There’s been some crafty and cunning gamesmanship playing out at this 45th Ryder Cup before a ball has been struck in the actual competition, which begins Friday at Bethpage Black.

The mind games have nothing to do with jingling pocket change to distract an opposing player about to hit a shot, standing too close to the opponent on the tee box during setup or walking through an opponent’s line on the putting green.

No. These games consist of a much deeper psychological texture.

And Europe, as usual, is winning.