EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Rory McIlroy appears destined to be a Ryder Cup star. And even if he does not make it in 2008 it will be no great surprise if he goes close.

Not since Justin Rose finished fourth in 1998 has an amateur made such an impact in the Open Championship as McIlroy did at Carnoustie last July.

The youngster from Holywood in Northern Ireland, who earned a place in the event by winning the European amateur title, was in third place after an opening 68 and was just as impressive facing the world's press as he was playing the course.

I think I've been getting interviewed since I was about seven or eight years old,'' he said.

I'm pretty good at this talking thing, I think.'' Having collected the silver medal as leading amateur (he was the only one to survive the halfway cut), McIlroy made his professional debut in the British Masters.

Just two weeks later he finished third in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Seven days after that he was fourth in the Madrid Open, thus removing any need for him to attend the European Tour qualifying school.

I told you you were good enough to make it out here,'' read a text message sent to him by stablemate Lee Westwood.

That start - such a contrast, of course, to the 21 successive missed cuts experienced by Rose when he began playing for cash - got people talking about the possibility of him making the next Ryder Cup side.

Sergio Garcia did it in 1999 a mere five months after launching his pro career, but McIlroy would be the youngest ever to appear in the match if he does it.

I play aggressively and I'm not going to change that just because of money or Ryder Cup points,'' he stated.