CHASKA (UNITED STATES) - Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy fired up European passions Tuesday at the Ryder Cup, taking exception to US captain Davis Love's contention that his Americans might be the best team ever.
"At the end of the day, you don't win Ryder Cups with your mouth," Sergio Garcia said
"At the end of the day, you don't win Ryder Cups with your mouth," Garcia said. "You win them out there on the golf course and that's where we'll see which team is the best."
European teams have won three consecutive Ryder Cups, seeking an unprecedented fourth in a row this week at Hazeltine, while the Americans have lost six of the past seven and eight of 10.
But with a new task force bringing stronger organization and commitment, Love felt confident enough in his roster last Friday to tell a golf radio interviewer, "We're a great team. This is maybe the best golf team maybe ever assembled."
Those words added inspiration for a Europe side not lacking for it to start with.
"They are pretty much motivating factors," Garcia said. "You know what they say opinions are like -- we all have one. Everybody is allowed to have their own opinions. That's what they think. We know what we have."
World number three McIlroy, Europe's top-ranked player, is coming off a victory at the US PGA's season-ending Tour Championship. It brought $1.5 million plus a $10 million season points bonus he swiped from the pocket of US Cup rival Dustin Johnson, the US Open champion ranked second in the world.
"To see Rory showing that fighting spirit and battling the way in which he did was wonderful," Europe captain Darren Clarke said of his Northern Ireland compatriot. "That was a very enjoyable thing for all of us to watch."
McIlroy tossed his own barbs at the US notion of Ryder Cup supremacy before Friday's opening tee shots.
"I've followed everything and I've had a bit of fun with it, the task force and greatest team ever assembled and whatever else they are talking about," McIlroy said.
"If Europe were in the same position as what America have went through over the past few Ryder Cups, we would be probably doing the same thing and searching for answers."
- Europe 'more than ready' -
The Americans have four of the world's top 10 in Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler and all 12 players are ranked in the world's top 31.
While Europe counters with five of the world's top 12, including Garcia in 12th, half the European squad is ranked below Ryan Moore, the captain's pick who is the lowest-ranked US player.
McIlroy noted that in terms of worldwide victories this year, Europe players have taken 12 to nine by the Americans, the majors split even at two for each roster.
"So our team is good. Our team is more than ready to handle the occasion, to handle what we need to do," McIlroy said.
"I don't think it's hard for us to find motivation. Whether it be the sea of red (US supporters) you see on the golf course or comments made by the US team or captain, that gives us so much motivation already.
"Whenever we are going up against one of the greatest teams ever assembled, that's motivation enough. How good a victory would this be if we go out and beat these guys on home soil?"
Clarke passed on his chance to dig into Love about the best-ever notion, saying, "About going up against the best team in the world, that one you should ask Davis. I'm very pleased with our team."
England's Andy Sullivan, the lowest ranked player in the event at 50th and one of six Ryder Cup newcomers for Europe, was willing to grant the hosts an edge on paper but warned Europe has a tough history when unfancied.
"It hasn't been spoken about very much, but on paper they are an unbelievable side," Sullivan said.
"You look at it for most years and Europe go in as the underdogs. As the recent years have shown they have done pretty well out of it. Hopefully that's a common theme and we get the job done this year."