Europe backed to win by a poll of golf writing experts ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor

Ryder Cup Latest Odds from Blue Square - Europe 4/7, USA 7/4, Tie 10/1 

A poll of golf writers at this week’s Ryder Cup overwhelmingly points to Europe winning back the trophy on Sunday. Out of 31 writers, 28 went for Colin Montgomerie’s side to triumph at Celtic Manor. But if Tiger Woods does face Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s singles, 19 go for Woods to win, nine tip the 21-year-old Ulsterman and three predict a halved match.

Woods has not been left out of a session in his cup career, but 19 of the 31 journalists – not the same 19 – think Corey Pavin will bench him at some stage. As for the top scorers on either side, Woods and Martin Kaymer are the most popular picks, although 19 of the 24 players received at least one vote.

The five who did not register? For Europe it is Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ross Fisher and for the Americans Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson.

JAMES CORRIGAN (The Independent): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

MARK REASON (Daily Telegraph): Europe 15 1/1-12 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell,
Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&1

PETER DIXON (The Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington, Mahan. Woods to
play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DEREK LAWRENSON (Daily Mail): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods. Woods
to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

NEIL SQUIRES (Daily Express): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Poulter,
Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID FACEY (The Sun): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Stricker. Woods to
play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

NEIL McLEMAN (Daily Mirror): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Dustin
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

PETER HIGGS (Mail on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Furyk. Woods
to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

JAMES MOSSOP (News of the World): Europe 17-11. Top scorers: McDowell,
Mickelson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: half

ANTHONY WOOLFORD (Western Mail, Wales): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

DOUGLAS LOWE (The Herald, Scotland): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Woods. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

MARTIN DEMPSTER (The Scotsman): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Donald, Mickelson.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

JOCK MacVICAR (Scottish Daily Express): Europe 15 1/2-12 1/2, Top scorers:
Donald, Zach Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

TOM ENGLISH (Scotland on Sunday): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McDowell, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

CRAIG SWAN (Daily Record, Scotland): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Kaymer, Zach
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHILIP REID (Irish Times): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Dustin Johnson.
Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

KARL McGINTY (Irish Independent): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: McDowell,
Woods. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 2&1

CHARLIE MULQUEEN (Irish Examiner): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Harrington,
Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: half

DAVID SMITH (Evening Standard, London): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Poulter,
Woods. Woods to play all five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

DOUG FERGUSON (Associated Press): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: Westwood, Dustin
Johnson. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole

STEVE DIMEGLIO (USA Today): United States 15-13. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk.
Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

ART SPANDER (San Francisco Examiner): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Poulter, Mahan. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 3&2

STEVE ELLING (cbssports.com): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Hanson, Mahan.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 4&3

GARY VAN SICKLE (Sports Illustrated): United States 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Kaymer, Dustin Johnson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

JASON SOBEL (espan.com): Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2. Top scorers: the Molinaris,
Fowler. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

LARRY DORMAN (New York Times): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Harrington,
Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 1 hole

CHRIS CLAREY (International Herald Tribune/New York Times): United States 14
1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers: Donald, Furyk. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods:
McIlroy 2&1

ROBERT LUSETICH (foxsports.com): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Kaymer, Woods.
Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES (Reuters): Europe 15-13. Top scorers: McIlroy, Furyk. Woods
to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 3&2

MARK GARROD (Press Association Sport): Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2. Top scorers:
Kaymer, Mickelson. Woods to play five: yes. McIlroy v Woods: Woods 2&1

PHIL CASEY (Press Association Sport): Europe 16-12. Top scorers: Westwood,
Cink. Woods to play five: no. McIlroy v Woods: McIlroy 1 hole