GOLF:THE CALM before the storm, perhaps? Yesterday, here at Killeen Castle, the star-spangled waterproofs of the United States and the multi-coloured-topped Europeans got acquainted with the Jack Nicklaus-designed course and prepared for the superfluity of feelings that will present themselves when the Solheim Cup tees off in anger come Friday morning, whilst disputing who should or shouldn't be installed as favourites.

Let’s just say there was a difference of opinion, with neither willing to assume the mantle of favouritism. Perhaps Laura Davies – making a record 12th appearance in the event – put it most succinctly when using a football analogy, comparing the star-studded USA team to Barcelona and her own multi-talented European outfit to Manchester United.

In good spirits, Davies originally quipped, “we’d be Barcelona and they’d be Grimsby Town,” before settling on a more realistic comparison.

“No, it would probably be the Champions League final (match-up). They’d probably be Barcelona and we’d probably be Man United. It’s a close thing. You know, the star players have to step up and win the points at vital times.

“Hopefully we’ll have a Lionel Messi on that team or a Wayne Rooney.”

Davies, though, also played into the mind games by suggesting that the visitors should unquestionably be lumbered with favouritism.

“We’re massive underdogs in a two-horse race,” observed Davies, before revealing why the role of underdog suited her thinking: “But underdogs do win things and I think we’ve a very good chance. The course is nice and long, and most of our players hit the ball a long way. I think the chance is ours.”

Ah, the tag of favouritism. Who wants it? You’re there to be shot at, to be used as a motivational tool for the opposition. If you look at the world rankings, there’s no doubt the Americans – winners of the last three Solheim Cups and with seven in the world’s top-20 compared to Europe’s one – should have that categorisation all wrapped up. They are favourites, pure and simple.

Mel Reid, in top form after her win in the Spanish Open last weekend, admitted Europe are probably coming in as “slight underdogs . . . we need to take our chances when we get them” and Maria Hjorth used the world rankings to underpin their status as genuine underdogs.

“Looking at the world rankings, they’re still the team that’s going to win this week. We have nothing to lose. If we lose, I think a lot of people are going to say, ‘well, you were supposed to lose’. If we win, it’s going to be something huge.”

On the flip side, Hjorth conceded the European team – all round – probably contained more long-hitters, which should help in the conditions.

Then added: “And the crowd, obviously, is behind us. That’s a huge bonus . . . I think it’s going to be a great match, really tight. Hopefully we can start making some putts, that’s usually where we kind of lose a little bit.”

Angela Stanford – playing in her fourth Solheim Cup – was keen to play-up the Europeans.

“If you look at their team from top to bottom, this is the most consistent team I have faced. They’re solid, and they’re at home. A lot of their team has played on this course multiple times. Suzann (Pettersen) won here, Sophie (Gustafson) won (in 2010). So for us to come in and think we are favourites? We have to watch that. We’ve heard all the stats, ‘You’ve won x number in so many years and you haven’t lost since 03’, but it’s a new year and they’re playing good.”

Stanford’s words would indicate an air of caution in the USA team room – in between the games of table tennis and attempts to get the rookies to sing the Star-Spangled Banner as part of initiation rites – and, most pertinently, that the Europeans are being taken very seriously indeed, as they should be, for this latest edition of the biennial match.

All 24 players took part in official practice rounds yesterday, as the respective captains – Europe’s Alison Nicholas and the United States’ Rosie Jones – sought to finalise pairings ahead of the first day’s play on Friday. With two more days of practice, the match-ups should become more apparent before the pairings are announced at the official opening ceremony tomorrow evening.

Mostly, the players were just glad to be out playing the course yesterday as the clock ticked down to the start of the match at the end of a long qualifying process.

“Tuesday is always the busiest day,” said Hjorth, glad that another day could be ticked off the calendar and that the real business was edging ever closer.