Europe captain Clarke hails 'inspirational' McIlroy

Rory McIlroy's Tour Championship-FedExCup Series double in Atlanta at the weekend has given Europe's team a mighty fillip ahead of the Ryder Cup, said captain Darren Clarke on Monday.

World No 3 McIlroy rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the fourth playoff hole on Sunday to beat American Ryan Moore and win the season-ending PGA Tour event, FedExCup honors and a mind-boggling $10 million bonus.

"From a European perspective it is always good to have one of our members win the week before the Ryder Cup," a hay-fever stricken Clarke told a news conference after arriving at Hazeltine National.