The eagerly-anticipated 42nd Ryder Cup gets underway at Le Golf National near Paris on Friday as Europe takes on the United States.
Ahead of the competition, we asked our golf experts and our columnists to give their predictions on who will be lifting the famous trophy come Sunday night.
Will it be Europe or the United States with their hands on the famous Ryder Cup trophy?
THE GOLFERS
SIR NICK FALDO
It’s going to be an incredibly tight Ryder Cup. There’s hardly a weak man on either team, so that is going to make things very interesting. It wouldn’t surprise me if it ended in a tie — or with not more than a point or two in it either way.
VERDICT: TIE
![Sir Nick Faldo believes this year's Ryder Cup will end in a tie with nothing to split the teams](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565318-6210759-image-a-173_1537975694649.jpg)
Sir Nick Faldo believes this year’s Ryder Cup will end in a tie with nothing to split the teams
IAN POULTER
It’s a coin toss for me. The Americans have the stronger team on paper, but they are also trying to win on European soil for the first time in 25 years. The winning team will be the one who has the momentum the longest.
VERDICT: EUROPE
JUSTIN LEONARD
On paper it looks like you might give a slight edge to the United States but then you factor in the home crowd and the incredible support they give the Europeans, plus their knowledge of the golf course, and it’s clearly going to be a very even match.
VERDICT: USA
![Justin Leonard is backing the United States to win, despite Europe's home advantage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565340-6210759-image-m-175_1537975741026.jpg)
Justin Leonard is backing the United States to win, despite Europe’s home advantage
JEAN VAN DE VELDE
I would just give the edge to Europe and largely because of how well they know the course. The National is one of those venues where the more you play it, the more you get to know it. Many of the Europeans have played there a lot and really love it.
VERDICT: EUROPE
JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL
This is a very strong US team, perhaps the strongest we have seen in decades. They will certainly not lack motivation having failed to win in Europe for so long. But the course will favour Europe and they’ll just sneak it.
VERDICT: EUROPE
![Jose Maria Olazabal with the Ryder Cup ahead of the 2012 event at Medinah](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565382-6210759-image-a-178_1537975843447.jpg)
Jose Maria Olazabal with the Ryder Cup ahead of the 2012 event at Medinah
THOMAS LEVET
I hope Europe win but the USA must be favourites. I don’t think anyone can predict the result confidently because there is so little between the individual players. It will be very close. If the USA win, then it might be by two points; if Europe do it then it might just be by one.
VERDICT: USA
OUR COLUMNISTS
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD
Europe by a point. Why? Firstly, don’t underestimate Home advantage, Europe haven’t lost at home since 1993 and Le Golf National will be set up in their favour.
Two key players: Jon Rahm playing in his first Ryder Cup – he is perfect for the intense red hot atmosphere – and the straight hitting Open Champion Francisco Molinari, the perfect partner in Fourball and Greensome.
Can Rose and Stenson can continue their fine record playing together?
VERDICT: EUROPE
![England's Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward is backing Europe for the win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565496-6210759-image-a-179_1537975905255.jpg)
England’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward is backing Europe for the win
MARTIN KEOWN
The other day, watching Tiger Woods rekindle what we feared he had lost, for any sportsperson and fan, it was unbelievable.
It is fairytale stuff and it seems as if the world of golf is willing him along. I’m a big fan of the American but I just hope Team Europe don’t get knocked over by the Tiger Woods momentum.
Europe have a fair few rookies but I’m still going to go for them. Just like Woods finding his form, we’re going to need Ian Poulter to do the same.
VERDICT: EUROPE
JAMIE REDKNAPP
I’ve got a feeling this could be the greatest Ryder Cup ever. There are so many good match-ups, I can’t wait.
This could be a birdie bonanza and I’m going for a Team Europe win. Home advantage is such a big thing.
The Americans haven’t won a Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 1993. USA are favourites with the bookmakers but we’ve got a great team and Thomas Bjorn is a good guy.
VERDICT: EUROPE
![Sportsmail pundit Jamie Redknapp is predicting a victory for the European this weekend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565538-6210759-image-a-180_1537975958144.jpg)
Sportsmail pundit Jamie Redknapp is predicting a victory for the European this weekend
CHRIS SUTTON
Team USA to win in a tight contest. Europe have five rookies in Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen and Jon Rahm, while Thomas Bjorn is asking a lot of wildcards Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia as they have not done a lot this year.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter will have to play out of their skin to win. USA, just, for me.
VERDICT: USA
DAVID ‘BUMBLE’ LLOYD
I think it will be 16-12 to the USA. They’ve got so many good players in their team, and they dominate the world rankings. They look up for the fight.
I’ve also got a soft spot for Jim Furyk. He looks like a normal bloke you’d bump into down your local golf course. And I’ve always liked his home-made swing.
VERDICT: USA
![Sportsmail's David 'Bumble' Lloyd reckons the USA will take the contest 16-12](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/26/16/4565578-6210759-image-a-181_1537976010438.jpg)
Sportsmail’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd reckons the USA will take the contest 16-12
NASSER HUSSAIN
My heart says Europe, but my head says USA. They don’t have a great record over here in recent times, but you look at the world’s top 15 and it’s littered with high-class American golfers.
The crowd will be on their back, but the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed and a rejuvenated Tiger Woods will be hard to bet. They’re real competitors.
VERDICT: USA