Golf: Fans anticipate electrifying start to Ryder Cup

STRAFFAN, Ireland - After three days of gusting winds, rain, practice and speculation at the K Club, the time has finally come - holders Europe and challengers the United States are ready to contest the 36th Ryder Cup golf tournament.

For the first time in the event's 79-year history the Europeans will start as favourites, but captain Ian Woosnam is wary of making too much of top billing.

"I don't think anybody should be favourite," the 48-year-old Briton said during a news conference on Thursday ahead of tonight's (NZ time) start.

"I think if I went to the bookies it would be 50-50 who was going to win this match.

"This is probably the strongest team we've ever had but I still think its going to be a very close contest."

Woosnam's opposite number Tom Lehman is bidding to end a desperate run of four US defeats in the last five matches.

"Over the last 10 Ryder Cups, the European team has been the strongest in this team format," he said.

"I would say they have to be the favourite here in Ireland, but I wouldn't say they are huge favourites because both teams are very capable."

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

Although the US always bristle with star quality and major winners, the Europeans seem to gel better as a 12-man unit.

Traditionally, the Americans have gone into the Ryder Cup with a much stronger line-up, particularly with regard to individual world rankings.

Not so this year, however.

While the US team boasts the game's three leading players in Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Phil Mickelson, Europe have greater strength in depth.

In Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson, David Howell, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal, Darren Clarke and Paul Casey, they have nine players ranked in the world's top 25.

The Americans, in world No 1 Woods, Furyk, Mickelson, David Toms, Chris DiMarco, Chad Campbell and Stewart Cink, have seven, plus four Ryder Cup rookies.

One factor not to be underestimated, though, is the hunger of the Americans to turn around their recent Cup disappointment.

They were badly bruised after a record-equalling trouncing by 18-1/2 points to 9-1/2 at Oakland Hills in 2004 and Lehman has worked hard all year to make his US team as tightly knit as possible.

Woods, by nature an introvert and a peripheral figure in his four previous Cup appearances, has been a shining example, surprising his team mates this week by taking to a leadership role with relish.

"Tiger has really stepped up," Lehman said.

"He's made it very clear how much he wants to win, how much he wants everybody to feel like they are a part of the team."

The first Ryder Cup to be staged on Irish soil is set for an electric start with Woods and Furyk launching proceedings in a mouth-watering clash with Montgomerie and Harrington in Friday's opening fourball match.

Woods and 2003 US Open champion Furyk dovetailed superbly at last year's Presidents Cup while Montgomerie and Harrington gave Europe a massive boost by beating Woods and Phil Mickelson in the opening match of the 2004 Ryder Cup.

"The first point is a big point and I think you want to lead with your best," Lehman said.

"I think it will be a great match and I pretty much expected that. It's no surprise to me to see Harrington and Montgomerie in that first group."

Woosnam also recognised the psychological significance of that heavyweight encounter.

"There's been a lot of talk about Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk playing together after what they did in the Presidents Cup," he said.

"It's going to be a big boost for us if we can beat that pairing. And if you lose it, there's three more matches."

Masters champion Mickelson has been paired with DiMarco in the last fourball out on Friday morning when they will come up against European wildcards Clarke and Lee Westwood in another high-profile clash.

In between, Briton Casey and Swedish rookie Robert Karlsson take on Cink and rookie JJ Henry while Spaniards Garcia and Olazabal play against Toms and another first-timer Brett Wetterich.

TONIGHT'S PAIRINGS:

Montgomerie and Harrington v Woods and Furyk
Casey and Karlsson v Cink and Henry
Olazabal and Garcia v Toms and Wetterich
Clarke and Westwood v Mickelson and DiMarco

- REUTERS