Tight contest in store between Europe and the USA

European glory at the Medinah Country Club will be their fifth in six renewals and, for this dominance their value on the +1 handicap is an enticing prospect.

Jose Maria Olazabel will take his team to the Chicagoan suburb looking to defend the cup following Europe’s 2010 win at Celtic Manor and they can be backed at 10/11 for the win with a one point positive handicap weighted in their favour.

One additional point wouldn’t have helped Europe in their last defeat to the USA in 2008, where they lost by five, but they have cantered to victory in the majority of the others – their last meeting being the only one settled by a solitary point.

This was the first time since the turn of the century the Ryder Cup has been so closely contested but, prior to that, Ryder Cups ’95-’99 were all decided by the most slender of margins.

It’s 13/8 that there are 1-2 points between the teams this year, with Ladbrokes anticipating another close call by making this the most shortest priced bracket.

Preceding his USPGA win, Rory McIlroy had recorded two top-10 finishes in three tournaments and his 78.57 per cent rate of hitting the green is his career-best to date.

At 5/1, he looks a strong contender to be Europe’s top point scorer, although Ian Poulter has consistently performed in this high-pressure environment, scoring three points in 2010, and, being priced at 7/1, he cannot be ruled out here.

All odds and markets are correct of time and date of publication