By Kitrina Douglas BBC Sport Online golf columnist

The Europeans have remained relaxed

The psychological warfare has already begun here at Interlachen, Minnesota, in the build-up to the Solheim Cup.

Although American golfer Dotty Pepper is not playing this year, she still managed to get in on the act with the first published insult directed at the European team.

In one American newspaper on Wednesday, Pepper was quoted as saying that if it was not for the LPGA tour, the European players would all be pushing supermarket trolleys.

The remarks received no official response from the European team but probably raised a few eyebrows on the quiet.

Mette Hagman's witty response effectively killed the risk of any tension.

Hagman arrived for a team meeting pushing a supermarket trolley full of tins - and every tin had the face of one of the European players pasted on.

One American reporter asked US player Juli Inkster why the home team seemed so "loose" in comparison to the "uptight" European side.

After attending several press conferences with the teams already this week, I have to say I see things the other way round.

The Americans' bravado of battle cries, exaggerated laughter and "hyper" behaviour indicates an over-compensation for nervousness and tension rather than being the sign of a quietly confident and secure team.

The Europeans, in contrast, have appeared very calm and composed - laughing and joking when appropriate but also remaining quiet and serious when required.

Laura Davies has been the target of US jibes

More insults directed at the European team flew when one American golf magazine published an article saying that Laura Davies ranks 161st in the world in terms of driving accuracy.

The article went on to say she is "the most undisciplined golfer on the planet", that she "couldn't find the fairway if she had a guide" and "spends more time in the trees than the birds".

And its author then launched a similar broadside at the rest of the team.

The Europeans responded by handing out copies of the article at the start of a practice session to hoots of hysteria as each player rushed to read their own personal critique.

The end result for the European team was the article made a potentially dull practice session a funny and enjoyable exercise in team-building.

Judging by the psychological warfare tactics already taking place, and Annika Sorrenstam's expectation that the Amercian crowds will be even more patriotic than usual following the events of 11 September last year, I think we are in for a tense contest.

But one thing is for sure - the atmosphere will be electric.