Final Predictions for Rory McIlroy at 2014 Ryder Cup

These days, every time Rory McIlroy steps on a golf course, he's expected to dominate. Despite heading into the 2014 Ryder Cup against the best American players in the sport, McIlroy will still be looked to as the anchor of the European squad.

He won't be the only highly touted European looking to capture the Ryder Cup. McIlroy's team also features Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson, among others.

The opening ceremony takes place on Thursday, but play won't start until Friday. Foursomes and fourball matches start things off and continue through Saturday. On Sunday, 12 head-to-head matches finish off the event.

Will the top-heavy European squad have an insurmountable lead by then? If McIlroy has anything to say about it, it will. McIlroy has been on fire this year. He won the last two majors of the season as part of a three-event winning streak. 

Those victories topped off a year that saw him produce 12 top-10 finishes. 

McIlroy has represented Europe twice (2010 and 2012). Per RyderCup.com, McIlroy has accounted for a total of five points in nine Ryder Cup matches. That's decent but not dominant.

The thing is, those previous Ryder Cup appearances may not carry much weight for this year's event. McIlroy is a new man. He has a swagger similar to the Tiger Woods of old. Not only do fans and experts expect him to win, but McIlroy also looks like a man who expects to be atop the leaderboard on Sundays.

Is there a player who would go into a head-to-head matchup with McIlroy with an edge on the world No. 1? Even McIlroy's friend and fellow hot performer Rickie Fowler would be an underdog. 

Playing the way he over the last two months, McIlroy is set up to be one of the major stars of the Ryder Cup. He'll get off to a great start in the team matches on Friday and Saturday, but he'll really shine in the singles event on Sunday.

Unless he's completely abandoned by a teammate on Friday or Saturday, look for McIlroy to validate his spot atop the world rankings with a four-point performance in leading the Europeans to victory.