Rory McIlroy and Team Europe look to become the first Ryder Cup team since 2012 to win away.
He said it would be one of the greatest accomplishments in golf after Team Europe won in Rome two years ago. Not only has every away team lost in the last decade of the Ryder Cup, but they have lost comfortably.
Europe lost 19-9 at Whistling Straits when they last played in America. They then responded with their best start to the tournament in their history with a 4-0 Friday foursomes in Rome.
But Rory McIlroy aims to break that mould and retain the Ryder Cup this year. He made a bold claim about this year’s Team Europe and their standing in history if they were to pull off the feat.
Rory McIlroy said Team Europe will go down as one of the best in history if they win in New York
By winning the Ryder Cup in New York, this European team can be one of the few sides to be able to say they truly went back-to-back. Sure, teams have won two straight Ryder Cups before. But this really is the same team that played in Rome.
There’s only one difference. Nicolai Hojgaard makes way for his twin brother, Rasmus, who was still with the team two years ago in a non-playing capacity. Even their captain, Luke Donald, returns.
McIlroy said that having almost the same team back from two years ago gives them confidence that they can break the losing streak in America. If they do so, he said this will go down as one of the greatest Ryder Cup teams ever.
He explained, “We’ve won before. I feel like it’s been a really cohesive group for the last three years. We all know what to expect. We all know what our roles are within the team. I think that that has us prepared to give it a really good go this week.
“Look, historic – or over the past, you know, basically since 2012, you look at the results of the Ryder Cup, the home team has won every time. But they also have won convincingly. You know, it’s been pretty one-sided either way.
“So whatever team, whether that’s Europe or America that is the one to break that, that duck, I think honestly is going to go down as one of the best teams in Ryder Cup history.”
Donald’s team enter the event as the underdogs, but many think that Europe have a better Ryder Cup team than the Americans. Their home advantage is what makes them the expected winners.
McIlroy has an opportunity to go down in golfing folklore with his performance at Bethpage Black.
Rain in New York makes Rory McIlroy the key to Team Europe’s success
Thursday’s festivities, including the opening ceremony, had to be moved to Wednesday due to a downpour of rain in New York. Not only has that affected the players’ practice time, but it also significantly alters the course’s complexity.
Bethpage Black is a long-hitters’ paradise, especially with its setup for the event. McIlroy said Bethpage’s rough isn’t a penalty with how short it has been cut, which will allow him to let loose off the tee without fearing a wayward drive.
The weather has made McIlroy’s distance even more of an advantage at the Ryder Cup. The damp ground will prevent shots from rolling out, emphasising the importance of carry distance. McIlroy has that in abundance, but that can’t be said for every player at Bethpage.
It’s a significant disadvantage for players like Collin Morikawa, who are known for lacking distance. It could even rule him out for much of the tournament.
As the longest-hitter on Team Europe, their success hinges on McIlroy’s ability to hit long drives consistently this weekend.
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