Golf legend John Jacobs has no doubt that Paul McGinley will make a wonderful captain for Europe in this year’s Ryder Cup.

The European Tour’s founding father says he cannot wait for the start of the competition tomorrow, predicting a very tight contest at Gleneagles.

Jacobs, who captained the first ever European team, is great friends with McGinley, as well as US skipper Tom Watson, and had been invited to this year’s event by the Irishman. The world-renowned coach has been unable to attend, but will be glued to his television screen and is backing McGinley to get it right, believing he has already made the correct moves in selecting Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood as his wildcard picks.

“Paul will do a fantastic job as captain, without a doubt,” said the 89-year-old, who lives in Lyndhurst.

“He has done an awful lot over the last year. He’s devoted the whole of this last year to this match, and has been desperate to keep his own game in good shape so he could play with his guys.

“They are two fantastic captains, in fact.

“Tom has done very well in Scotland during his career, so there will be a lot of sympathy towards him up there.”

Jacobs, a former Ryder Cup player himself, knows Europe – winners in seven of the last nine editions – go into the event as favourites, but he thinks the US will run them close.

“I think the teams are very evenly balanced,” he said.

“I think it will be a very close result, one way or the other.”

Jacobs added that, whatever the result, the three days of golf that lie ahead will be something to savour.

“It’s become probably the most wonderful match of the year, even including football or anything else,” he said.

“It really is a great, great occasion. I can’t wait for it.”