Greg Norman saw good signs for his International team in the Presidents Cup contest after Adam Scott, Jason Day and Ryo Ishikawa lit up the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Norman is due to meet International team hopefuls at this week's US PGA Championship in Atlanta.
And there's no doubt his confidence is mounting that they can snap the Americans' long stranglehold on the biennial Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne from November 17-21.
With South African Charl Schwartzel's Masters triumph from Scott and Day, followed by Rory McIlroy's runaway US Open success and Darren Clarke's emotional British Open win, Norman says the days of perceived US dominance of world golf are gone for now.
"What I am seeing on the leaderboard of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this week illustrates once again how the pendulum of golf continues to swing in a global direction," Norman said.
"It's reminiscent of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. With the domination of Northern Ireland, England, South Africa, Argentina and Europe over the past few years, and now, this week the "other" side of the world is stepping up to the plate and rightfully so.
"In the long run, the rest of the world elevating their game will serve as a stimulant for the Americans to elevate their games.
"Professional golf is the healthiest it has been in a long time."
Norman made special mention of Sunday's winner Scott and joint fourth-placed youngsters Day and Ishikawa, the Japanese player he made a Presidents Cup captain's pick two years ago along with an out-of-form Scott.
"This trio, two of whom needed a captain's pick for the 2009 Presidents Cup, now look certain to have played their respective ways onto the International team," he said.
Depending on results up until the team selection after the BMW Championship from September 15-18, the likes of established Australian stars Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby could be the ones battling for Norman's two captain's picks this time around.
