Europe are Ryder Cup underdogs, claims Donald

Europe captain Luke Donald believes his side will be underdogs in next year's Ryder Cup, despite having not tasted defeat on home soil for 30 years.

Two-time major winner Zach Johnson, who said Tiger Woods will be part of his team "in some capacity", is bidding to become the first American captain to win away from home since Tom Watson at The Belfry in 1993.

The United States cruised to a record 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021 and although three members of that team - Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka - are ineligible after joining LIV Golf, Johnson has a core of young, world-class players at his disposal.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, fellow major winners Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele were all part of the victorious Presidents Cup team last month, with Spieth and Thomas winning all four of their matches together.

"I think being at home is certainly worth something, we see that in all sports, but no doubt we're going against a very, very strong opponent," Donald said during a press conference with his opposite number in Rome.

"I think the US Presidents Cup team was the strongest they've ever been on paper. They have some phenomenal teams that seem to be tough to beat, guys like Schauffele and (Patrick) Cantlay, Justin and Jordan.

"These guys have win records that are north of 80 per cent so it's going to be a tough challenge. I fully expect us to be underdogs despite that home percentage of wins over the last 30 years."

Donald was on the winning side in all four of his Ryder Cup appearances as a player and was also a vice-captain to Thomas Bjorn for the 2018 win in Paris.

The 44-year-old's first taste of defeat came in the same role under