U.S. Captain Zach Johnson insists that he and his team are aware but unphased of the long winless record in Europe ahead of the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
They were last victors on foreign soil in 1993, but the U.S. Team have landed in the Eternal City as favourites to retain the Ryder Cup which was won via a record-breaking 19 - 9 victory at Whistling Straits two years ago.
Speaking with the media for the first time on site on Monday, their Captain was keen to dilute the comparisons of the matchplay competition between teams past and present.
"I mean, it's difficult. It's hard to win outside of your comfort zone. It's hard to win against a team that's always been very, very formidable. It's really just that simple.
"The European teams have been very stout, very good, very deep, and this year is no different. It's just difficult. I know what history says. I'm very aware of that. But at the same time I can speak confidently, and talking to my team, these guys are ready and want to embrace that difficulty and want to just look at this as a great opportunity.
"The teams of the past are teams of the part. This is a new team with a new opportunity.
"All that being said, this is golf. I mean, this is sport. I'm going to keep it pretty simple. That's the way I operate. I'm going to let whatever drama you're trying to get into, I'm going to let that happen inside the ropes with our golf balls."
The most important carry on: 🏆☑ pic.twitter.com/6qoERZqLc1
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 25, 2023
Johnson is also hoping to build on the improvements that he believes the U.S. Ryder Cup team have made over the past few years as they look to tip the scales of success back towards themselves.
Despite the devastating victory in Wisconsin in 2021, they have only won three of the ten editions of the Ryder Cup since the turn of the century, yet Johnson is confident they are in a far better place than they were eight years ago.
A task force was put in place following their defeat in 2014 at Gleneagles and since then, the team has been in a better place, both on and off the course.
"We have had a group of individuals help us navigate the numbers and stats and data, if you will, since 2014 or 2015," Johnson said.
"It's just one element of how we organise our system so yeah, you chew on it and you kind of ingest it, and you kind of figure out whether it's worthy of some of the numbers, and I guess you'd say results are worthy of implementing.
"But it's not the only that, we deal in the objective and subjective. There's numerous factors when it comes to how we are going to go about our week, tandems, formats, etc.
"I applaud The PGA of America for allowing myself and some of my peers before me to have direct ownership in how we navigate Team USA.
"I think it's in a better place, and I think it's all because of that collaboration between us players, The PGA of America and some of the other powers that really know what's going on because we are passionate about this very Cup.
"You learn from things. You learn from defeats probably more so than wins. That's the beauty of competition.
"But yeah, make no mistake, I think Team USA is arguably in a better place now than what it was seven, eight, nine years ago, whatever it may be."
Johnson had previously mentioned that Tiger Woods, seen by many as the greatest player of all time - the 'king of golf', had been a peripheral influence on the U.S. Team.
And although he ruled out Woods making the trip to Italy, Johnson is keen to use the 15-time Major Champion in an unofficial capacity.
We are going to utilise his knowledge and his wisdom
"No, Tiger will not be joining us in Italy. He's got a lot on his plate, Johnson added.
"As far as conferring with him, communicating with him, I mean, we have up to this point, and he understands that now that our feet are on the ground, it's probably kind of best that we navigate this ourselves.
"But he's always on inner corner, and at this point it's more encouragement on his side, whether he's texting the guys or texting the Vice Captains and Captains, he's there to encourage because he's very invested in what we do year-in and year-out with Team USA, and that has never ceased and I'm grateful for that.
"I mean, he's the best player of our generation. Thankfully he's an American. We are going to utilise his knowledge and his wisdom and his candor and his passion the best we can.
"When it comes to the week of the tournament, if you're not in on it and inside the team room, inside the ropes, shoulder-to-shoulder with these guys, it's not fair to ask him questions.
"He can give us insights, don't get me wrong. At the same time, I don't know if that's proper and I think he would understand completely."
