Paul McGinley reckons Rory McIlory will relish favourite tag

Rory McIlroy has had the type of summer most golfers can only dream about.

Back-to-back Major wins at The Open and the US PGA, along with other notable victories at the BMW PGA Championship and the WGC event in Akron, have firmly established him as the best player in golf.

He also collected the Vardon Trophy for having the lowest scoring average all year on the PGA Tour at 68.82.

However, all this individual glory does not alter McIlroy’s desire to play a full part in a third successive European Ryder Cup win.

US captain Tom Watson has spoken about targeting Rory as one of Europe’s ‘big dogs’, but his European counterpart Paul McGinley is not worried.

The Irishman knows the World No.1 is scared of nobody and is thrilled at how his star player can’t wait to get stuck into the Americans at Gleneagles.

“One thing Rory has proved is that he is comfortable with being a favourite,” says McGinley. “He was favourite going into Valhalla and he won.

“There was one outstanding favourite to win the PGA and he was at the top of the leaderboard. Rory relished that and he finished off the job, just like he did at The Open.

“He was the same at Hoylake going out into the last round with a lead to defend. He is comfortable being the lead man.

“He’ll have a big role at the Ryder Cup but I haven’t quite crystallised what that will be yet. I didn’t want to do that this week as he needed to rest, which was important. But my conversations with Rory over the last 18 months have been brilliant.

“I’ve given him lots of space and not over taxed him, but when we have chatted, he has been so into what I’ve been saying and into giving me feedback.

“I really appreciate the way he has respected me. And it’s been essential for me as a Captain to get that feedback from our top player.”

With victories at Hoylake and Valhalla, McIlroy became the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win The Open and PGA in the same year.

Harrington then had a poor Ryder Cup, managing just half a point from his four matches at Valhalla. But McGinley is certain that history won’t be repeated.

“Padraig won’t be giving Rory any lessons,” he smiles.

“They are two totally different animals, with different attitudes and personalities. Rory loves being the No 1, whereas Padraig always relished being the underdog. Padraig will have his roles as vice-captain but one of them won’t be giving advice to Rory.”