The Ryder Cup

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United States target Poulter

Ian Poulter and not world number one Rory McIlroy is the man the United States will target when the Ryder Cup gets under way later this week.

The 38-year-old Englishman has earned his place as Europe's leader on the course after some remarkable performances in the event, thereby guaranteeing his place in the centre of America's sights at Gleneagles.

Poulter has won 11 of his last dozen matches, with an overall record of 12 victories and just three defeats, and has been Europe's top points scorer on his last three appearances.

So while four-time major winner McIlroy, the current Open and US PGA champion, may have the edge in individual competition there is no doubt whom the Americans want to take down.

Asked who they were targeting, captain Tom Watson said: "We've got a lot of players to look at but Poulter, with his record - he's an 80 per cent victor over the series of matches he's played in. We'd like to reduce that.

"Certainly whenever you beat the stud on the opposing team that gives your team a boost, not a question, but when it's all said and done it's 12 guys out there trying to win a point each match.

"There are eight guys in the first four matches, and on the last on Sunday, 12 guys are trying to win a point.

"Basically all you have to do is win a point and a half for the entire matches and you win The Ryder Cup.

"That's the bottom line. That's what I'm telling my players."

The USA arrive in Scotland with memories of Europe's miracle at Medinah two years ago still all too fresh in the minds of many.

Of the current team Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson were all in the team which squandered a 10-4 lead late on the second day to lose by a single point as Europe fought back brilliantly.

"I made it very clear to them that this trip is a redemption trip," Watson said.

"If any players are on this team that played on that team then it's time to make amends and try to redeem yourselves from what happened in 2012.

"I think it's a motivation rather than a negative."

As Watson spoke at the joint captain's press conference a fighter jet screamed low overhead, prompting him to ask: "Are you using them against us this week? Is that friendly?"

What is and is not acceptable behaviour is often a subject for debate, as this event has a history of passions boiling over both inside and outside the ropes.

But Watson was hopeful there would be no over-stepping the mark from players or fans of either side.

"There's a moment for certain things to happen but there's a line that you shouldn't cross," he said.

"We (him and European counterpart Paul McGinley) are both traditionalists in that way. The game is a traditional game.

"Of course in the Ryder Cup matches there's not a lot of serenity. There's a lot of tension, a lot of pressure. The crowds are magnificent.

"I've told all my friends who I got passes for over here they will hear two different cheers.

"One thing I remember very clearly from my first Ryder Cup in 1977 when we had our opponents six down after 10.

"We played the 11th hole and it looked like we were going to go dormie (seven up with seven to play) but I missed my five-footer and there was a cheer that went up.

"That was the first time there was ever a big cheer when I missed a putt and then I truly understood that this is the nature of the Ryder Cup.

"It's fine. This is what you expect. What makes the Ryder Cup so great is the partisan nature of it."