World number one Justin Rose believes the pain of losing the Ryder Cup has made Europe’s players hungry to regain the trophy in Paris next week.
Seeking an unprecedented fourth straight victory in the biennial competition in 2016, Europe were beaten 17-11 at Hazeltine and go into this year’s contest as underdogs, despite enjoying home advantage and vast experience of Le Golf National, venue for the European Tour’s French Open.
“Home support is really important, I think that was a big difference at Hazeltine,” Rose said.
“The Americans wanted it really badly and the crowd were right behind them. We want it back badly now. Losing it has made us all more hungry again, no doubt about it.”
Speaking ahead of this week’s Tour Championship, where he could win the FedEx Cup title and £7.6million bonus, Rose added on Sky Sports News: “Europe was on a great run for a number of years but losing it really really hurt so I think we’re all going to be really determined.
“On paper I think the Americans are even stronger than they may have been in 2016, they are a great team, but we’re even stronger too and up for a challenge for sure.”
Tiger Woods also believes the two sides are evenly matched as he prepares to play the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012, when he earned just half a point from four matches as Europe recovered from 10-6 down in the “Miracle at Medinah”.
“I think the European side is one of the best they’ve ever had,” Woods told a pre-tournament press conference. “Yeah we have a solid team but so do the Europeans.
“It plays out over three days and it’s about playing well at the right time, partnering up at the right time and making putts. I think both teams are very deep this year going into the event so I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for both sides.”
Woods has only been on the winning side once in seven previous Ryder Cups as a player – he was a vice-captain in 2016 – and revealed he was struggling with a back problem during the 2012 contest.
The 14-time major winner has since had four back operations, culminating in spinal fusion surgery in April 2017.
“It was tough because we had a four-point lead starting out the day on Sunday and I worked my way back against Francesco (Molinari) and was one up and thought my match would be the deciding point, (but) some of the guys had some tough losses,” the 42-year-old added.
“I wasn’t feeling physically well that Ryder Cup, it was where my back started bugging me and that’s the only wave [Saturday’s foursomes] I’ve ever missed because I told Davis [Love, US captain] that I just really couldn’t go and I said can you put me out later on Sunday because I need the time to get my back organised.
“It was tough watching them celebrate on the 18th fairway when I thought we should have won that one.”
