The United States are once again heavy favourites entering this week's Presidents Cup in Montreal but Australia's Jason Day believes the International team carry a threat of their own.
The Americans are 12-1-1 in the biennial competition that began in 1994, having lost in 1998 and settled for a tie in 2003, but Day is not bothered by past results and knows that matchplay golf can be unpredictable and serve as a great leveller.
Day said: "I think what Ernie Els, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Mike Weir have done tremendously is build a team environment for us to get behind and drive and have that passion.
"I think that's the one thing that we were potentially lacking was potentially that, and I think since those guys have really changed the environment and what we play for, I think that's helped a lot.
"We know that we're stepping in the right direction. It's going to happen at some point. We've just got to keep doing what we're doing."
Day, however, does accept the Americans will provide a huge challenge at the Royal Montreal Club, where the tournament opens on Thursday.
"The US team is very strong, regardless. Every time they play the Europeans, every time they play the Ryder Cup, they're very strong. Every time they play the Presidents Cup, they're very strong. We know that from the get-go," he said.
Day made his Presidents Cup debut in 2011 in Australia but although he has missed out on the last two competitions, he says he has noticed a shift of emphasis in the International set-up down the years.
"The guys have gotten a lot closer, and not necessarily the same guys over and over again, but I'm just saying that the actual team element, the team environment has shifted a lot since when I first started," he said.
"I know that it's improved dramatically, especially when Ernie kind of took over, changed the flag to the shield, and then we had Nick Price, as well, who was a great captain."
Day will be alongside compatriots Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee in the International team, captained by Weir.
And he had special words for Lee. "I remember meeting him when he was still an amateur and a junior. I've said this to him, point blank, dude, you've got all the talent in the world to be the next best player, the No.1." he said.
"I think he's finally understanding that there needs to be a certain work ethic that comes with that and a certain lifestyle that comes with that. I think he's starting to understand what it takes to be the best."
