Ryder Cup: US deserve victory if they can beat McIlroy and Garcia, says Tony Jacklin

Tony Jacklin believes the USA will deserve to win the Ryder Cup if they can defeat the pairing of Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in Friday’s final fourballs.

The pair take on Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in Friday morning's fourballs and Jacklin, Europe's most decorated captain, believes McIlroy and Garcia can become one of the most powerful partnerships in the history of the competition.

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"If anyone beats Rory and Sergio they deserve to win the Ryder Cup," said Jacklin.

"Those two have got to be one of the strongest pairings there has ever been. They can match Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal - and they were the best.

"Rory's the world No 1 while Sergio is No 3 and a guy that rises to the occasion in Ryder Cups. He is in his absolute element in this environment.

"If Phil and Keegan win it will be a huge scalp for US captain Tom Watson and he will be able to capitalise on that."

Match one features Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson facing Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, while Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer go up against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker in the second game.

But is match three which intrigues Jacklin, who believes Watson has taken a calculated risk by sending out rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed against Scottish favourite Stephen Gallacher and Englishman Ian Poulter.

"Tom has taken a gamble with that one but it's the sort of gamble that's worth taking," added Jacklin.