Under Bernhard Langer’s captaincy at Oakland Hills Europe won by a record 18 1/2 – 9 1/2 margin two years ago.

But the Americans hit back from that to beat the rest of the world in the Presidents Cup three months ago and Woosnam, Langer’s successor, added: “This is going to be a really tough match to win.

“They are not going to lay down, they never have, and they are going to want to prove to the world they are great champions, which they are, and want to win it back.”

Because of the last result and the fact that the United States have lost four of the last five matches, Europe have been installed as favourites for the first time.

“We’ve got to be, but it’s how we cope with that,” stated Woosnam. “We’ve got to go out with the attitude we have still got something to prove.

“That’s my job. We want to prove that we are what the punters say we are.”

Europe triumphed two years ago despite not having a single major champion in their line up.

That may be the case again, but Woosnam said: “We have 24 or even more players capable of winning majors. The Americans know that. There is so much talent we could almost field two teams.

“We are going to have a really strong team, hopefully with a variety of experienced players and younger ones. That’s going to make it exciting.”

The trump card, he believes, could well be team spirit again.

“We’ve always had a great atmosphere. We’ve always been close knit, a happy family in the players’ room.”

Asked why the Americans seem to have underperformed in recent years he added: “I don’t really want to go into that, but people have said that they don’t look happy in themselves.”

Woosnam admits he was “a little bit taken aback” by Tiger Woods’ comments last month that he preferred the Presidents Cup because it was played in a friendlier spirit. He even mentioned the word “gamesmanship”.

Chris Di Marco has also spoken about the Presidents Cup not having the “hatred” of the Ryder Cup, but Woosnam commented: “I don’t know what he was banging on about.

“They say there’s going to be a billion people watching next year and everybody wants to see everything played out. If it’s not played with competitiveness what’s the worth of playing it?”

Taking over the captaincy is an honour the 47-year-old Welshman could never have expected when he struggled in the early years of his European Tour career.

He made three trips to the qualifying school and by the end of the fifth season his total tour earnings stood at just over £6,000. Now he is a multimillionaire.

“My dad always said that turning pro was like an apprenticeship and give it five years,” Woosnam added.

“Trying to qualify for the Open in 1981 I hit it out of bounds on the last hole 20 yards in front of me. I walked in, put the clubs in my van and thought that was enough.

“I was going to give up, but my mum and dad persuaded me to give it another go.”

From that low point Woosnam went on to win the Masters 10 years later and reigned as world number one for 50 weeks.

“From where I started I wonder what the odds on that would have been. I have achieved all my ambitions, no doubt about it.”