned, the media, the people that look at the teams, they look at Rory McIlroy, they look at Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson; The European team is loaded,” said captain Watson.
“But when the matches start on Friday morning, there’s going to be quality of play going on. We’ll just see who wins. I know our team is totally committed to bringing the Cup back.
“We certainly had our run of really good golf, and the run is favouring the Europeans right now with Rory and Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer. There are ebbs and flows to the careers of people and to eras of golfers.
“Right now it seems the European team is favoured. Well, you’ve got the names. You’ve got the guys who have really played some great golf. But that changes on Friday morning when we tee it up. Everybody’s the same. That’s the way I look at it.”
Bradley, who was such a force for America in Medinah, at least on the first two days, echoed his captain’s thoughts.
“I think you’re an underdog because you’re here in Europe. I’m a big believer that in the Ryder Cup, world rankings, majors, wins, all those things are gone. Everybody starts from scratch,” said Bradley. “I mean, the Ryder Cup is so unique. You can come out one day and be so nervous, who knows how you’re going to play. And you could come out and play the best golf of your life. So I say we are underdogs. But come that first tee, everybody’s even from right there.”
Whereas the USA have been criticised for an apparent broken team spirit down the years, Europe’s strength has laid in their unity and togetherness. However, confidence has played a considerable part.
Graeme McDowell admits the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ two years ago was sparked by a collective realisation victory was possible on Saturday night, even when they were six points down.
He told ESPN: “Bizarrely on Saturday night, when the singles draw came out and we all got together – the mood was bizarrely quite elated. There was a feeling among the team that the singles had come out favourably. On Saturday night it was weird. There was an air of something special.”
Of course, having assumed the role of favourites, the issue for Europe now is complacency. Something America have been guilty of in the past. How times have changed.
SCHEDULE
All times UAE and live on OSN Sports 1HD
Thursday
Opening ceremony from 17:30
Friday
Fourballs at 10:35, 10:50, 11:05 and 11:20
Foursomes at 16:15, 16:30, 16:45 and 17:00
Saturday
Fourballs at 10:35, 10:50, 11:05 and 11:20
Foursomes at 16:15, 16:30, 16:45 and 17:00
Sunday
Singles at 12-minute intervals from 14:36 until 16:48
