Historically, team sports throughout the world have examples of teams packed full of individual talent that fail to deliver. Spanish soccer side Real Madrid has suffered recently from their ‘galactico’ policy of buying top named players for top money.

Despite initial success the plan started to falter as the individual ego’s of the top players affected team spirit. Rumours of player power circulated as individual stars put their own need for the spot light ahead of team success.

By no means am I suggesting that the way forward for America would be to select a team with out the two best players in the World involved. Perhaps what America has been missing recently is a strong enough captain to force these players to leave their egos at the door when they check in for Ryder Cup duty.

During the preparation period for the tournament there have been countless stories about a more unified American team, with Tiger Woods as its pillar of strength and solidarity. Time will tell if the pre-tournament team building will result in a championship, but much has been written about this American team being a ‘team’ for the first time in a long time.

Team Europe on the other hand, does not appear to suffer from a lack of team spirit. While the team is packed full of top-drawer players, there are no real stars. Everybody works hard trying to pull the team in the right direction.

Team Europe’s Colin Montgomerie epitomises this spirit with an attitude of ‘putting team needs before my own personal Ryder Cup record.’ At the same time though, it is baffling that a man who has never lost Ryder Cup singles match and whose overall record would stand up against anyone in the history of the tournament has not been able carry that success over to the Major Championships.

In a team sport everyone has a role to play whether that is in the front-line of the competition or in a supporting role.

I believe that this years Ryder Cup will be a lot more closely contested than in 2004. For one, the American team will not be allowed to underestimate the European team by captain Tom Lehman, who will also be hoping that the humiliation attached to the 2004 score-line will push his team on to victory.

The European team can also justifiably claim to have more international golfing experience than their American counter-parts. America have a side including the current top three ranked players in the World but one that may also includes several players who have never played golf internationally before.

A strong start by Europe may knock the confidence of the young American side and may test the team spirit that I believe is so vital at this level.

European captain Ian Woosnam certainly believes a lack of experience playing in Europe will give his side the upper-hand.

He said: “It can be windy in Ireland in September. Are they going to be used to those conditions? As things stand at the moment, I think we have a big advantage.”