Home advantage is recognised as a major factor in many sporting events.

In golf it works on a number of levels. Familiarity with the course, weather conditions and the ability to read greens and hit off fairways that use a particular type of grass are all established factors.

But, in Ryder Cups, the mention of home advantage often refers to the behaviour of supporters.

Calling for shots from the opposition to end in sand or water is one thing but previous Ryder Cups have been marred with tales of orchestrated verbal abuse and even spitting.

There's also the story of Andrew Coltart's ball being stamped into the ground by fans in his Ryder Cup singles game with Tiger Woods at Brookline in 1999.

So with the pressure so great on opposing players, has home advantage proved a significant factor in recent Ryder Cup history?

Here's a table of the last 10 Ryder Cups:

It shows six have been won by the home side, three by the visitors with one tied.

But if we only go back as far as 1997, home advantage looks hugely significant with the hosts winning five times out of six.

The Americans have only managed a single away win in that period and, perhaps significantly, that came on a layout on which they were familiar - the Brabazon course at The Belfry.

When they recaptured the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in 1993, five of the team had played there in the 1989 match which was tied and Ray Floyd had experience of the course from 1985.

And four of the 1989 team which tied had played in the heavy defeat in 1985.

By contrast, only two of the American team which lost at the Belfry in 2002 had played there before.

Although only two of the European 12 had played a Ryder Cup there, the course was familiar to the home side as it had been a regular European Tour stop, hosting the Benson & Hedges International for the previous three years.

Nine of the European 12 had played in all three of those events with Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Phil Price all recording a top three finish.

Unfamiliarity with the course also seemed to play a part in 1997. When America lost at Valderrama it was the first time many of their 12 had even set foot on the course, never mind about playing a tournament there.

Ditto at the K Club. None of the Americans had played there in competition while the Europeans knew it well.

The K Club had hosted the European Open since 1995 - 10 times on the Palmer Course (the one used for the Ryder Cup) and twice on the Smurfit Course and there were plenty on Ian Woosnam's team who had flourished on the Palmer. Lee Westwood was a two-time winner, Darren Clarke had won there in 2001, Padraig Harrington had two runners-up finishes, Monty had a second and a third, Jose Maria Olazabal and Robert Karlsson had posted top four finishes, Paul Casey had only finished outside the top 20 once while Paul McGinley had a host of top 20s.

That was eight Europeans with positive memories of the K Club so maybe it should have come as no surprise that Woosie's men roared to a joint record 18½-9½ victory.

The good news for the Europeans is that there's a very similar scenario at Celtic Manor. Many of the Europeans are proven performers there; the Americans are struggling to find Wales on a map never mind about possessing knowledge of the course.

The Twenty Ten course (where the Ryder Cup will be played) has hosted the last three Celtic Manor Wales Opens.

Ten of the 12 man European team have teed it up there and with plenty of success. Graeme McDowell won this year's event, Luke Donald was third while both Molinari brothers can boast a top four. Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ross Fisher have both posted a top 10 there while Martin Kaymer was 12th in this year's event.

The Celtic Manor event has also been played on the Roman Road course (2005-2007) and the now defunct Wentworth Hills (2000 to 2004).

Jimenez won at the Roman Road in 2005 while, two years earlier, Ian Poulter triumphed at Wentworth Hills, whose configuration consisted of nine holes now used on the Twenty Ten.

It means a return to the Celtic Manor Resort will bring back positive memories for the vast majority of the European team and suggests home advantage this year could be a significant factor.