Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has been loving his leadership role as Europe’s vice-captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup which is to take place in Minnesota, USA. The Irish will be leading as many as six rookies in his Europe side which will look to defeat the Americans for a fourth time.
McIlroy told reporters, “I have definitely become more comfortable in that role. I relish that role. I understand it's a big responsibility, but I feel like I'm now ready to take that on my shoulders and hopefully lead by example.”
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McIlroy comes into the Ryder Cup on the back of winning the US PGA Tour Championship which saw him pocket a $10 million season points playoff bonus. In doing so, the world number three also defeated the US Open champion and world number two, Dustin Johnson, who will be a member of the US Ryder Cup team.
The Irish also expressed that he was always comfortable in leading by example in his younger days.
Also Read: Ryder Cup 2016: Dates, timings, course information, participants
Europe’s captain, Darren Clarke, also praised McIlroy for his exploits on and off the golf field. He said, “To see Rory showing that fighting spirit and battling the way in which he did was wonderful. That was a very enjoyable thing for all of us to watch.”
Previously in 2012, McIlroy seemed reluctant in becoming a guide for the rookies when his Europe side came from behind on the last day of the Ryder Cup to beat the Americans in what was an iconic moment in the history of the competition.
Rory said, “In 2012 I came into the Ryder Cup number one in the world. I had just won my second major. I was playing really well. But I still didn't feel like it was my place to be a leader on the team. We had so many other players that had more experience and were older than me, so I still didn't feel like I deserved that role in a way.”
He said that he only started feeling comfortable in the last edition of the Ryder Cup. “Definitely at Gleneagles last time, I embraced that more and I took more responsibility”.
The goal is to take the cup home: Mcllroy
However, in the upcoming edition, the Irish has his eyes set on winning a seventh title out of the last eight in what will be a competition he has never lost to the Americans. McIlroy told reporters, “I'm confident in my game and I feel like I'm playing pretty well. I don't know how much bearing it will have on the team as a whole.
“A fourth Ryder Cup. Never experienced a loss before and that's the goal this week, to take that Cup home.”
The 27-year old also talked about how he had underestimated the tournament when he first participated back in 2010. “I underestimated what it was going to be like. I made a couple of comments before the 2010 Ryder Cup that seem very stupid now.
“I thought I knew what it was like, but there's nothing like walking onto that first tee for the first time and feeling that rush and just soaking in the atmosphere,” McIlroy said.
The Irish golfer also had some positive words about the upcoming golfers from his Europe team. He said, “That's what I've tried to reiterate to the rookies on our team. You think you know what it's like and you think you've played under pressure, but you haven't. You haven't played under what this is going to be like. It's just trying to make them ready for that.”
England’s rookie Andy Sullivan was the first one to acknowledge the advantage that his team have because they have the Mcllroy in their team. Sullivan said, “Just little things, like remembering to breathe, stuff like that, Rory was saying. Nothing massively influential but again it might help me out in the long run of things.”
This year’s Ryder Cup will again be one of the most competitive tournaments as nine of the past 14 Ryder Cups have been decided by two points or less. And the participants know that they will have to step up because the tie can turn on its head at any point of time.
Sullivan said, “It can be on a knife edge at times. It might be a little bit of a hostile atmosphere, but I think that's the awesomeness and the pressure you play in and that's why it's so good to play in.”
McIlroy is now experienced at the competition but he says that he is confident he can produce his best golf yet again when its needed by his Europe team. “I've been able to produce my best golf when I've needed it the most. Hopefully I can continue to play the way I've been playing and produce quality shots under pressure like you need to in a Ryder Cup,” he said.
