The Internationals have a lineup ranked with the best golf teams ever assembled, but have endured a frustrating lack of success against the US in the Presidents Cup.
The Americans are 4-1-1 against their non-European foes entering today's renewal of the rivalry at Royal Montreal Golf Club. The US men have never won off home soil, but the global side's lone triumph came in 1998 at Australia.
"It has been a long time. We have come a long way as an International team," Australian Stuart Appleby said. "We need to start winning because we have the desire. We have to taste victory. It has been a while."
South African star Ernie Els, who missed the 2005 Cup with an injury, Aussie Adam Scott and South Korean K.J. Choi lead an Internationals team with nine of the 18 top-ranked players against world No. 1 Tiger Woods and the US team.
"I like our chances. We're not going to be the underdogs as much as we used to be. We will be much more up front and it will be real disappointing if we don't have a real tussle," Appleby said.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, where many European tour players are unknowns to US rivals, the Presidents Cup squads see each other often on the US tour and many are friends and neighbors. That doesn't soften the hunger on the global side.
"You want to beat them. You don't care where they're from," Appleby said. "You can make it a hockey brawl if you want. But it's just about getting the ball in the hole. If a bunch of Americans are on the losing team so be it."
Such intensity contrasts to a US side where players casually joke with each other and captain Jack Nicklaus tweaks them all.
"All the time he reminds us to have fun," US veteran David Toms said. "He says it multiple times. Have fun. But it's a lot more fun when you win."
But lest one think the Americans are care-free, Stewart Cink summed up the spirit for a team that struggles against European Ryder Cup rivals.
"We want to win bad. Nobody wants to lose this. That translates to a lot of intensity," Cink said. "We're pretty intense about this. It's comparable to the Ryder Cup."
Internationals captain Gary Player sees the course setting up well for Woods, who along with Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker give the US the world's four top-ranked players.
"This is a golf course that I think will suit Tiger, extremely so," Player said. "The fairways are all wide. It's set up more for a long hitter. There is not much rough. That's why you are going to see a lot of birdies."
"We realize Tiger is an incredible golfer and we have a monumental task. His team is favored. They have got to be favored. They have the top four in the world," Player said.
Woods said the Cup's intensity has grown since a memorable 2003 draw at South Africa and a 2005 edition the US won on the 18th hole in the last match.
"The international team is probably the strongest team we face. It's pretty impressive. You're pretty pumped to be here," Woods said.
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