The likelihood of Darren Clarke leading Europe into competition at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine continues to grow.

Three of last week’s winning team in Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and now Martin Kaymer believe Clarke is worthy of the European Team captaincy.

Clarke has five Ryder Cup’s including being on the winning side in 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006.  He was a vice captain in 2010 under Colin Montgomerie and also a vice captain two years ago to Jose Maria Olazabal.

However he was overlooked by McGinley for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The World No. 1 ranked McIlroy was asked on the eve of teeing up in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship about a likely successor to victorious 2014 winning captain Paul McGinley.

“There’s been a few names thrown about and I’ve said with the next Ryder Cup being in America, I feel that Darren Clarke would be the perfect man to lead the team there, just because he has such a great reputation everywhere, but especially in the States, the fans really love him there and he’s got a good rapport with everyone,” said McIlroy.

Darren Clarke firms as favourite to replace Paul McGinley as 2016 European Ryder Cup captain. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“So he would be the right man to do it next time at Hazeltine.”

Kaymer, who became the 2012 hero in holing the winning putt at Medinah, also is a fan of Clarke’s.

“I believe that Darren Clarke is the next one in line,” said Kaymer.

“I think Thomas (Bjorn), he will be a very good captain, as  well, one day but I think he’s still playing too good to be captain in America in two year’s time.

“So I believe the chances for Darren Clarke are quite high right now.”

The 2014 captain was selected by the European Tour’s 15-strong tournament committee but changes announced in August last year mean the responsibility for future captains will falls to the previous three captains (McGinley, José María Olazábal and Montgomerie), the Tour’s CEO and a Tournament Players Committee representative.