U.S. looks to break European stranglehold

(CNN) -- The 37th Ryder Cup finally gets underway Friday at the magnificent Valhalla course in Kentucky, as the golfing elite on both sides of the Atlantic get a rare opportunity to play as part of a team over three days.

Since its inception in 1927, the United States has won the biennial event a remarkable 24 times. However, the European team currently holds the bragging rights, with five wins from the last six competitions -- the last a memorable nine-point victory at The K Club in Ireland in 2006.

This year at Valhalla, six-time major winner Nick Faldo leads the European team, while Paul Azinger leads out the Americans.

Despite the U.S. enjoying home advantage, it's Faldo's team that go into the event as favorites, with players such as Padraig Harrington -- who has won back-to-back Open Championships and the 2008 USPGA title since the last Ryder Cup -- Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia enjoying a good season.

Azinger's quest to win back the coveted trophy has not been helped by the enforced absence (through injury) of the world's greatest golfer, Tiger Woods. However 'Zinger' can still count on a hugely talented team which includes four players in world's top ten: Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim. See a rundown of the Ryder Cup teams »

Not every player is selected on the basis of form throughout the season. The captains also have 'wildcard' picks, with Faldo permitted to select two players while Azinger has four. This is where it gets really interesting.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Faldo elected to leave out Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie in particular --- two players with unrivaled Ryder Cup records. Selecting Ian Poulter over Clarke was seen by many as a little strange considering the Irishman had just won a European Tour event and finished sixth at the 2008 World Golf Championships. 'Monty' on the other hand had simply not enjoyed the best of years. Consequently the second wildcard place went to former World Matchplay champion Paul Casey. See Faldo talk about the Ryder Cup build up »

The U.S. on the other hand have changed the way their selections are made, rewarding more recent form rather than over a two-year period. With four wildcards, Azinger can also pick more experienced players rather than players who have played a lot of tournaments. Listen to Azinger talk about this year's tournament »

It remains to be seen whether Azinger can forge the kind of team spirit that has given Europe the upper hand in recent years. The U.S. captain will be hoping he can recreate the kind of passion witnessed during the so-called 'Battle of Brookline' in 1999, when the U.S. last won the competition. For the Europeans, the behavior of the American galleries and team that year created a great deal of resentment.

Who do you think will win this year's Ryder Cup?

After the pleasantries of Thursday's opening ceremony, hostilities began at 1205 GMT with the opening foursomes. Faldo sent out Harrington and in-form Robert Karlsson against world number two Phil Mickelson and rising star Anthony Kim in the opening match.

"It's going to be exciting, the first tee in the Ryder Cup is always nervous and the first match heightens it a little bit," Harrington told a press conference Thursday. "They have gone for their best team, their two best players so we will have to bring our 'A' games tomorrow."

In the other matches, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey head out against Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan before Justin Rose and Ian Poulter face Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are last out against Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk.

During the opening ceremony at Valhalla, Faldo told the audience: "We may look like we have just floated in like a butterfly, but I can assure you we'll sting like a bee." Faldo's words have to be taken in context of course --- he met Muhammad Ali earlier in the day -- but they may come back to haunt him if Azinger and Co. come out fighting.

Local tee-off times for opening foursomes pairings:

08:05 - Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson
08:20 - Leonard/Mahan v Stenson/Casey
08:35 - Cink/Campbell v Rose/Poulter
08:50 - Perry/Furyk v Westwood/Garcia

Non-playing:

United States: Boo Weekley, Steve Stricker, JB Holmes and Ben Curtis Europe: Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen, Graeme McDowell and Oliver Wilson.

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