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Paul McGinley appears to be the front-runner to become Europe's Ryder Cup captain for 2014, though he faces a late challenge from former captain Colin Montgomerie.
McGinley received the backing of Rory McIlroy, who already tweeted his support for the 46-year-old Irishman and followed it up Monday with a ringing endorsement.
"I played under Paul at the Seve Trophy in 2009 and felt he did an unbelievable job," he said. "Of any captain I've played under, he was the best ... He doesn't leave any stone unturned and gives confidence in the team room."
McIlroy said McGinley would be a better choice than Montgomerie, who guided Europe to victory over the United States at Celtic Manor in 2010 and is hoping to captain the side again at Gleneagles in 2014.
"I don't feel Monty has anything to gain by this," McIlroy said. "If we go to Gleneagles and lose, he is already a winning Ryder Cup captain. I am fully behind Paul. He should get the job."
McIlroy spoke out a day before the European Tour's tournament committee meets in Abu Dhabi to consider the 2014 captaincy.
While he doesn't have the success of Montgomerie on the course, McGinley clearly has the credentials. He has been on three Ryder Cup-winning teams and was vice captain for Europe in 2010 and for the improbable comeback win last year at Medinah.
Montgomerie's chances to become captain again improved last week after Darren Clarke all but took himself out of the race.
Clarke and McGinley had long been the two main candidates to replace Jose Maria Olazabal.
But Clarke, the 2011 British Open Champion, said in South Africa that he was wary of taking on the captaincy because of his playing commitments.
"I am exempt for another three years (for major events) and, if I was given the opportunity to do the captaincy, I'd effectively be throwing two of those years away," Clarke said.
Montgomerie said he could sympathize with Clarke's dilemma.
"I can fully understand where Darren is coming from, especially given the exemptions he still has into the majors as you want to use them when you can still play," he said. "Because we're close friends he knows it took a year and a half out of my career. If you come back after a year and a half out you might not be able to use those exemptions to the same potential."
The Americans last month picked Tom Watson to captain the U.S. team at Gleneagles, making him the oldest man to fill the role - and the first repeat captain for the United States since 1987.
But as the last American to lead the team to victory on European soil in 1993, and he knows how to win in the blustery Scottish weather.
