When the Ryder Cup tees off Gleneagles next week motivation won’t be an issue for the American players, according to their captain, Tom Watson. Rather memories of Medinah will give the US team a desire for revenge that will drive them on.

The American team threw victory away two years ago when they let a 10-4 lead slip on singles day and eventually lost 14 ½ - 13 ½.

There has been just one win for an American team i Europe in the past 32 years, and Watson was at the helm as captain of the side that won at The Belfry in 1993.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s start, Watson told Sky Sports about the hurt his players still feel over the defeat at Medinah.

"That was a hard loss for the American players and it still sticks with a lot of them.

“They want to make amends for what happened at Medinah two years ago.

"It left a pit in my stomach, just a hole in my stomach, after our defeat.

"I don't think there's going to be much motivation necessary, maybe just a word or two about we don't want this to happen again," Watson said.