DiMarco shrugs off home criticism

American Chris DiMarco claims the side need no extra motivation to reclaim the Ryder Cup at the K Club near Dublin this week.

Tom Lehman's team have been stung by some scathing criticism from the US media but DiMarco, who booked his place on the team with an impressive second place to Tiger Woods at the Open in July, said it mattered little.

"It (criticism) is not from the Europeans, it's from the Americans - unfortunately from Johnny Miller and some of our own sports writers," he said. "I never agree with anything Johnny writes or says so it doesn't matter."

He added: "We don't need any motivation. In football you need it because it's one game against somebody. Here it's three days, five different sets of matches. There are 28 matches."

NBC's Miller had said: "This is probably on paper the worst Ryder Cup team we've ever fielded. It's going to be tough to win."

Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly agreed describing the 12 American players as having "all the intimidation power of the Liechtenstein navy - the single worst team we have taken to a Ryder Cup."

DiMarco revealed a number of articles had been posted on the noticeboard in the team room but said the players were pumped up enough and did not need outside intervention.

For the first time in more than decade the Europeans are favourites, with a contributing factor being the USA have four debutants virtually unheard of on this side of Atlantic. DiMarco brushed that aside, claiming the Ryder Cup is a great leveller as many players raise their game irrespective of past form or experience.

"I don't care about that. I know that they have 12 very good players on the other side. We have 12 very good players on our team too.

"Every one of their players I respect and I would hope that every one of their players respects us too. It's just about trying to beat who you are playing on the day. You can throw away the world rankings, it's not about that. It is about will and going out and trying to get that little 14-inch gold cup."