US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson was pleased about the nine qualifiers who clinched berths on his squad, but admitted Monday he wouldn't mind having top-ranked Rory McIlroy as well.
McIlroy captured his fourth major title Sunday at the PGA Championship, outdueling US stars Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler over the back nine for his second major win in a row after taking last month's British Open.
"I wish he was playing for my team, I can tell you that. He's playing great," Watson said. "I just like the guy a lot. I like his manner. I like the way he plays. He reminds me of me.
"Right now, he's driving the ball better than anybody in the game. When you have the confidence in the driver that he has right now and the ability to hit the ball far, the game is easy. And he knows it and everybody else knows it."
Sunday's thrilling final round at Valhalla could be a warm-up act for next month's Ryder Cup showdown at Gleneagles, Scotland.
The Americans will try to recapture the trophy from Europe after losing on home soil in 2012 at Medinah to a last-day comeback.
"Our team, they've got that motivation from 2012 that I'm going to lay on them," Watson said. "I think that's a great motivator."
European sides have won five of the past six meetings and have not lost on home soil since 1993, but the US team lead the all-time rivalry 25-12 with two drawn contests. Watson knows the importance of a victory over McIlroy in the Ryder Cup.
"Any time you beat the star, that's a very big plus from a psychological standpoint for your team," Watson said. "Their team is full of star power, people who have been playing well.
"The European team is the stronger of the teams on paper but I have extreme confidence in the players on our team and the motivation to go out and win the Cup."
US qualifying ended Sunday with Phil Mickelson qualifying for his 10th Ryder Cup in a row after a runner-up PGA finish.
Also on the US squad are Masters winner Bubba Watson, 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk, 2014 US and British Open runner-up Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Zach Johnson.
"I'm wonderfully happy with the team," Watson said. "Every player has the ability to play great golf. My job as a captain is to inspire them. And the motivation is there. These players are motivated to the Nth degree to win this Ryder Cup."
Picks up in the air
Watson and European captain Paul McGinley will each make the three captain's choice selections to their rosters on September 2, the day after the finish of the second event of the season-ending US PGA Tour playoffs.
"It's pretty up in the air right now as far as who is going to get the picks," Watson said. "These next three weeks will be a big factor.
"The major part is how they are playing. You want players that are playing well or rising and starting to show some real good form."
Injuries are a concern though for the US with Tiger Woods, a possible captain's pick, and Kuchar nursing sore backs.
Europe's Ryder Cup points chase, which still has three weeks remaining, was little changed after the PGA, with McIlroy, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, France's Victor Dubuisson and Spain's Sergio Garcia in on the European points list.
Current world rankings would add England's Justin Rose, US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.
