Rickie Fowler is hopeful that he and Rory McIlroy can create a lasting rivalry.
The pair have already faced off as young amateurs in the Walker Cup, and Fowler gave the world No 1 a run for his money at this year’s Open, as well as the PGA Championship.
If they are drawn together this week the Ryder Cup will become the friends’ latest battleground.
Fowler is happy to contemplate that prospect, and the potential head-to-heads further down the track.
“There’s definitely the possibility of him and I being able to create something and play against each other for a long time,” he said.
“Although, you look down the list and there’s a lot of other good young players.
“The year Rory has put together is quite impressive winning the Open here, going over and winning Akron and then winning the PGA. Three in a row is pretty good.
“He’s been the best player in the world, definitely this summer. I’m looking forward to getting some wins of my own and to see if I can chase him down a bit.
“We have got 20, 25 years to go back and forth against each other. It’s going to be fun.”
The build-up to a Ryder Cup can tend to drag on, especially as it starts a day later than tour events, so if you get ‘USA’ shaved into your head it won’t go unnoticed.
“It’s gone a bit crazier than I expected (the reaction, not the haircut),” he admitted.
“I knew the guys on the team would like it.
“It’s been fun to see the reaction of the fans and people on social media, guys on the European team and the caddies.
“I’ve seen pictures of people back home getting a similar haircut. I saw one guy got an ‘EU’ on the side of his head.
“It’s all about showing spirit for your country. We’re proud to be over here, proud to be part of the United States team, and this is just a different way of showing it.”
Fowler is probably known by some more for his last-day head-to-toe orange outfits than his golf.
That won’t be the case at Gleneagles, where for one week only he’s happy to be a bit more sartorially conservative.
“The team outfits look pretty good,” he said.
“Got a lot of navy going on. A lot of red, white and blue.
“I know there’s been some interesting outfits in the past, some that I may be glad I didn’t have to wear!
“But it’s special to be able to wear the red, white and blue this week and represent your country.”