“Ask the Americans” - Rory McIlroy takes a subtle jab at Scottie Scheffler and Team USA at the Olympics, adds to Ryder Cup rivalry

Rory McIlroy is all set to tee off the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Le Golf National course. The 35-year-old hit a few swings at the course, that hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup, on Tuesday. Following his practice, the Northern Irishman brushed up the Europe vs US rivalry by taking a subtle jab at the Americans.

McIlroy was asked about the length of the rough on the course this week compared to six years ago at the Ryder Cup. The PGA Tour star used the opportunity to recall Team Europe’s 17.5 to 10.5 win over Team USA in the competition.

He asked the reporter to ‘ask the Americans’ as he wasn’t in the roughs as much as them that week. The four-time major winner’s comment was met with laughter in the room.

Replying to a media query about the roughs at the Le Golf National, Rory McIlroy said, as quoted by Sports Illustrated:

“Ask the Americans. I wasn't in (the rough) much that week.”

It is pertinent to note that McIlroy’s jibe at the US Ryder Cup team comes just a day after the golfer slammed an American fan at St Andrews. The ace golfer, playing a casual round at the Old Course on Monday, was heckled by a fan who shouted “New York loves you… The Bronx, baby. The Bronx in the house.”

In response, McIlroy addressed next year’s Ryder Cup being played at Bethpage Black on Long Island and shouted back:

“You’re not going to love us next year.”

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Rory McIlroy is eyeing a gold medal at the Olympics

Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, McIlroy admitted that he is targeting his maiden Olympic gold medal this weekend. The 26-time PGA Tour winner addressed his major championship drought in the last decade and stated that a win in Paris would be ‘one of the biggest achievements’ of his career.

Rory McIlroy told BBC Sport NI:

“For me it’s well documented I haven’t won one of the big four in 10 years so it (a gold medal in Paris) would be one of, if not the biggest, achievements of my career in the last 10 years.”

For the unversed, McIlroy narrowly missed the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The golfer finished fourth in the competition. Notably, the Irishman came close to ending his major-less run this year. He lost to Bryson DeChambeau on the final day and settled for second place at the US Open.