What Rory McIlroy achieved at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage which no other player has managed this century

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There is no question that no player will be more synonymous with the 2025 Ryder Cup in the years to come than Rory McIlroy, with the Northern Irishman playing some phenomenal golf in the most hostile of atmospheres.

Rory McIlroy has become the talisman of the European side over the last decade. So it is no surprise that he has played every single Ryder Cup session since Luke Donald became captain.

In truth, it was uncomfortable to watch the 36-year-old in action at Bethpage. McIlroy was subjected to some vile abuse, with the ugliest scenes coming on Saturday afternoon in New York in his match alongside Shane Lowry.

With that, it was understandable that he had nothing left in the tank for his singles match with Scottie Scheffler.

What Rory McIlroy is now the only player to do in the Ryder Cup this century

Remarkably, his loss on Sunday was McIlroy’s only defeat of the week. He ended up winning 3.5 points, with only Tommy Fleetwood managing to contribute more.

It set the stage for McIlroy’s second Ryder Cup victory on away soil after Medinah in 2012.

But it also became the third time that McIlroy has contributed three points or more in an away Ryder Cup.

That makes the five-time major champion the only player to do that this century.

McIlroy managed to win three points in Chicago 13 years ago, winning alongside Ian Poulter on that incredible Saturday afternoon, before then beating Keegan Bradley in the singles.

And he matched that tally at Hazeltine in 2016. Many will remember his stunning duel with Patrick Reed on Sunday which ended in a defeat on the final hole, but he also formed a brilliant partnership with Thomas Pieters.

Every player who has won three points or more in an away Ryder Cup this century

There have only been three teams who have managed to win an away Ryder Cup this century. So contributing three points or more on the road is a significant accomplishment.

The likes of Patrick Reed, Tiger Woods and Ian Poulter make the list. Meanwhile, no-one has won more points in an away Ryder Cup since the start of the new millennium than Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, with both men winning four and halving one of their five matches in 2004.

You would expect Jon Rahm to match McIlroy’s accomplishment, perhaps at Hazeltine in 2029. The Spaniard has won 6.5 points across the last two away trips.

But, as is so often the case, it is McIlroy who leads the way for now.

And if the PGA of America wants to try and find out what it is that they are lacking in the Ryder Cup, they perhaps need to look no further than McIlroy’s journey from labelling the event an exhibition to the sporting heroism he was prepared to show in the lion’s den this past week.