• Ryder Cup

European favourites v American underdogs - who will win?

Top to bottom, Europe stands tall

Steven Saunders, ESPN.co.uk

The Ryder Cup has a dirty little secret: The greatest team event in golf is, whisper it, actually all about the singles.

Since Great Britain and Ireland turned into Team Europe in 1979, the team that has won the singles on Sunday has lifted the Ryder Cup 13 times. Basically, if you win the singles, you have a greater than 75 percent chance of winning the whole thing. Individuals matter.

This has to be music to the ears of arguably the strongest European team ever assembled. For the first time, it will contain winners of three of the year's four majors, a winner of consecutive majors and the world No.1.

(Most of that is the same person in Rory McIlroy, but still.)

It also contains Ian Poulter, Mr. Ryder Cup, who had to be included as a captain's pick. Yes, the European team is so strong that captain Paul McGinley had to pick Poulter. What a tough decision that must have been.

McGinley even has the luxury of leaving behind Luke Donald, who has never been on the losing team in a Ryder Cup. In his place is Stephen Gallacher, the form player who narrowly failed to qualify by right after a stunning run at the final counting event in Italy.

Gallacher is the lone Scot on the team and will have the locals fervently behind his every move.

Then there's the psychological aspect to consider. After the "Miracle at Medinah", just how far ahead does Team USA need to be going into the singles to feel it has a chance? Would a big lead actually be worse? "Oh jeez, let's not bottle it again this time ..."

Sergio Garcia channeling his inner Seve in team play, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer settling their nerves by remembering their Cup-winning putts of the past and Justin Rose the human catalyst of Medinah's miracle, there's strength, there's depth - there's everything a winning team needs.

It will be close, as Ryder Cups should be, but this is a diverse, experienced and hugely talented group of individuals in European colours.

To quote a line from Scotland's national anthem, there is little doubt Europe will "send them homeward tae think again".

Tom Watson will be the catalyst of his team, says ESPN.com's Kevin Maguire © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ferguson to deliver Ryder Cup team talk
  
• Simon Barnes: Is it time women were allowed to play in the Ryder Cup?
  
• News: McIlroy-McDowell split would be tactical, says McGinley
  
• Features: Poulter's preview: Europe's strengths
  
• News: Montgomerie: The Americans will target McIlroy
  
• News: This is a redemption trip - Watson
  
• News: Watson is America's best shot at victory - Gallacher
  
• News: McIlroy: I want to be like Federer and Messi
  

Watson will be Team USA's X factor

Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com

Americans, in general, love the underdog role. That's why Rocky, the 1980 US Olympic hockey team and Rudy Ruettiger inspire and resonate in this country.

Considering how Team USA has lost seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, that label - legitimate for the first time - falls on captain Tom Watson's squad. Add in that three of the top four players in the world are part of Team Europe and that means European captain Paul McGinley's squad will have to get used to the "favorite" mantle this week at Gleneagles.

Top to bottom, the Americans are full of new blood, which considering their past in the biennial matches can only be a good thing. The last two Ryder Cups have seen Team USA lose by a combined two points. So instead of calling the Americans inexperienced, the glass-half-full outlook paints it more like less baggage of Ryder Cup routs past.

Nine of the 12 US players have teed it up in two or fewer Ryder Cups, so most have no memory of the back-to-back 18½-9½ thrashings in 2004 at Oakland Hills or 2006 at the K Club.

In fact, if you subtract the two celebrated veterans Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk (who have played in 17 total Ryder Cups prior to Gleneagles), Team USA's combined record improves from a woeful 43-52-18 to a surprising 20-17-8.

The biggest wild card in the Americans' favour will be Watson, though. He won't hit a single shot in anger, but the eight-time major winner is clearly the X factor for Team USA.

(Not to mention that he's beloved in Scotland, which can only help in a tournament that has the rare boos for bad shots, typically a no-no in competitive golf.)

The US hasn't won a Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 1993 at the Belfry. If it wants to end that streak this week, it will have to take its lead from the last victorious American captain to win an away game - Tom Watson.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd