World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is glad he’s not in Paul McGinley’s shoes with just a week before the European Team captain announces his three Gleneagles ‘wildcard’ picks.

While McGinley faces the anxiety of who to pick and who he leaves out, McIlroy was today (MON) relaxing courtside at Flushing Meadow but not watching former fiancée Caroline Wozniacki and instead cheering on  now good friend Andy Murray in his U.S. Open round encounter, and with the Scot winning in four sets.

McIlroy was returning the favour after Murray had walked the second round last Friday following the World No. 1 ranked golfer competing in the Barclays Championship in nearby New Jersey.

However with as many as seven players to choose from McGinley is staring at the biggest headache to date at European Team captain.

Rory McIlroy and Andy Murray have now become good friends.

And McGinley’s task will be become that much more difficult should Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher finish top-two in this week’s Italian Open in Turin, and the final European qualifying event.

Gallacher would then bump the current ninth ranked Graeme McDowell back to tenth and then leaving McGinley to pick three players on September 2nd from the likes of Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Joost Luiten, Francesco Molinari and eight-time Euro star Lee Westwood.

“It would be better if Paul didn’t have to use his picks on guys such as Luke (Donald), Stevie (Gallacher), Poults (Poutler) or Lee (Westwood),” said McIlroy.

“So the question is do you go with form or do you go with experience and that’s a headache Paul is going to have over this next week.

“It’s not up to me but then Paul would want guys playing well but at the same time you would want guys who have the experience in that arena, so it’s going to be a tough decision.”

Speaking of the Ryder Cup and McIlroy has spoken of his pleasure in Welshman Jamie Donaldson locking-in his place in Paul McGinley’s European Team.

“It was great to see Jamie qualify as he’s a great guy, and I’ve played with him many times over the past few months,” said McIlroy.

“He’s a great lad and gets on well with everybody which is very important, so everyone on the team at present is sure to like him.

“Paul could pair Jamie with anyone because he’s a very solid player tee-to-green and doesn’t make many mistakes which is the sort of player you need in the match-play format that is the Ryder Cup.

“So he’s the type of player than could grind his opponent down by hitting fairways and hitting greens, so he’s a great addition to the European Team.”