Stenson hails magic McIlroy

Henrik Stenson has added his name to those predicting a Ryder Cup debut for 20-year-old Rory McIlroy next October.

“I would expect him to be on the squad, he’s playing fantastic,” said Stenson in Paris after Britain and Ireland’s fifth successive Vivendi Trophy victory over Continental Europe.

The Swede should know. He had just been beaten on the last in the top singles, with McIlroy going round in a six-under-par 65 for his fourth win in five games.

Not that he was the top scorer. That distinction went to 21-year-old Chris Wood, who might have become the first player to take a maximum five points from the match if he had not conceded Peter Hanson a six-foot par putt on the final green of the final game.

That made it 16 1/2-11 1/2 for the third contest in a row, but Paul McGinley’s side were so dominant the first three days that victory was theirs once McIlroy and Graeme McDowell had won the top two singles.

The week served a useful purpose for watching Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie in many ways, not least because McIlroy is now itching to face the Americans at Celtic Manor.

In May he had said it did not feature highly on his list of priorities, even calling it an “exhibition”, but all he needed was a reminder of how different team golf is.

“I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t make it,” said the youngster, who this week switches back to his bid to be Europe’s number one this year at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.