McIlroy, who figured alongside Shaw (22), Jonathan Caldwell and Shane Lowry, on the Irish team in 2007, was almost as happy with events in Italy as his 10th place at The European Open. "Fantastic," he said. "I rang them on Saturday night. It's great for them to retain the trophy."

As for Shaw, McIlroy said: "Gareth's always been very hard on himself but he's happy with himself on the golf course now."

Shaw, who earned a Business Management degree at East Tennessee State, plans to go to Qualifying School both in European and the US this autumn.

Meanwhile Jean Van de Velde kept alive his hopes of returning to the Open Championship with a two-under-par 70 in final qualifying at Hillside and was then promised protection for the second round.

The 42-year-old Frenchman, who has played only three Opens since his unforgettable last-hole collapse at Carnoustie in 1999, complained about the absence of crowd control.

"At the end of the day it's a job here," he said after being told by a Royal and Ancient Club official that there would be six marshals following his group with a rope today.

"It's great that lots of people want to watch, but when they get in the way it's difficult.

"We couldn't even stand on one tee."