TONY Jacklin believes the weather could prove ‘‘a huge factor’’ in the outcome of this year’s Ryder Cup.

Winds of around 25 miles per hour are forecast to accompany today’s opening fourballs at Celtic Manor.

Fog is then predicted for early tomorrow before the threat of more rain during Sunday’s singles matches.

Jacklin, the most successful European captain in Ryder Cup history, arrived in Wales yesterday from his Florida home.

But while most bookmakers are confidently predicting that Europe will regain the trophy they lost in Kentucky two years ago, 66-year-old Jacklin knows there could be numerous twists and turns.

“Everybody seems to know (the outcome), but me,” he said. “I’ve never been one for making big predictions, other than when I had my finger on the pulse of it all.

“There are so many variables – the weather could be a huge factor – and there is the momentum to consider at the time the rain comes.

“There is always stuff that goes on over the three days that we don’t account for.”

William Hill currently make Europe 4/6 favourites, with the United States at 13/8 and 12/1 on a tie.