Rory McIlroy deserves to be rated among the best golfers in history after his stunning performances this year, according to Sam Torrance.
McIlroy bounced back from a troubled 2013 campaign with four victories this season, including two majors and a maiden World Golf Championship title during a sparking run of form over July and August.
He kick-started his year with a superb win in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and he produced a dominant display to collect his first Open title at Royal Liverpool in mid-July.
The Northern Ireland ace made it three wins in three starts with further victories at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, and he capped a memorable year by helping Europe to their third straight Ryder Cup triumph.
Torrance was one of Paul McGinley's assistant captains at Gleneagles, and he was hugely impressed with what he saw of McIlroy at close range.
"Rory is as good as I've seen in a long, long time," said the 61-year-old Scot. "He's got everything. Butch Harmon did an analysis of his swing and every single pinpoint part was in a perfect position.
"I don't think Rory can get much better and I fancy him to win any tournament he plays in. Every 10 or 20 years someone like him comes along"
Sam Torrance
"I don't think Rory can get much better and I fancy him to win any tournament he plays in. Every 10 or 20 years someone like him comes along.
"Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo, these guys only come along every once in a while and Rory has now arrived and is here to stay."
McIlroy was close to unstoppable as he thrashed good friend Rickie Fowler 5&4 in Sunday's singles at the Ryder Cup, carding seven birdies and an eagle in a remarkable 14 holes.
"His start on the Sunday, 3-3-3-3-3, to go five up on one of the young American lions was extraordinary," added Torrance. "That's something Rory has got, the ability to turn it on. I watched him up close at Gleneagles and it was like something I've never seen before."
Torrance also admitted how "honoured" he was to be directly involved with Europe's Ryder Cup team for the first time since he captained the side to victory at The Belfry in 2002.
"It's been a long time, 12 years, since I was last in the team room and to be invited back was a huge honour," he said.
"The highlight for me was to be able to watch the way the players these days hit the golf ball. It's a game I'm unfamiliar with, the distance they hit it, the clubs they hit for their irons, and it's wonderful to watch.
"Everything about the European team was exceptional. The team effort, the way the players gelled, the way they looked after each other and the companionship in the team room."
Torrance also had nothing but praise for McGinley's leadership, adding: "He was as good a captain as there has ever been. Paul was meticulous in everything he did, it was a different style to anything I've ever seen.
"The team meetings every night, his involvement with the caddies, the people he got to come in and talk in the team room.
"He was positive, he was vocal, he spoke to everybody. His involvement with the caddies was special, he gave them a very high position that week, they had lunch with us in the team room all the time and it led to a great atmosphere," said Torrance.
"There was lots of banter and the atmosphere was really good from start to finish. His speeches at night, in the team meetings, were extraordinary, and for me it was just great to be a part of."
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