Peter Baker: Ryder Cup is too close to call

Europe, led by Jose Maria Olazabal, are in Medinah aiming to defend the trophy they won back from America at Celtic Manor two years ago.

But Baker, who made his sole Ryder Cup appearance at The Belfry in 1993, believes the outcome is too tight to call ahead of tomorrow's opening round of foursomes and fourballs matches.

"It's very close," said the 45-year-old, who played his amateur golf at Lilleshall and Shifnal and is now head professional at South Staffs Golf Club in Wolverhampton.

"I think we have got the better team but we are playing in America and it will be tough.

"Home advantage is worth a point or two and I think it's 50-50.

"There hasn't been a tie for a while and I think it's that close."

Baker is at Medinah as a representative of the European Stakeholder Board which oversees the running of the event.

And he believes the visitors should brace themselves for a hostile atmosphere in sports-mad Chicago.

"It's going to be noisy out there and it's all about momentum," he added.

"It's up to the Europeans to try to make enough birdies to get on top of the Americans and try and quieten the crowd down a bit.

"If not, it could run the other way. The Americans could get really swept up in the emotion and get on a roll.

"When you play tournaments over there it's definitely different, but you can times that by a thousand for the Ryder Cup."

Baker, who has backed European talisman Lee Westwood to discover his peak form at the three-day event, is hoping the mouthwatering tussle between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods comes to fruition in Sunday's singles.

"Everybody wants to see it," he added.

"I think both players want to see it and I think both captains will.

"It all depends on the match situation.

"It would be great to see but at the end of the day it's a team event rather than individual."

The opening ceremony takes place tonight with the action starting at 1.20pm tomorrow with the foursomes.