Nick Faldo's side will by trying to make it an unprecedented fourth successive victory at Valhalla in two weeks' time.

Montgomerie said: "The United States public are having to come to terms with the fact that not just golf, but tennis as well, are changing worlds. They are not as dominant as they once were."

He added: "Europe are 2-7 and that's incredible in a two-horse race in America. It's dramatic. It will be tough - it always is in America - but Tiger Woods is usually good for three points out of five and they are losing that this time."

That was emphasised again on Monday night when Fijian Vijay Singh made it two wins out of two in the FedEx Cup play-offs in Boston, with Canadian Mike Weir a distant second, South African Ernie Els and Colombian Camilo Villegas joint third and Spain's Sergio Garcia in a tie for fifth.

Starting with the Open at Birkdale the last nine US Tour-counting events have seen only two American winners - the little-known pair Chez Reavie and Parker McLachlin.

Singh has won three times in total in that period, Padraig Harrington has captured the last two majors of the season and Swedes Carl Pettersson and Richard Johnson have both tasted victory.

Clarke, controversially left out by Faldo in favour of Open runner-up Ian Poulter, told Setanta Sports News: "I think it'll be very close, but looking at it on paper Europe would appear to have the stronger team."