United States captain Paul Azinger says the pressure is firmly on Europe and not the Americans who head into the 37th Ryder Cup as underdogs on their home soil.

"We are going to take on an underdog role in this Ryder Cup for the first time in a long time," Azinger said at a news conference Monday morning following the conclusion of the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

"We are missing the best player in the world in Tiger Woods. The pressure will be more on them. For the first time Europe is going to have everything to lose.

"Even though they have won five of the last six Ryder Cups they have come in as underdogs. I don't know how that works but this time it will be different."

The PGA was the final event before the top eight players on a points list gained automatic qualification for next month's showdown with Europe at the Valhalla course in Kentucky.

"The top eight guys earned their spots and for many of them the Ryder Cup was foremost on their minds this weekend," Azinger said.

There was only one change in the top eight, with Ben Curtis jumping from 20th to seventh and tipping out Steve Stricker.

"Ben played terrific yesterday," Azinger said. "The way this system was set up is to reward players who play well in the PGA Championship. Ben didn't lose PGA Championship. Padraig (Harrington) went out and won it."

Stricker, of course, can still gain a spot via one of Paul Azinger's four captain's picks.

The eight players now on the team are: Stewart Cink, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Boo Weekley and Curtis.

Kim, Weekley and Curtis will make their Ryder Cup debuts.

Azinger said people sometimes put too much emphasis on experience.

"Experience is important but we have lost five of last six Ryder Cups so their experiences are bad experiences," Azinger said.

In the past, the American captain has named his wild card picks immediately after the PGA, but this time Azinger will have three more weeks before making a decision, which will give him a chance to base his selections more on current form.

In another change, Azinger receives four picks to round out his 12-man team, up from two in previous years.

Among the players Azinger is likely to consider are Woody Austin, Rocco Mediate, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson and Steve Flesch.

Azinger said the new selection process is working fine.

"Changing the selection process needed to be done," he said. "Having a more current system is important.

"These are the best US players we have got here. I am really glad I didn't have to pick four players this morning. I could have got burned by it. Now I have three weeks more weeks to make those picks."

The Ryder Cup will be played on a Valhalla course that has been dramatically altered since the 2000 PGA Championship.

All 18 holes have been changed and over 1,000 trees removed. The course will play to 7,496 yards as four greens were totally rebuilt and bunkers added to seven holes.

Azinger said even though Woods is sidelined after undergoing season ending knee surgery he will still seek the world number one's advice.

"I am looking forward to calling (Woods) to see how he feels. I want his input.

"I don't see any positives in not having Tiger on the team. It puts us in a difficult spot."

Azinger said this has been an enjoyable learning experience.

"It is coming on real fast now," he said. "I have a lot of stuff I have written down. A lot of stuff that has gone on that nobody knows about.

"I got people helping me that nobody knows about. There is a lot more to being captain than I thought.

"I never thought about things like designing the course. But I have tried to surround myself with people who can help me."