Johnny Miller: European Ryder Cup team is worst in years

“So what we’ll ultimately look at is: ‘Are we playing our best golf the week of the Ryder Cup?’ That’s what we have to do to be successful, to win”. Underwent brain surgery in 2011 to deal with vertigo.

“Each of them will be trying to do everything possible to help their team win and it involves getting themselves in a great state of mind, getting themselves to believe in their teams, and then getting the team to believe in their leadership”. We’ve never been through this before. “For me, at this stage in my career, it means a little more to me”.

“Well, I’ve won two Tour Championships, and I’ve only been a part of two winning Ryder Cups, ” Mickelson said.

Europe will be led by Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland and the USA by Davis Love III.

The routing: For the Ryder Cup, the front nine will be Nos. Last win came at Fiji last October.

It is true that the recent events on the European Tour in Italy (where 7 European Ryder Cup members played) and Germany (where 2 played) were on relatively benign setups with lots of birdies possible.

Miller was on the 1981 Ryder Cup team that is regarded as the best, with 11 players who combined to win 49 majors.

Stealing a page from Europe, the idea is to keep the program going from Cup to Cup and build teamwork. But Mickelson has only hoisted the trophy twice. In the 1999 “Battle of Brookline”, Europe led 10-6 entering the singles but USA players rallied for a 14 1/2-13 1/2 triumph.

The 40-year-old will be on site, checking how the players go through their paces. “But the difference is we’re being put in a position to succeed because we’re going in with a proper game plan and every opportunity to play our best golf, as opposed to creating challenges though the week to overcome”.

Miller, 69, is a two-time major victor having claimed the US Open in 1973 and the Open Championship in 1976, while the San Franciscan also played in two victorious Ryder Cups for the U.S. in 1975 and 1981.

They had a better-ball score of 61, which might have been really special if Woods and Mickelson had made it to the 18th hole. Expect extra emotion if he is matched against Willett.

The former champion has been out of action for 12 months with a back injury.

Foursomes matches involve two-man teams, with each team playing one ball. Don’t expect Tiger Woods to get a last-second call.

The Americans have been meticulous in their preparations for the 41st edition of the biennial competition and appear to have several factors in their favor as they strive to end a remarkable run by the Europeans over the past two decades. Although Ryan Moore’s closing 64 didn’t lift him to victory at the Tour Championship, it likely secured him the final captain’s pick on the American team next week at Hazeltine National.

The event is a match-play contest featuring 12 players apiece from Europe and the US. Watson, 37, is 3-8 in three cups, 0-3 in 2014.

And Horan, who started his own golf management agency after taking a break from One Direction, will be taking on a role helping the Europeans during the bi-annual match, reported Daily Star.