Ian Poulter: 'Tom Watson too old for the United States team'

Ian Poulter has claimed that Tom Watson's age will count against him when he captains America in the Ryder Cup next year.

The 63-year-old is an eight-time major winner, and has a much higher profile than Europe's captain, Paul McGinley.

Poulter though, who inspired Europe's victorious comeback last September, thinks McGinley will have the advantage.

"In many ways Paul will know his players better than Tom will know his," Poulter told The Independent.

"If for no other reason than he is a lot younger, and so much closer to them in terms of playing. That may prove a big advantage.

"He will know what makes us tick and what we like, and that's healthy. Tom, because of his age, will inevitably be slightly more detached from his team. He won't have played as much with the current crop."

The 2014 Ryder Cup takes place in September at Gleneagles in Scotland.