Team USA were blown away by their European rivals on Friday after failing to win a match in a day's play for the first time in Ryder Cup history. After being whitewashed 4-0 in the morning foursomes, Team Europe thwarted a US comeback in the fourballs to take a commanding 6.5-1.5 lead.
A whole host of questions were put to US captain Johnson following his team's dismal showing, but he revealed there had been some health issues within his camp. Johnson's claim was criticised by many on Friday evening, but addressing their health struggles on Saturday, he was quick to insist he was not making excuses for the damning scoreboard.
"It is just part of it [illness], this is sport, it is not an excuse," he told Sky Sports. "As I said over and over Luke [Donald] and his team did awesome and that is the story." Johnson did go onto hint though that the fitness issues within his team had played some part in his pairing decisions that had been heavily scrutinised following defeat on day one.
"Given certain things you kind of have to navigate," he said on his groupings. "Its not like we have set plans necessarily." On Friday evening the former Masters and Open champion admitted the energy within his team had been left a 'little low' amid their health struggles.
He claimed: "We have got some congestion and some just signs of things that are unfortunate. It has spread through my team. We're just fighting things internally. It's kind of passed around a little bit - caddies, players.
"It's one of those where sometimes the energy is probably a little low, but the ability and desire to go out and play is still there. Every one of them still wants to play every match, which is encouraging.
"Guys are fighting and playing regardless. I mean I’m proud of those boys the way they came out.” The Americans will no doubt need this fight throughout Saturday if they are to mount a comeback to reclaim the Ryder Cup.