After two decades of dominance, Europe’s Ryder Cup team is brimming with confidence heading into this weekend’s event at Ireland’s K Club.

With only three outright wins in the last 10 tournaments, questions have been raised about the U.S. Ryder Cup selection process and the overall spirit of the team.

In 2004 the underdog European squad demoralized the U.S. team on their home turf at Oakland Hills (Mich.)

The 18 ½ point total amassed by the Europeans was the largest total earned by either team since 1979 and the winning margin of nine points meant that the American team suffered their worse defeat in Ryder Cup history.

Such a defeat was particularly hard to take for American golf fans, particularly since they seemingly had the stronger team. Boasting three of the top six players in the world and players who had the experience of winning Major championships, many golf experts predicted the U.S. would win in a landslide.

This prediction was seemingly backed up by the fact that the European team only boasted one player in the top 10 and no Major championship wins. Individual talent and the ability to withstand extreme pressure seemed to lie firmly in the American camp. Maybe the American team underestimated Europe, something which you would not expect a repeat of this time around.

However, the virtues of having a strong team spirit need to be analysed when discussing the below par performances of the American team compared with a European team who continue to surpass all expectations.

Under normal circumstances golf would be considered an individual sport. Players rely on their own talent and mental strength to be the best and succeed in the major tournaments on the golfing circuit.

The Ryder Cup is completely the opposite. It is a team game where talent and application are not the only required ingredients for success. Inflated egos have no place in a team environment. This is a tournament where world rankings and individual tournament success count for nothing.

Rumours of players not getting on in recent American Ryder Cup teams have been rife. There are many theories on why this could be. It could be something as simple as personality clashes outside of golf, but if this were the case you would hope the player’s professionalism would take care of it.

If the rumours of unrest in the American camp are to be believed then it could be down to a clashing of egos. Players such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have enjoyed much success on the PGA tour, but the single mindedness required to be an individual champion could have an adverse effect in a team based tournament.