McIlroy's attacking style will make him important part of Euro push

THE two Yorkshiremen who played alongside Rory McIlroy in the Walker Cup believe the Ulsterman will play a significant role in Europe's Ryder Cup bid.

John Parry and Danny Willett shared the locker room with McIlroy at amateur golf's leading team event in 2007 when the United States emerged triumphant at Royal County Down, Northern Ireland.

Three years later and Parry and Willett are envious onlookers as McIlroy looks to gain revenge on the United States by helping Europe win the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

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"Three years ago you would never have imagined that he would be in the top 10 in the world and playing in the Ryder Cup," said Parry, who last Sunday marked his first year as a European Tour professional with a debut win at the Vivendi Trophy in Paris.

"It's a bit of a shock how well he's done. It just shows how quickly it can change for a golfer.

"I think Rory will do well this week. He's an attacking golfer and that will suit the Ryder Cup."

McIlroy was the youngest player on the Walker Cup team that lost to the United States 12.5-11.5, with Sheffield's Willett the closest to him in age.

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The Rotherham Golf Club member followed McIlroy to the top of the world amateur rankings in 2007 following the Ulsterman's decision to turn professional after the Walker Cup, and on the strength of his breakthrough performance at the Open at Carnoustie.

"He's a cracking player and he's going to be a massive asset to that team," said Willett, who turns 23 on Sunday. "It's a pretty young team Europe have got and Rory will be an important player.

"In the foursomes he'll be key because of his brilliant shot selection, and if he's partnered with Graeme McDowell in the fourballs as many people expect, they'll complement each other really well and that will be a strong partnership."

The pairing of the Ulstermen appears the easiest decision captain Colin Montgomerie will have to make this week.

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They were partnered together at last year's Vivendi Trophy in France, the matchplay forerunner to the individual tournament Parry won so impressively last week.

The 23-year-old from Harrogate won one point three years ago as a partner for David Horsey, a total matched by Willett and bettered only, by a half, by McIlroy.

On the opposing side that weekend were two Americans who have matched McIlroy's rise to prominence and will line up against him at Celtic Manor – Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler.

Perhaps ominously, McIlroy failed to get the better of them in any of the matches they contested at County Down.

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"It was a little different in the Walker Cup because we all came into the event knowing who we were playing with and you became almost like a team within a team," explained Parry.

"But we all knew each other well from the amateur circuit and there's still that vibe of playing for each other.

"Team golf is all about handling the pressure.

"In individual golf if you play well you generally do well, but in team golf you can play well and the team loses and it's hard to take.

"Rory's a good team player because he gets on with what he's got to do; he's one of the lads and he's never been a big time Charlie.

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"I can see Rory handling all that really well and prospering in the Ryder Cup environment."

Willett added: "It's a pressure cooker of an environment but Rory can handle himself.

"He was one of the younger guys on the Walker Cup team. He was nervous but once the first tee shot came around all that went away.

"He'll be exactly the same on Friday, everyone will be, but he's got that Walker Cup experience to fall back on and he'll be fine.

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"I'm sure he'll play a significant role and contribute to a European win."

Both promising Yorkshiremen competed on the Twenty Ten course at the Wales Open in June, with Parry offering a note of caution to the organisers about the layout of the purpose-built course.

"Celtic Manor can play pretty long and, to be honest with you, if they keep the tees back it can be quite a boring course," said Parry.

"But if they bring the tees forward, shorten some par fours and invite the players to go for the greens, that's when the risk-reward increases and you'll see more birdies and holes won and lost."

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Following his breakthrough win, Parry has moved up to 66th on the Race to Dubai rankings, with a place in the top 60 and qualification for the season-ending Dubai World Championship his revised target.