US captain Corey Pavin readily accepts his team will be the underdogs at next month's Ryder Cup in Wales where they will be bidding to win the trophy for the first time on European soil since 1993.

Although the Americans ended a run of three successive defeats by beating Europe in Louisville, Kentucky in 2008, Pavin knows as well as anyone the daunting challenge of trying to compete on a level footing away from home.

"Given the advantage of playing over in Europe, I think that gives the edge to the European team," Pavin said. "Travelling is always difficult and the fans will be a big part of it, 80-85 percent are going to be pro-European.

"We're competing on a golf course that is played on their tour so the European players are familiar with the venue. And Monty (European captain Colin Montgomerie) gets to set up the golf course the way he wants to as well.

"We haven't won on foreign soil since 1993 so it's going to be a challenge but I think the teams themselves are very comparable. I am looking forward to a pretty good battle."