Rory McIlroy reveals exactly why the US struggles at the Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy believes the United States typically performs better in the Presidents Cup than at the Ryder Cup due to treating the biennial event against the Internationals in a much more relaxed manner. 

McIlroy, speaking just two days after finishing tied second in the Japan Skins game, was quizzed as to why the US team fails to dominate the Ryder Cup like it does in the Presidents Cup. The World No.2 responded in the only way he knew how. 

"They're not playing Europe in the Presidents Cup?" joked McIlroy.

"There's a lot of great players on the Presidents Cup team, International Team. I don't know if I can give you a great answer.

"I've watched Presidents Cups on TV. It sort of seems - to me anyway, it seems like the US team are more relaxed in a Presidents Cup setting than they are in the Ryder Cup setting.

"I think for most people, when you are relaxed, that's what sort of brings the best out of you in terms of freedom of play and just letting it go, I guess.

"That's been from afar, that's the only thing that I've seen. It just seems the US team are a little more relaxed when it comes to the Presidents Cup atmosphere. That's part of the reason I think why they play so well and they've dominated for so long."

McIlroy would appear to make a valid point. The United States team has only lost once in the last 12 Presidents Cup matches against the Internationals, while it has lost nine times in the last 12 Ryder Cup matches. 

Tiger Woods captains the US Presidents Cup side against Ernie Els' International team this December.

The captains will each make four picks to their 12-man sides on November 4.