Take a look at this photograph. The Americans mean business.

At the end of last month Jack and Barbara Nicklaus invited 40 players on the Ryder Cup points lists, Captain Davis Love , Vice Captains Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Tom Lehman and some PGA  of America officials to a dinner at their North Palm Beach home. 22 players including Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler attended.

No golf balls were hit, but Jack took questions, told stories and played his part in building a team. He said to the players “you’re not all going to make the team but we want you all to be part of it”.

Will they bond? I have my doubts, but at least they are trying to draw their competitors together far earlier than expecting them to gel in the few weeks before the matches.