FIVE-TIME Open champion Tom Watson will excel in his role as United States captain in the Ryder Cup next year.

But the European team will not be daunted by the presence of the legendary American golfer in the rival camp at Gleneagles.

And they will retain the Samuel Ryder trophy they won in such dramatic fashion after a final-day fight back at Medinah last year.

That was the prediction of Tony Jacklin here today as he looked ahead to the biennial competition returning to Scotland.

Jacklin is arguably the greatest skipper in the entire 86-year history of the tournament.

The former Open and US Open champion is widely credited with turning Europe from perennial whipping boys into a dominant force.

The Englishman inspired them to an historic victory – that was famously sealed by our own Sam Torrance – at The Belfry in 1985.

And he was also in charge when they won on the other side of the Atlantic for the first time ever at Muirfield Village two years later.

So nobody is better placed to offer an assessment on how the 40th staging of the Ryder Cup will pan out next year.

Jacklin feels Watson – who led the US to victory at The Belfry in 1993 – is an inspired choice to captain his country, but he can only see one outcome in Perthshire in 2014 – another European triumph.

"I think Watson will be a great captain," he said. "But I don't think he is going to bring anything to the table that is going to frighten any of our guys. I just think we are going to win the Ryder Cup when it comes to Gleneagles. Everything there will work in our favour.

"For a start, the course is well known to the European players. They have been playing it for many years now on tour and like it.

"And I have been around long enough to know to expect inclement weather when a golf tournament is staged in Scotland.

"That is most likely what we are going to get next September. That will definitely favour the European team."

Jacklin also feels the European Tour made an inspired choice as their captain by selecting wily Irishman Paul McGinley.

"McGinley is determined and certainly knows what it takes to win the Ryder Cup," he said. "Heck, he holed the winning putt at The Belfry in 2002.

"He understands all about the pressures and nuances of the competition. He is a terrific guy and I think he will do a great job for the European team."

Jacklin has enjoyed returning to Muirfield for The Open this week – despite it being the scene of the most crushing disappointment of his professional career.

The man from Potter's Bar was set to lift the Claret Jug in East Lothian while on the 71st hole back in 1972.

He was on the green on the par five 17th in three shots while his main challenger and playing partner Lee Trevino was through the back in four.

What happened next was to go down in golf folklore –Trevino chipped in for par and Jacklin three putted for a bogey.

"Super Mex" went on to retain the trophy he had won at Royal Birkdale the year before. His crushed rival, meanwhile, was never quite the same afterwards.

Despite that, Jacklin, who became the first British winner of The Open in 18 years when he prevailed at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1969, has enjoyed returning to Muirfield.

"I have fond memories of this place," he revealed. "I think it is the best links golf course in the British Isles. It is as fair a test as there is.

"The fact I didn't get it done in 1972 was nothing to do with the golf course.

"I was short of the green in two and he was through the back in four and chipped in yet again. I had witnessed three others in the final two rounds – including a complete fluke on the 16th where he skulled the ball out of a bunker and it went straight in the hole on the second bounce.

"I stood there over my putt and thought: 'Right you son of a gun! You're not going to beat me like that!' I took a rush at it, left one of those awkward ones coming back and then missed it.

"I could have two putted it all day long. I know that for a fact. But I was too aggressive and paid the price."

"I didn't even finish second in the end. The wind was out of my sails playing the last, I drove into a bunker, took a bogey and Jack Nickalus crept ahead of me.

"Jack and Arnie Palmer came to me that night at the and told me not to let it change my outlook.

"It would have completely wrecked me if it had been my first opportunity. But something definitely happened in my psyche. It put the kibosh on my opportunities to win Majors."