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And from Monty there was no suggestion that the President's Cup is a poor imitation to the event where his Europe provides the American opposition.

Then again, did we expect anything different?

Both skippers are intelligent and articulate. They both know that this "countdown event" is nothing more than an exercise in keeping next year's contest on the map, plus a chance to make a corporate buck or two with a lavish gala dinner.

So it was quite in keeping that the nine hole exhibition clash, where Montgomerie partnered Chris Evans against Pavin and Welsh opera star Bryn Terfel, should finish all square.

United States Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin meets the press

Tellingly though, Pavin commented after generously conceding an early two and half footer: "It's probably not going to be like that a year from now."

Nor would we want it to be and despite the ongoing friendly phoney war next year's match is shaping up to be an epic contest.

The US have the nucleus of a side that threatens to be the strongest we've seen in Europe since their last away win in 1993.

Pavin admitted he has already been in contact with

Not that the Ryder Cup skipper will admit it, but his first question will surely be about how Couples handled Woods in the team environment.

Couples had the advantage of being great friends with Woods, who sank the winning putt and for the first time gained a one hundred percent record playing for his country as a professional.

In foursomes and fourballs Woods teamed up with Steve Stricker and they proved invincible.

"It's hard to find a partner for him that's comfortable with him and able to play their own game," Pavin admitted. "It's hard to play with the number one player in the world because you don't want to disappoint that player.

"Obviously Steve felt very comfortable with him. I watched some of the FedEx events and I watched them play together and their interaction was very good.

"But you never know what's going to happen in the next year. With those two you don't know how they're going to be playing a year from now. But it is a possible pairing, it may not happen as well."

Montgomerie is clearly of the opinion that his team may well have to face the and watched events in San Francisco with interest.

"Steve Stricker was actually outside Tiger on a number of occasions and holed the putt before Tiger had a chance, wow - you know they have a great team there and they did very well," Montgomerie told me.

"You would tend to expect that they might well be playing together (at Celtic Manor) but it's up to Corey, I can't be saying that. We'll just have to wait until the team is announced a year from now.

"The American team looks strong, there's no question. and they've now won the President's Cup. We have a job here to stop that roll.

"We have talent in Europe, but at the same time to give the American's momentum in any form is the wrong thing to give them. They have it right now in team golf and it's our job to regain that back," Montgomerie added.

Pavin expressed similar sentiments. It was another example of both skippers being largely in agreement and there's no sign of a falling-out in the near future.

"I think we have the same philosophy....." Pavin began. "We do," interrupted Monty. "We're both competitive and have the same views about competition and about the Ryder Cup," the Scot added.

Unperturbed by the interruption Pavin went on: "We both want to beat each others brains out here, we both want to win and we both respect that we both want to win and we have no issues with that. It is a respectful friendship that we have and it will always be that way."

He's probably right, but let's see when a two and a half footer isn't conceded in a little under a year from now.