LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Call them the reluctant leaders of this Ryder Cup.

For the Americans, Phil Mickelson. For the Europeans, Padraig Harrington.

Both are three-time major champions — heck, Harrington has won the last two, his victories in the British Open and PGA Championship making him the hottest player on the planet, at least until Tiger Woods recovers from knee surgery.

Just don't look for either of these guys to provide stirring words or wear their emotions on their sleeves at Valhalla Golf Club.

"Hopefully I'll lead by example this week and by approaching the game the right way," Harrington said. "Not allowing myself to get too high or too low in the course of matches."

"Win one for the Gipper," that's not.

On an American team that has six rookies but no Woods, Mickelson would seem the logical candidate to carry the red, white and blue load into golf's grandest team event.

But Lefty took a pass on any sort of leadership role. Instead, he deferred to U.S. captain Paul Azinger, who won't swing the club at all this weekend.

"My only responsibility is to play well," Mickelson said. "I think Captain Azinger has been a wonderful leader for us. He's been a great captain and given us great direction."

Where's Monty when you need him?

Colin Montgomerie was the type of guy who thrived in this format, for reasons that still seem a bit fuzzy. The shots that befuddled him in his fruitless pursuit of a major title always seemed to go right when the Ryder Cup was on the line. Teammates that found him persnickety and pompous in the week-to-week grind of tournament play rallied around him when they were all working toward the same goal.

But Montgomerie wasn't chosen for this European team, which leaves Sergio Garcia as the most likely emotional leader for the defending champs.

That's just fine with Harrington.

"I don't get the highs and lows that maybe other guys get," he said. "I tend to keep it nice and solid and consistent."

Harrington's Ryder Cup record is rather unimpressive — seven wins, eight losses and two ties — but he did come through big time for the Europeans in 2004. Paired with Montgomerie in the first match at Oakland Hills, they took on the American dream team of Woods and Mickelson.

When Mickelson pushed his drive at No. 18 up against a fence, the Europeans finished off an upset that set the tone for the entire match. The visitors romped to their biggest win ever on American soil, and matched their margin two years ago at the K Club in Harrington's homeland.

Mickelson's Ryder Cup record is even worse than Harrington's — 9-12-4. Even so, he claims to relish the experience as he heads into his seventh appearance.

"The week becomes a week where friendships are formed and memories occur that last a lifetime," he said. "When you're playing in them, you don't realize that's the case, but now that I've played in six — this is my seventh Ryder Cup — I look back at all my previous ones. Even though we've lost, we've had so many great memories from those weeks. That's what I look forward to the most, getting to know the guys and hanging out with all the guys and having a fun week."

Mickelson considers the Americans a clear underdog, even with the home-course advantage.

"I don't feel there's a question about that," he said. "But it doesn't mean we can't come out and play well, with the help of the crowd and with a golf course that's very well suited for many of our players, have a great week and possibly come out on top."

For those who think the Americans are lugging too much emotional baggage, having lost five of the last six matches to Europe, including three straight, Mickelson points to a more impressive record in golf's other major team event, the Presidents Cup.

Facing the rest of the world in alternate years, the U.S. has lost once in seven matches.

"I feel like the Presidents Cup has given us team competitions, team experiences, that we've done very well and succeeded in," Mickelson said. "I don't know why we haven't been able to play at the same level in the Ryder Cup."

Harrington is hoping to put the finishing touches on a magical season. After Woods won the U.S. Open, then headed off to have surgery on an ailing knee, the Irishman stepped in to fill the void as the world's top player.

First, he defended his title at the British. Then, a follow-up in the PGA Championship. Over the last six majors, he's won half the time.

"It would be fair to say I'm a late bloomer and I'm coming into the prime of my career at 37 years of age," he said.