US have slight edge in a close encounter

Two points or fewer has separated the United States and Europe in nine of the last 14 Ryder Cups, and for all the bluster and trash-talk emerging from both sides this time there seems little reason to expect anything other than a close contest.

The States are 4-6 favourites, with Europe 9-4, and the draw at
12-1. The prices, as one would expect of a betting market for which bookmakers have had two years to refine, look spot-on. The States, courtesy of a slightly stronger side and home advantage, appear the most likely winners, but do not expect Europe to be crushed.

Listen to States captain Davis Love, who hailed his USA line-up as “the best golf team maybe ever assembled”, or former world number two Johnny Miller, who described Europe as “the worst team they’ve had in many years”, and you could be tricked into assuming the favourites are a shoo-in. A shoo-in having lost the last three matches?