The U.S. Ryder Cup team, at least in the eyes of Justin Rose, is going about it the wrong way.

The European team set to compete at Bethpage Black next week is clearly very close, and is a near exact copy of the group that rolled to a dominant win two years ago in Rome. Though the American team has clearly made strides in an effort to catch up to their European counterparts, Rose thinks they are working just a little bit too hard at becoming friends.

“I think the Americans have gotten a little bit … they think being a great team is about being best mates. I really don’t think that’s what being a great team is,” Rose said earlier this month, . “Being a great team is having a kind of real godo theme and having an identity that has come from players before you, and you all buy into that vision.

“You don’t have to be having the greatest time in the world to do that. Although, inevitably, we do have a great time doing that. I think America have tried too hard to become a team, whereas Europe is a bit more natural and organic, and I think it comes from deeper roots in a way.”

While not a direct slam, it’s clear Rose thinks the Europeans are much better situated heading into next weekend.

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Based on experience alone, it’s hard to argue. All but one of the Europeans who beat the U.S. team in Italy in 2023 is back on the team this fall. The only difference is Rasmus Højgaard, who is taking the spot of his twin brother, Nicolai. Europe has won eight of the last 11 Ryder Cups, too, though the Americans have won the last two on home soil. Luke Donald is back as Europe’s captain this fall, too, and it’s really just a continuation of the last Ryder Cup where their camaraderie was at an all-time high.

“There’s a really strong culture on the European Team,” Rose said after the win in 2023, . “A good pairing on the European Team doesn’t mean playing with your best mate. You know, it means about representing something bigger than yourself, and I feel like that’s, for me, what being a European Ryder Cup player is all about.”

The Americans have been working to try and rebound after the loss two years ago. All but two members of their team played at the Procore Championship last week, emulating the European’s unofficial practice event at the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour. Keegan Bradley said he thinks this is the “closest” Ryder Cup team he’s ever seen, too, though they have four rookies in J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young they are working to bring into the fold.

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They also have top-ranked Scottie Scheffler who, despite going 0-2-2 at the Ryder Cup, is on an all-time tear through golf in recent years. He picked up his sixth win of the season last week in California, and hasn’t finished outside of the top 10 in any start on Tour since mid-March.

But until Bradley and the Americans can overtake this European squad successfully, any talk about progress they’ve made as a group will be just that.