Ryder Cup focus not on Woods for Europe's 'happy' team

Europe's Ryder Cup team

would be "silly" to focus on Tiger Woods as they attempt to wrench

back the title from the United States, Rory McIlroy believes.

Both McIlroy, who took to the Albatros course at Le Golf National for

practice with team-mates on Wednesday, and Team Europe captain Thomas

Bjorn were in upbeat mood ahead of the three-day showdown from

Friday.

Fourteen-time Major winner Woods has captured much of the attention

after claiming a first win in five years at the Tour Championship at

the East Lake Club in Atlanta last weekend.

But 29-year-old McIlroy, who played the last round with Woods on

Sunday and is appearing at his fifth Ryder Cup, said that victory

would count for nothing.

"This week, he's one of 12," he said. "We're not looking at any

individuals. We're just trying to beat the US team. It's great what

he did on Sunday. It was great for golf. It brings a lot of

excitement to the game."

McIlroy, who has won four Majors, said Woods' return to Ryder Cup

action for the first time since 2012 after being a vice-captain in

the US victory two years ago at Hazeltine will have "given their team

a little bit of momentum coming over here."

But Team Europe is focusing only on beating the US team, who have not

won in Europe for 25 years, and "not looking to just beat Tiger

Woods," he said

"I think to focus on one player is silly, especially when I might not

even see him at any point this week because I mightn't be on the

course with him or play against him," he added.

Bjorn likes what he sees around the European team camp as

anticipation grows for the biennial event.

"They are all in a good place and happy and smiles on their faces,"

he said.

"We're pretty happy with everything. I have to say, we're out there,

and the weather is amazing and fans are starting to come in, so some

of those guys that haven't been in it before are starting to get a

feel for what's ahead of them.

"I feel they are in a good place."

Bjorn and his US opposite number, Jim Furyk, will be spending the

next 24 hours pondering their pairings for the foursomes and

fourballs.

"My job is to create a process for those 12 players to go out and

perform their best," Bjorn said.

"Are we underdogs? Probably on paper we are. But we still believe

that we can win. We still believe that we can go out and do a job on

the golf course, and we concentrate on us."

The world rankings - with 11 Americans in the leading 17 - suggest

the US will start as favourites, but Furyk knows the Ryder Cup has

its own dynamics.

"You know, we're coming into a golf course that they know a lot

better than we do that will be set up in a fashion that they think

suits their game. Those are obstacles we have to overcome," he said.

And the US team, although "feisty and confident," are also bracing

for intimidating home support.

"Their crowd is phenomenal. They make a lot of noise," Furyk said.

"When we walk into that first tee and they announce both teams, they

are going to say, 'And from the United States,' announce two guys,

and there's going to be a nice applause.

"And when they announce the two folks from Europe, there's going to

be a giant roar and those players are going to feel that presence,

and you're going to hear those roars around the golf course."

dpa

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