After their final day heroics at Medinah Golf Club two years ago Team Europe will once again go into the Ryder Cup as favourites for this year’s showdown at Gleneagles, Scotland.

However, the Americans should not be under estimated, they have a good blend of experience and young talent within their team and should provide formidable opponents. Combine this with added bonus of having Tom Watson, one of the great players of all time, captaining the Americans then its easy to see why the Yanks will not be dismissed too easily.

Not only has the eight time Major winner made four appearances for his continent, picking up 10 points from his 15 matches played, he has also previously led his team to glory in a narrow 15-13 point victory at The Belfry in 1993 – the last time a US team triumphed on European soil.

Strong credentials, especially when you consider that he knows a thing or two about partnerships, having never lost on four occasions when paired with 18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus. That knowledge of what makes a great twosome, and his undoubted pedigree within the game, makes Mr Watson a formidable candidate to go up against.

When it comes to ones to watch on the American side, they of course have a dozen very qualified and dangerous talents for their European counterparts to be wary of, but if there were to be two highlighted for special mention then it would have to be Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley.

This season saw Rickie Fowler become the first player to finish in the top five of all four Majors within a single season without winning one, and that kind of exemplary play on the game’s greatest stages is sure to strike fear into many a European, and rightly so.

As for the other man worth training your gaze onto, it is of course the energetic and frankly Ryder Cup crazy Keegan Bradley, who is almost certain to rekindle his formidable partnership with Mickelson once more in Scotland.

Maybe for the sake of the Ryder Cup it would be fitting that America triumph this year and Uncle Tom can be remembered as a great player and Captain.

Racing and Golfing circles lost a great character this week when Monaghan legend Oliver Brady passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long battle with cancer.

As well as being a renowned horse trainer, Oliver also had a great interest in Golf, both as a player and more recently as an owner having recently purchased the magnificent Moyvalley Hotel and Golf resort with business partner Rita Shah.

In true testimony to Oliver’s generosity and devotion he successfully raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for his Shabra Charity, helping the orphanages out in Kenya. May he rest in peace.

For all the latest golfing offers call to Enniskillen Golf Club or check out www.thegolfcabin.co.uk Lessons are also available with PGA Club Professional Liam McCool,call 028 66325250 for more