The opening ceremony is the last chance to grab the psychological edge, and much importance is attached to the captains' speeches.
Students of reverse psychology may yet come to herald Corey Pavin's captain's speech as a master class if Stewart Cink continues to blitz opponents and propel the USA team to victory at this Ryder Cup.
Even Monty's much anticipated captain's speech fails to ignite.
But also I remember him as captain, his speech before we went out and seeing him well up.
Sarah Haynes, 18, took the stage for 13 minutes at Ravenswood School for Girls for her captain's speech last week.
"He thanked all the players and staff for everything they have done for him," said Luke Shaw of the captain's speech.
I'm not going to go into what I said in the captain's speech, but I'm quite emotional, I like to gee the boys up.
Colin Montgomerie has written a losing captain's speech he hopes he does not have to give next Sunday, but has also penned an opening ceremony address he believes can play a part in winning.
Porter declined to address the nationality or captaincy issue on Friday after her heat, but she delivered the traditional captain's speech the night before at the team meeting.
Christian Malcolm, who runs against him in the 200m here, gave an excellent explanation of why Bolt is unbeaten in his captain's speech to the GB team before the championships.
The US captain's speech was unexpectedly stiff and low-key until he managed to leave Stewart Cink, the winner of last year's Open, out of his roll call, finally loosening up as he made amends.
