<p><br /> The United States Ryder Cup team arrived at Cardiff airport on a miserable morning ready to defend the trophy at nearby Celtic Manor starting on Friday.<br /> </p><p><br /> Captain Corey Pavin posed on the aircraft steps with the golden Ryder Cup and his team lined up behind him in matching beige jackets.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ryder Cup wildcard Tiger Woods sported sunglasses, despite skies the colour of Welsh slate, while Jim Furyk probably slept the most soundly of the 12-man team having pocketed an astonishing $11.35 million on Sunday for winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.<br /> </p><p><br /> "We are very prepared and ready to go and I think it will run very smoothly," Pavin told reporters.<br /> </p><p><br /> "I am just looking forward to a really nice week and actually I think it's going to be quite a relaxing week. I'm going to enjoy it and soak it all in.<br /> </p><p><br /> "Some decisions have been made and some will be made and I'm just looking forward to the process and watching a little bit of golf this weekend."<br /> </p><p><br /> European captain Colin Montgomerie said: "I think these matches will be very closely contested as they all are and I think on this occasion it will come down to a Sunday putt.<br /> </p><p><br /> "That's the beauty of this Ryder Cup. I think the closeness of the event over the last years has been the beauty and I think these matches<br /> </p>
