With the Ryder Cup days away, bet365 has released some statistics and betting trends ahead of day one in Rome, where the competition will be held this year.

49% of the bettors with bet365 have placed money on Team USA to win – with a high percentage of those coming in the form of ante-post bets. Furthermore, 46% of players have bet on Team Europe to win, which saw a late flurry of bets placed on the team – however, it hasn’t been enough to topple the 49% on Team USA. Meanwhile, 5% of bettors thought the event would end in a stalemate.

Looking at the ‘to lift the trophy’ market, Team Europe is more heavily backed, with 56% of bets backing Luke Donald’s squad ahead of Zach Johnson’s US golfers.

Rory McIlroy is backed to be the top combined points scorer, with 28% of players backing the Northern Irishman, while fellow European Viktor Hovland is second with 13%.

Finally, Ludvig Aberg, the 23-year-old Swedish rookie, has seen 32% of all bets made on him to be the top team points scorer for Team Europe, with Justin Thomas getting 22% of the bets for Team USA.

Steve Freeth said: “Aberg may be just a few months into his professional career, but he’s been backed as if he’s been around for years, such is the level of interest in the young Swede as punters back him to be more than just the ‘Top Rookie’ in Rome.”