Will a first-tee stand that looks more "London Stadium than Upton Park" provide an intimidatory advantage for America's players at Bethpage Black?

The foursomes is arguably the format that most accurately tells us where a Ryder Cup team are at in terms of mood and form, writes golf correspondent Iain Carter.

After all the talk of a Bethpage "bearpit" in the build-up to this week's Ryder Cup, Monday's opening exchanges between the captains in New York could not have been more cuddly.