Ahead of the Ultimate Patriotic Showdown, Rory McIlroy Divulges an Emotional Truth About the Ryder Cup: ‘Not Much Has Changed’

The Ryder Cup is as important as it gets in the golf world as the two teams, Europe and America, duke it out on the golf course. It is quite natural for a person to be emotionally attached to the tournament, especially for a player representing their nation, like Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman is set to make his seventh appearance in the biennial event, and one can’t help but respect the golfer for the amount of hard work and determination he has put into the team for the patriotic showdown. But a certain astonishing reveal by the golfer came as nothing short of a surprise to the golf community as he divulged his long-standing passion for the “epitome of competitions”!

Rory McIlroy shares his views on the Ryder Cup

McIlroy has had a wonderful Ryder Cup journey, with a total of four wins in his six appearances. The 34-year-old only tasted defeat twice, in 2016 and 2021. But even so, his emotional connection with the prestigious tournament had been present since 1999. In a press conference at the BMW PGA Championship, the Irish pro opened up about how he shed a tear when America won the Cup in 1999.

The ‘Battle of Brookline’ saw the US team come from behind Europe, who only needed 4 points on the last day to reclaim their title, to push past and end the day with a 14.5–13.5 score, thereby snatching the cup from their grasps. Moreover, adding to his disappointing drop and his emotional breakdown due to the 19-9 loss back in Whistling Straits, the 24-time PGA Tour winner mentioned how “not much has changed” in terms of his attachment to the event.

Continuing on his response, the four-time major champion expressed his strong fondness for the tournament, calling it “the best experience in sport”. Moreover, being able to play with his teammates while “standing shoulder-to-shoulder” with them makes it the “epitome of what competition and sport” are.

It is not surprising that the PGA Tour Pro had high opinions about the upcoming biennial event since such an important occasion marks a crucial point in any golfer’s career. But what’s more surprising was that the golfer also took part in praising one of his teammates following his response—none other than his vice captain!

McIlroy hails ‘the guru’ of the team

Edoardo Molinari, the vice captain of the European team, is known for his play with numbers and his ability to analyze the data. McIlroy had high praise for the Italian golfer, who “delved really deep into the stats” of the game all the while looking at the pros and cons of the two teams. Adding to his praise, the four-time major winner mentioned how the vice captain’s preparations are crucial in setting up the team for success.

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Moreover, the 3X DP World Tour winner has managed to gain the players’ trust, especially that of Viktor Hovland, with his experience in the sport. The statistics coupled with his game proved to be vital for the Norwegian golfer, as he managed to change his game based on the veteran’s advice and emerged victorious in the BMW PGA Championship that ended not too long ago. Thus, it can’t be helped that the Irish professional is high on his acclaim for the 42-year-old.

What did you think of Rory McIlroy’s interview? Do you think he will be able to help Europe win the Cup? Let us know your thoughts below.

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