Ryder Cup debutant Tommy Fleetwood claims neither he nor his European teammates will be overawed by the presence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the US line-up at the biennial trans-Atlantic head-to-head later this month.
Woods and Mickelson were among Jim Furyk's US team picks for the clash, which will be held at Le Golf National course just outside Paris from September 28 to 30. Fleetwood believes his teammates' familiarity with the duo as well as home advantage will boost their bid to reclaim the Ryder Cup.
"Most of us guys on the European team play in the same tournaments against Phil and Tiger week in and week out at the moment," he said on a call to confirm his involvement in this year's Hong Kong Open.
"You can't deny they're two of the best golfers ever and always will be, but when you tee it up you're just playing another golfer, it doesn't matter who it is."
The Americans are looking to win on European soil for the first time since 1993 and Fleetwood feels the advantage of playing on a course regularly used for European Tour events could give the home team the edge over a talented US team.
"Last time it was in America and the way they set the golf course up was massively in favour of the USA and that's just the way it is." On that occasion the Europeans suffered a heavy 17-11 defeat at Hazeltine National, but Fleetwood is expecting a much more competitive contest this time after Europe captain Thomas Bjorn selected Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson to bolster his squad.
"I think both teams look great this year," he said.
"I honestly think it could be one of the greatest Ryder Cups ever. We do have a really good team spirit this year. Maybe it's always like that, but it's my first one so I can only go on that."..