USA Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson has paid new four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy a massive compliment saying he wish the 25-year old was competing on his Gleneagles team.

Watson was back to the Valhalla course early this morning hosting a news conference after the confirmation of his nine automatic qualifiers.

In contrast, the rival European Team will not be finalised until August 31st at the close of the Italian Open in Turin.

Then on Tuesdsay 2nd September both Watson and Paul McGinley will name their three wildcard picks.

Tom Watson says he wish four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy was on the USA Ryder Cup team.(Photo – Eoin Clarke.www.golffile.ie)

However with the golf world in awe of McIlroy’s come-from-behind PGA Championship triumph it was Watson leading the way with compliments.

“I wish he was playing for my team, I can tell you that.  He’s playing great.

“Again, Rory is ‑‑ I just like the guy a lot.  I mean, I like his manner.  I like the way he plays.  He reminds me of me, the way I play.  He just picks it up, gets on with it.  He’s ready to go.  He plays his shot and takes the consequences.  Finds it and hits it again.

“Right now, he’s driving the ball better than anybody in the game.  He has confidence in the driver ‑‑ when you have confidence in the driver that he has right now, and you have the ability to hit the ball as far, the game is easy.  And he knows it and everybody else knows it. ”

And with an injury cloud hanging over the No. 6 qualifier Matt Kuchar, and also continuing debate if Watson will pick Tiger Woods, Watson again agreed the European Team was currently looking stronger than his USA side.

“Well, I think ‑‑ again, I think The European Team is the stronger of the teams right now on paper,” said Watson.

“But I have extreme confidence in the players that we have on our team and their motivation to go out and win the Cup back.  It doesn’t have ‑‑ it doesn’t leave me any question that we’re capable of winning the Cup.

“Their team, you look at it, and you have to look at it on the basis of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio’s had a really good year.  You look at Justin Rose has had a great year, Martin Kaymer; their team is full of star power, players that have been playing well.

“My hope is that these players on our team will start to show better form coming up.  The players that I pick for the team will be in good form when I pick them for the team and we bring the team that I think can win the Cup back. “