As the process of setting the tone for the week ahead got underway yesterday so Tom Watson asserted himself with all the authority and finesse that has established him as a golfing grandee.

On the first of the four days of verbal sparring that will precede three days of golf the exchanges were, of course, convivial, both the USA captain and Paul McGinley, his European counterpart, warmly empathising about the preparations they are putting in place and the environment in which they hope this 40th Ryder Cup will be played.

Yet, while both men know they are under the microscope, with every vocal inflexion and expression of body language to be analysed forensically, few know better how to use that to maximum advantage than the man who spent so long under such scrutiny between winning the Open Championship in a play-off at the age of 25 and losing it in another 34 years later.

McGinley may be captaining the home team, then, but Watson, arguably Scotland's favourite golfer, seemed intent on demonstrating just how much he is at home as this event takes place in the place that considers itself the Home of Golf for the first time since he announced himself at Carnoustie in 1975.

"I'm very happy to be here in the role of being a Ryder Cup captain and just being in Scotland again is very special for me," he said in his opening remarks, immediately seizing the opportunity to stress that relationship. "I have somewhat of an affinity for Scotland . . . done pretty well over here in a few tournaments in years past, long years past, a long time ago."

It was all delivered in that enchanting way of his, that voice like treacle behind the wise, knowing smile that speaks to a lifetime of knowledge accrued. Lovely old Tom . . . and yet, look closely and perhaps even in these opening exchanges, there were subtle signs of competitive edge.

Indeed, even before the questions were invited, as the photographers jostled for position it was Watson who took the alpha male role, gently pushing and pulling McGinley into position. A few minutes later and, McGinley having stumbled slightly when the opportunity arose for him to address a question, before being interrupted by the sound of a plane overhead, another opportunity seemed to be seized upon.

"Are you using them against us this week? Is that friendly?" Watson joshed, pointing skywards, before imposing himself once more.

"I'll answer that first..." he went on, setting the agenda once again.

Having begun his first answer with the words "I echo everything Tom said", the home captain was consequently left to begin his second meaningful contribution with the words: "Yeah, again it's similar . . ."

Hints in that of Gordon Brown's emasculating "I agree with Nick" episode and while this was far from a political debate with, throughout, several instances of both men agreeing with the sentiments of the other, somehow Watson seemed to have seized a slight initiative.

If, meanwhile, there is any advantage to be had in terms of a younger man having greater reserves of energy, the 65-year-old was not even prepared to allow his 47-year-old counterpart to be perceived as having the upper hand there as McGinley might have done when he spoke of watching the American's successes in Scotland "that I certainly watched as a boy".

"Hey, wait a minute, you're older than that. You've got grey hair to prove it there," Watson teased.

"I was a teenager," McGinley conceded, also laughing of course.

The Irishman was actually eight when Watson claimed that 1975 Open Championship and 10 when he won the "Duel in the Sun" against Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry.

Maybe something and maybe nothing, then, but as much as there is a danger of over-analysis as commentators look for something to say over the next few days, that context of the awareness both have of the way we all look for subliminal messages has to be factored in.

As to the overt messaging, Watson has been clear about the opportunity this match represents to players who have, or at least feel they have, let their nation down and he is not going to miss any opportunity to reinforce it. "I made it very clear to them this trip is a redemption trip," he said when asked if the experience of Medinah can be a motivating factor. "Those players that played on that team, if any players are on this team, it's time to make amends and try to redeem yourselves from what happened in 2012. I think it's a motivation rather than a negative."

The word 'redemption' is often misused in a sporting context, but again Watson's selection of it as his theme for the week could not be more deliberate, invoking in his men a sense of purpose. On the evidence of recent Ryder Cups that is a basic requirement for away teams in this match, as evidenced by the readiness with which European players who are sceptical about such matters admitted to invoking the spirit of Seve Ballesteros in 2012.

This, then, has become a unique event in this otherwise rather staid sport, one where those behind the ropes become supporters rather than spectators and are actively encouraged by team management to make their feelings known, for the most part doing so with little complaint from the opposition.

From the day he was appointed, of course, there has been a suspicion that Watson's selection as the first American captain since his great rival Nicklaus, 27 years ago, to be asked to do this job a second time, was no coincidence for this particular encounter in this particular part of the world.

Asked if he believed his side might face less hostility because of his presence, then, he again beamed widely. "Not in the least," he said. "This is what makes the Ryder Cup so great, the partisan nature of it, and the crowds here are wonderful."

Perhaps so but Scottish galleries may find it difficult to give too hard a time to a team led by this particular man and Tom Watson knows it.