Jack Nicklaus has spoken out in defence of USA Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, insisting that Europe were simply the better side at Gleneagles.

Nicklaus, an 18-time Major winner, also captained the USA side to victory in 1983 and believes that Watson doesn't deserve some of the criticism he has received following America's defeat.

"The Europeans just played better," Nicklaus told the Palm Beach Post.

"It doesn't make any difference how much planning you do, if the other team plays better, they're going to win."

"When I had teams and guys had problems, we went back to the team room and talked about it. That's where the conversation should be. We've had 70 years of the Ryder Cup, and it's gotten along just fine. The pendulum will swing back without making a monumental thing about it."

Nicklaus was also on the losing side as a Ryder Cup captain in 1987.