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Lehman: Europe are favourites

18/09/2006

Tom Lehman has insisted his US Ryder Cup team are the underdogs going into this weekend's eagerly-anticipated K Club encounter with Ian Woosnam's Europeans.

The two captains delivered their first joint press conference today after Lehman and nine of his team arrived at Dublin airport.

And Lehman, whose party was without Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, began the mind games immediately by heaping the pressure on to his counterpart.

Europe have won the past two Ryder Cups and with home advantage in Ireland this week, Lehman believes his side will be hard pushed to end that winning run.

"I think we are underdogs. Our team is very strong but we have four rookies and there is always a bit of a question mark about them," Lehman said.

"The European team playing in Ireland have to be slight favourites. I'm not opposed to being the underdog."

He added, however, that he is expecting his players to be full of confidence going into Friday's start of competition.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a US team to come to Ireland," he said.

"If you can't enjoy the Ryder Cup then there's something wrong. There are so many reasons to enjoy it, we grew up as kids dreaming about things like this."

Woosnam's XII are due to arrive in Dublin later today.

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