• Ryder Cup

McGinley: Europe must embrace favourite tag

Paul McGinley claims his European team must embrace their favourite tag ahead of the Ryder Cup, but dismissed suggestions that America will be weak opponents.

Europe's captain also revealed how he will be using words from the late Bob Torrance to help inspire his team to a third consecutive Ryder Cup win.

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"I think we arrive as slight rather than overwhelming favourites but it is not the first time that that has been the case and I think that our players deserve it. They have worked hard for it. It is not something to be ashamed off, but to be embraced," Watson said.

"But having said that I did some calculations when the two teams come out and I made it that Tom's team has an average ranking of 16 compared to our 18. This is not a weak American team.

"The last message that the players see before leaving the locker room will be a quote from Bob Torrance. It says 'happiest days of your lives'."

Europe will boast having the best player in the world among their ranks in the form of Rory McIlroy, however former captain Colin Montgomerie believes the four-time major winner will be targeted by America.

McGinley, a three-time Ryder Cup winner between 2002 and 2006 as a player, explained how he is looking forward to taking on American captain Tom Watson, but insisted the pair will do battle in line with the "traditions of the game".

"Me and Tom are both great traditionalists and we will be leading our teams with great reverence for the traditions for the game," McGinley added.

"Things like Rickie Fowler's haircut is great. It is great that he loves playing for his team that much that he gets that done. Or Bubba Watson whipping up the crowd on the first tee two years ago. I wouldn't want it on every tee, but it was fantastic at that moment.

"We all know there is a line and we both know where that is. It is an exciting time in both mine and Tom's lives. As a team, we are arriving not collectively together but in different stages from all over the world."

Watson has warned his America side have travelled to Gleneagles on a "redemption trip", with many of the players that suffered defeat in the "Miracle of Medinah" hell-bent on revenge.

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