World’s best golfers arrive in France for Ryder Cup showdown

ST- QUENTIN- EN-YVELINES: American golfers are hungry for their first Ryder Cup victory on European soil in 25 years. The Europeans simply want to take the trophy back by winning for the seventh time in nine attempts.

For the first time, the world’s top 10 players will all compete in the biennial showdown when the rivals tee off on Friday at Le Golf National, a 12-man United States line-up with 11 of the world’s top 17 players out to end a quarter-century of European frustration.

“We’re reminded of it quite often. So is it extra motivation? I’m not sure you really need extra motivation,” US captain Jim Furyk (pic) said on Monday.

“There’s a thorn in their side.”

Tiger Woods, a 14-time Major winner who snapped a five-year win drought on Sunday, has been on a Cup-winning team only once in seven tries, never in Europe.

Phil Mickelson has never enjoyed the feeling either since the last US triumph in Europe came in 1993 at The Belfry in England.

“That’s a part that’s missing in their careers,” Furyk said.

“It’s not anything I need to mention in the team room. There’s not like a big ‘25’ sitting in there anywhere.

“They are well aware of it and of how difficult it is to win in Europe. “That’s the battle we fight this week.” European captain Thomas Bjorn has world No. 2 Justin Rose coming off a US$10mil (RM41mil) payday for capturing the US PGA Tour playoff prize and half his team flew in from America early on Monday as did the entire US squad.

“One thing I learned about the Ryder Cup is that no matter how tired you are, you are going to carry yourself and everything, all the last bit of adrenaline in your body, even if you have played a lot,” the Dane said.

“This is about what you do as a team and it’s about trying to win this trophy back to Europe.

“It’s a completely different beast, the Ryder Cup, than playing in a regular Tour event so they’re pretty excited about it.”

Furyk said he expects chants and songs and good-natured heckling that are part of the emotional Cup scene but nothing over the top.

“Do I think we’re in for a hostile (reception)? No, I don’t,” Furyk said.

“I do really admire the European crowd and I know they will be loud and I’m anxious to see it.

“I’ve always felt kind of a mutual respect. I know they will be loud.

“I know they will be boisterous. That’s something my players have to respect but hopefully they enjoy.

“Hopefully they thrive on that.” — AFP