Garcia can't wait to take on Woods

Sergio Garcia today insisted he is ready to stare down the world's best golfer should the outcome of the Ryder Cup depend upon a final confrontation between the two great rivals.

Garcia and Tiger Woods confirmed they were up for the Cup with phenomenal final rounds in the £3.3 million American Express Championship at the Mount Juliet course here.

Woods won his sixth World Championship title in 12 starts with a final round of 66 for a 25-under-par total of 263. Woods was heading for his first ever bogey-free event until the last hole of the final round where the American was distracted by a photographer playing his second shot.

By that time Garcia had already put a marker on this week's clash between Europe and the United States at The Belfry by carding a course record 10-under-par 62, a round that was later equalled by South African Retief Goosen who finished second to Woods.

As Bernard Gallacher reveals in today's Standard Sport, European captain Sam Torrance will be doing his best to get Garcia paired with Woods throughout the five rounds of the Cup, and the Spaniard is relishing a shoot-out in the final singles.

He said: "If I play against him, great. If I beat him, it will be better. But the most important thing is to win the Ryder Cup."

Colin Montgomerie today rubbished Woods' complaints about the Ryder Cup, saying: "You do it for your team-mates."

Woods is unhappy that the gala dinner will disrupt his practice rountines ahead of this weekend's big event at The Belfry. Montgomerie said: "It doesn't bother me as there is only one official function. If I have to get up early to do my exercises I will. You do it for the team."

Meanwhile, Europe lost the Solheim Cup at Interlachen Country Club in Minnesota

15.5-12.5 points to America following a heavy final-day loss in the singles.

Dale Reid's team had gone into the final day 9-7 ahead and needing five more points to retain the Cup. But the Americans claimed eight-and-a-half points to take the trophy.