Daly tips another Euro win

Daly: Predicting a close match

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John Daly has backed Europe to retain the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, but insists it will be a much closer affair than in recent times.

The Europeans head to Kentucky having won three matches on the trot - the last two by record nine-point margins.

They will start their bid for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory as favourites although many observers are predicting it will be a tight contest - especially given the match is taking place on US soil.

Certainly Daly subscribes to that view, although the larger-than-life American believes it is Nick Faldo's men who will ultimately come out on top because of their greater experience.

"I think it's a (US) team that's going to match up real well with the Europeans," Daly told Sky Sports at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

"But I still think the Europeans are going to win, I don't know why... it's going to be a lot closer though, I don't know why. It's going to be a really, really good match.

"You know I want to see us (America) win, but I just think the Europeans, most of the guys that are on the European team have been there before and there's four or five of our guys who have never been on it so it's going to be tough. But it's going to match up well."

Daly's compatriot Fred Couples is also playing in Germany this week and the five-time Ryder Cupper admits he will be a very interested spectator this time around.

Couples insists, whatever the result, the event needs a close finish if it isn't to lose some of its excitement and sparkle given Europe's recent dominance

"It'll be exciting for everybody and I'm an onlooker, can't wait to see how it goes," he stated.

"You know, you guys (Europe) have won so many times in a row, if it goes either way it needs to be close otherwise we've got some serious problems here with Europe beating us every year.

"We've just got to stay close and see what happens."