Rory McIlroy has pledged to bring his A-game to this year’s Ryder Cup, after his Whistling Straits toils of two years ago.
McIlroy cut a tearful figure on US soil as Team Europe succumbed to a record 19-9 defeat, but he promised to make amends in Rome this week.
Ahead of what is his seventh Ryder Cup, the Northern Irishman said he was trying to be something he was not back in 2021 but that his slump at Whistling Straits acted as a springboard to success on tour.
“I didn’t feel in full control of my game,” he said of the last Ryder Cup. “I wasn’t believing in myself that time, but the rest of the team did believe in me. The team sent me out No1 in singles. That gave me so much confidence.”
In his first start after that event, at the CJ Cup in Las Vegas, he was victorious and credited his team-mates for that dramatic U-turn in form.
“Just being myself is enough,” he said before heading out for today’s practice round hoping to continue the fun he had out on the course yesterday. “A good part of 2021, I was trying to be something that wasn’t natural to me. I went back to being myself and trying to express myself on the golf course.
“The last two years have proved that’s the way I’m going to play my best golf. I certainly feel better coming into this Ryder Cup and I’m more than capable of delivering more than one point this time around.”
McIlroy has a mixed Ryder Cup record, with 12 victories from 28 matches and as many defeats across the fourballs, foursomes and singles.
Despite being the most experienced member of Luke Donald’s side and the highest ranked at No2 in the world, he insisted he did not want his team-mates to treat him as Europe’s top dog.
He said: “I’m older than people and have more experience but I don’t want people looking up to me. I want everyone seeing me like I’m on their level. There’s no hierarchy on this team. We all go forward together.”
The European team, having relied on some key figures for a number of years, are in a transition phase with the absence of some stalwarts. Experienced campaigners Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are missing after giving in their tour cards in order to cash in on the riches of LIV Golf.
McIlroy is content with the decision by DP World Tour bosses to leave out the LIV golfers from selection contention but admitted there was a shift in the team room as a result.
“It’s strange not having them,” he said. “But this week of all weeks it will hit home they’re not here and they’re going to miss being here more than we’re missing them... and that’s tough.”
Rory's feeling the Ryder Cup excitement 😬#TeamEurope | @McIlroyRory pic.twitter.com/cO9EV5m6yM
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2023
Tyrrell Hatton is one of four players in the team set to compete in their third Ryder Cup when play gets under way with the foursomes on Friday.
It has been mooted Hatton could be paired with Rahm in a so-called ‘Team Angry’ as arguably the two most fiery players on Team Europe. Hatton joked that he would be willing to get embroiled in a swear-off with his team-mate, a contest he would be confident of winning.
“I think I would probably win a swear-off,” he said. “I’ve got everyone covered when it comes to that.”
Hatton said he would be happy swearing “any day of time anywhere”, and there would be “no holding back” in an exchange of choice words with the Spaniard.
He added, “Doesn’t matter what we’re doing, I’m swearing,” before ending his pre-event press conference by saying “f*** off”, to much hilarity to the press room at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
