Chris Wood insists a lack of experience will not be a problem when Europe go for four in a row at the Ryder Cup later this month.
The European Team will head to Hazeltine with six rookies among their number, with two of those - Wood and defending champion Thomas Pieters - both teeing it up at this week's KLM Open as they prepare for the biennial showpiece.
Wood's victory at the BMW PGA Championship helped him to qualify for the team automatically, and he recently returned to action after a three-week break during which he got married.
The Englishman has also suffered with a neck injury this year but he is now feeling fine and is ready to get back to his best not just this week at The Dutch, but in Minnesota too.
"We get written off every time we go over there!" he said. "People make a lot of rookies but we can play as well. We have all won big events, we have all played enough over in the States to have an idea of what to expect so I think the rookies will be fine.
"I have had a few texts from the Captain and it is building up.
"I know I ended up qualifying for the team but I also had my neck injury a couple of months back so I had a few nervous weeks of watching what other guys were doing and thinking about what everyone else was doing.
"Before that I was cruising along, playing well and picking up points all the time but when I was injured it was quite nerve-wracking because I wasn’t in control of it.
We have all played enough over in the States to have an idea of what to expect so I think the rookies will be fine - Chris Wood
"Fitness wise I am totally fine now."
Pieters also faced an anxious wait but for quite different reasons as he was handed one of Darren Clarke's three Captain's picks.
He forced his way into the Captain's thoughts with a stunning run of form that saw him finish fourth at the Olympic Men's Golf Competition, second and the D+D REAL Czech Masters and then claim victory at the Made in Denmark.
The Belgian won his second European Tour title at this event just two weeks after sealing his first last season and he is now looking to go back-to-back once more.
"I’ve been watching some videos of the Ryder Cup and Nicolas (Colsaerts) has been sending me some video," he said. "He’s been really helpful and I think he’s more excited than I am. It’s really cool to have somebody like that by your side.
"One of my recent memories of the Ryder Cup is watching from start to finish when Nicolas played and that brilliant round against Tiger (Woods). I wanted to do it as well and four years later I’m playing the Ryder Cup, so it’s a little bit surreal, but it’s sinking in.
It’s a big event and for me it’s even bigger because it feels like playing at home - Thomas Pieters
"I had a great time in Prague defending," he added. "It’s always nice when people support you and cheer for you and I hope it’s going to be the same this week.
"It’s a big event and for me it’s even bigger because it feels like playing at home. I have a lot of family support and friends come out. It almost feels like the Dutch fans are supporting me as well."
