Chaska, Minnesota …

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke says Rory McIlroy’s double Tour triumph last weekend has the whole European Team fired up ahead of Friday’s start to competition.

Of courses, the passing of legendary Arnold Palmer overshadowed McIlroy’s Atlanta triumph.

But judging by the jubilant scenes from the Hilton Hotel at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 just prior to midnight Irish time Sunday night, it was a clear indication the worth of McIlroy’s Tour Championship and FedEx Cup winning inspiration to Clarke’s Hazeltine side.

Darren Clarke says Rory McIlroy’s double dose of success in Atlanta has the European Team ‘fired-up’ for victory this week in the 41st Ryder Cup.

“It was great to see Rory play the way he did at the Tour Championship and in the way we all know he can play,” said Clarke.

“He played just so great a couple of weeks ago to win in Boston and then do it again, and in the manner he did in Atlanta, was a huge boost for our side.

“Any time you see any of your team members perform the way that Rory performed on Sunday and a few weeks earlier, is not only more special for me as Captain but very special for the whole team.

“The team was all fired-up and ready to go, and they don’t need that much more firing up, but certainly to see Rory win the way he did it is just great he’s on our side.”