History is not on our side

Zach knows all about Rome but is only focusing on his gladiators

- CRAIG SWAN

Instead, he's focused and convinced that he's got a Team USA raring to go and ready to turn three decades of tide in terms of modern-day Ryder Cup annuls.

Johnson's country have been left in ruins on European soil since their last win in 1993.

It's a statistic which hangs over the visitors going into Marco Simone and even the scribes from the States are digging deep into it.

Johnson had a smile when faced with a question combining golf and the collapse of the Roman Empire and said: "I do love history and I do appreciate certainly what this country is about, specifically this city.

"Luke (Donald) and I had the distinct honour of walking the streets of Rome in Europe a year ago and actually hitting a ball by the Colosseum and the ruins and whatnot. I don't take that for granted, whether you're talking empires, biblical importance, whatever it may be. This history, the history of Rome, I mean, it's the Eternal City.