Rory McIlroy will still be on a high from the Ryder Cup, having played a key role as Europe defeated the USA at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy received heavy abuse from the American fans in New York, but battled against the supporters and the home side to help Europe come out on top.
The Ryder Cup veteran scored 3.5 points at Bethpage Black for Team Europe, who were once again captained by Luke Donald.
Two-time winner Donald could stay as Ryder Cup captain for Adare Manor in 2027, while McIlroy’s name has entered the discussion for future events.
Donald thinks McIlroy would be a good Ryder Cup captain, with the Northern Irishman now discussing that potential scenario ahead of his latest tournament.
Rory McIlroy confirms when he could be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain
He is in Delhi for the DP World India Championship, before which he was asked by reporters if there is any possibility of him captaining Europe at the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy replied: “Sometime, yes. Certainly not 2027. I hope I’m still playing at that point. But yeah, I would love to be the European Team captain at some point.
“But that will be beyond my playing days, or at least when my playing days are coming to an end and I’m not good enough to make the team or I make way for the new generation to come along.
“Hopefully that’s not in 2027. Hopefully I’m still good enough to play and put points on the board for Europe.
“But yeah, absolutely, I would love to be a captain one day, and I feel very fortunate that I’ve had a front row seat playing under some of the best captains in history in the Ryder Cup.
“I think what Luke Donald has done the last two Ryder Cups has revolutionised the captaincy within Europe.
“And I feel like Paul McGinley in Gleneagles in 2014, he was a wonderful captain, and I learned a lot from him. And there’s been wonderful captains between them, as well. All of them have been wonderful.
“But I think the time and the effort and the dedication that Luke Donald has put into the last four years, it’s been absolutely amazing.
“He has 100 percent respect of the entire team and everyone that’s worked for him and all been behind him. If I can be nearly as good as a captain as Luke Donald, I’ll have done a good job.
“So hopefully one day in the future, but I’d say not until the mid-2030s, hopefully, if I can keep playing well.”
Why Rory McIlroy would be a great European Ryder Cup captain
It would, of course, be a huge waste to have McIlroy as captain instead of a player at the Ryder Cup anytime soon.
He’s only 36, and is clearly still integral to the European team at this stage of his career, having just made his eighth Ryder Cup appearance.
But given that vast experience, he could be a perfect fit for the captaincy, while he will certainly have the respect of every single player if he were to take up the role.
Moreover, McIlroy has proven his passion for the tournament over the years, with his emotions particularly coming to the fore at Bethpage Black.
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