What Rory McIlroy said about Tiger Woods before the 2010 Ryder Cup will now really interest Bryson DeChambeau

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Rory McIlroy came in for a lot of criticism following his comments about Bryson DeChambeau ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in the coming days.

Rory McIlroy certainly does not appear to be too worried about painting a larger target on his back before the Ryder Cup. Of course, he is going to be Europe’s talisman in New York.

That fact was not lost on Bryson DeChambeau. The LIV Golf star insisted that he will be chirping in McIlroy’s ear if he gets the opportunity.

That prompted quite a bizarre response from the Northern Irishman. The five-time major champion claimed DeChambeau only gets attention by mentioning other players. McIlroy has been slated by fans for his comments about DeChambeau.

What Rory McIlroy said about Tiger Woods before the 2010 Ryder Cup

What is bizarre is that McIlroy has employed a similar tactic in the past; going after the biggest name on the opposition team heading into a Ryder Cup.

Many will remember McIlroy being criticised ahead of the 2010 event at Celtic Manor for labelling the Ryder Cup an exhibition. But he also made a bold claim about Tiger Woods.

“I would love to face Tiger,” he said, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph.

“Unless his game rapidly improves in the next month or so, I think anyone in the European team would fancy his chances against him.”

Tiger Woods proved a point at the 2010 Ryder Cup despite Team USA’s agonising defeat

Despite Woods relying on a captain’s pick to make the 2010 Ryder Cup team, he was still the world number one at the time.

He had an underwhelming year on the PGA Tour, registering just two top 10s. And of course, the 15-time major champion has never had the best record in the Ryder Cup given his ability.

McIlroy would not exactly be made to eat his words. The two players would not face off over the four days. And Europe went on to win by the barest of margins, with McIlroy claiming two points from his four matches.

But Woods proved a point of his own. No one on either side managed to pick up more points than the three he accumulated in Wales.

With that in mind, you would think that McIlroy would have been wise enough to say nothing about DeChambeau’s comments until after the Ryder Cup.

However, it does appear that The Masters champion cannot help himself when it comes to DeChambeau. So there will be plenty of supporters desperate to see the two face off in a key match at Bethpage in the coming days.