Just as Tiger Woods was targeted by Europe in past matches, Paul McGinley is under no illusions that world number one Rory McIlroy will receive similar treatment from the United States when the Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles next month.

But the Dubliner believes the way McIlroy handled favouritism in successfully winning the US PGA at Valhalla will stand him in good stead for such a challenge.

“That is something I will be discussing with Rory. I have a number of things to talk to him [about], he has been incredibly engaging with me already. I don’t want to put too much on his shoulders.

“He has the FedEx Cup to win before starting to win a Ryder Cup, so I will be engaging with Rory at the right time.”

McGinley, who was present in Valhalla where he did some commentary work for Sky Sports, has accepted that Europe will be in the unusual position of carrying heavy favouritism into the match.

“It is not a situation we have been in often before. And just looking at the odds in the bookies, how it has changed over the last few weeks, we are becoming favourites and that is something that is out there.

“It is realistic and a legitimate thing, and we will have to deal with that. Rory went into [the PGA] as favourite and look at the way he dealt with it. He knows how to deal with being favourite, there is ways of doing it, it is not all negative.”

He added: “All the conversations this week, all the players, are very clear how big the task is to beat America. They will be galvanised no doubt, and they are going to be very strong and I can assure you right now we will not be underestimating any player on that American team, whoever the 12 may be.

“If America are going to win this Ryder Cup, they will have to play well to beat us. And if we are to win the Ryder Cup, we will have to play well to beat them.

“That’s the way the Ryder Cup always is, a Ryder Cup is a Ryder Cup.”