Rory McIlroy has laid down the Ryder Cup gauntlet by insisting the idea of a playing captain cannot work. Team USA’s qualifying race ends this week at the BMW Championship in Chicago, the hours ticking down to Keegan Bradley’s eagerly awaited decision on whether to name himself as one of his team picks.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy revealed he has already “shot down” the prospect of becoming a playing Ryder Cup captain in the future. The Northern Irishman, Europe’s leading points scorer in their victory in Rome two years ago, said the idea had already been raised with him but he rejected it out of hand.

Bradley's approach to the captaincy and presence week-to-week on the PGA Tour has bought him grace with his players