Rory McIlroy looks a certainty for the GB&I team

Rafferty was at the famous links on Wednesday as Rory McIlroy and the other contenders for the GB&I squad had a practice session.

"I've been trying to show them that there are alternatives with some of the shots," Rafferty told BBC Sport.

The US will defend the Walker Cup at Royal County Down on 8-9 September.

European Amateur champion McIlroy looks a certainty to be a key member of the home team and he was impressed with the condition of the course on Wednesday.

"It's really in very good order. All the greens are very fast for April and I dread to think what they will be like in September," said McIlroy.

The 17-year-old plans to turn professional after the Walker Cup and he says that the event will be the "pinnacle" of his amateur career.

"If all things to plan, I should be selected and it will be a fantastic occasion for me and my family and all my friends will be down here.

He knows the course very well and he was known for his course management Rory McIlroy on Ronan Rafferty

"It will be a great way to end a really good amateur career."

McIlroy added that Rafferty's advice at the session had been "invaluable".

"He knows the course very well and he was known for his course management and it's good to hear his opinions."

1989 European Order of Merit winner Rafferty acknowledged that McIlroy and the current crop of young players play a different type of game to the one that he employed.

"A lot of the kids nowadays play a high ball game whereas I learnt to play on links courses. I'm thinking low, they are thinking high so it's sort of a case of a happy medium.

"I'm happy to pass on a bit of wordly advice. I'm not trying to get in their way or interfere with how they play but if you can show that there is an alternative, I think it helps them along the way."

Rafferty remarked about McIlroy's confidence but the former Volvo Masters champion thinks this is a positive.

"He's very sure of himself. That's good. People say you are cocky but you're not. If you know what you are doing, you feel confident in yourself and that breeds more and more confidence."