Tom Watson’s formula for a U.S. Ryder Cup comeback? ‘Just ... play better’

The fates may not be smiling upon U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson the way they did on Ben Crenshaw 15 years ago at Brookline when the American skipper pointed his finger and said, “I have a good feeling about this.”

Watson may also not have anyone in his team room who can match Ian Poulter’s fire in the belly (though Patrick Reed could probably give the European’s Medinah MVP a run for his money in the emotion department).

But if there’s to be a tit-for-tat at Gleneagles for Team USA after being stunned by their opponents two years ago at home, it’s really pretty simple what has to happen.

“[My players] are just going to have to play better,” Capt. Tom said Saturday after Poulter et al clobbered his guys in the afternoon session, winning 3.5 of 4 points, and taking what seemed to be a far greater lead than the 10-6 on the scoreboard indicated.

Of course, anything can happen in these biennial events, with the U.S. rebound at The Country Club in 1999 and the Euros’ Miracle at Medinah two years ago serving as Exhibits A and B. Somehow, though, when this year’s version of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth and Reed, had to settle for a halve to Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose on Saturday afternoon, Watson’s warriors took a body blow from which it will be difficult to recover.

Just don’t tell that to Spieth, the 21-year-old wunderkind who will take on Graeme McDowell in the first of 12 singles matches in Sunday’s finale.

“We all believe that it’s possible,” Spieth, who will head up the youth brigade when he tees off ahead of Reed (24) and Rickie Fowler (25), said Saturday, noting that the 1999 and 2012 winners each started Sunday down 10-6.

History may be on Spieth’s side but if it is to repeat itself, the U.S. must win 8.5 of 12 points on Sunday -- a rather tall order after going 0-6-2 in two days of foursomes.

Again, though, it’s really rather elementary for the underdogs -- win early and often or wait’ll 2016 to break the Europeans’ run of five wins in the last six tournaments.

How to do that? It’s not rocket science, according to FedEx Cup winner and Ryder Cup absentee Billy Horschel, who shared his formula for success via Twitter on Saturday.