Lining up for his 10th Presidents Cup this week at Quail Hollow, Adam Scott is urging the new-look International team to let loose, saying they have nothing to lose.
Seeking their first win since 1998 and second since the Cup's inception in 1994, the International team are rated massive underdogs with eight of the 12 players making their first appearance in the biennial tournament against the United States.
They have been decimated by the defection to LIV Golf of Open champion Cameron Smith and fellow Australian Marc Leishman as well as Chilean Joaquin Niemann, Mexico's Abraham Ancer and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
Australian Cameron Davis is among the debutants in the team.
But at the pre-tournament press conference Scott was focusing on the positives - with the newcomers missing defeats including the 2019 heartbreak at Royal Melbourne when the Internationals were on the brink of victory, only to see the Americans rally during the singles for a 16-14 win.
"The close calls really sting - and the couple times we've really been thumped is very, very frustrating, and in saying all that, I'm the only one carrying any real baggage into this one," Scott said from North Carolina.
"I'm leaning into the younger guys because of their enthusiasm and everything and it's good for like an old dog like me to see that.
"I remember when I pegged it up in South Africa (in 2003), I was a bit of a deer in the headlights, just went out and played golf and I didn't know any better.
"It was just like I had dreamed of doing as a kid, getting on this team and winning a point and that's how I feel these guys should be this week - they really don't have anything to lose.
"If we want to push the Americans this week to a place where we can win, we have to really let loose on the course.
"I don't think anyone on our team would be disappointed if we all just go for it and it doesn't come off this week."
The former world No.1, now ranked 30, said he needed to lead by example just as Ernie Els did back in 2003 when he made his debut.
"The best thing I can do this week is lead by winning points," 42-year-old Scott said.
"I remember when I played with Ernie as a rookie, he had it so under control on the course and he knew what he was doing out there.
"He had the experience, and he was one of the best players in the world.
"I feel like I'd like to be that guy this week for anybody I play with."
Scott was also linked with a move to LIV given his ties to its CEO Greg Norman but said he wasn't ready to let go of what the PGA Tour offered, including the chance to add another major after his 2013 Masters title.
"I'm still on the PGA Tour because it suits me best, it's as simple as that," he said.
"One thing I haven't grasped is giving up my entire professional life of trying to achieve these things here and just leaving it behind.
"I'm obviously not ready to do that and I may never be."