Justin Rose has claimed that the USA are confident of being favourites for this year's Ryder Cup.

A team of Europeans will face the Americans in Chicago this September and Rose insists that the confidence in the USA team can actually benefit Jose Maria Olazabal's group.

The Englishman said: "I would have said maybe a few months ago, we were favourites but now I would say it's in the balance.

"I think it's good that they feel like they're favourites. Valhalla in 2008 is the only Ryder Cup I've played, but I sensed that for the first time there was talk that the ­Europeans were the stronger team, and obviously it proved to fire them up.

"But it's a great sign that European golf has the guys at the very, very top and those are the guys you rely on in a Ryder Cup."

Rose is currently 10th in the world rankings.