Darren Clarke is the best man to be the next European Ryder Cup captain.
That’s according to Rory McIlroy.
The World Number One is backing the 2011 Open Champion to replace Paul McGinley in the role for 2016 at Hazeltine.
McIlroy was among the influential voices who supported Paul McGinley for the role for this year’s tournament at Gleneagles.
McGinley, for his part, has promised to be “professional” when the selection committee meets.
Changes announced to the selection process last year mean the previous three Captains, the Tour's chief executive and a tournament committee representative are responsible for choosing the next Captain.
McGinley and Clarke’s relationship has been strained recently, after Clarke appeared to back Colin Montgomerie for captaincy for this year’s event.
McGinley has admitted conversations between the old friends are now "short and sweet".
But he confirms that won’t have any influence on his decision to be the next Captain, saying “I'm going to be very professional in my input. I'm going to get opinions from a lot of players and a lot of people before I put my opinion forward as to what it will be. Just like I was very much pushed over the line by the players, I want to get the opinion of the players.
Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez appear to be the favourites to be captain in 2016.
But McIlroy's backing his fellow Ulsterman for the honour:
