Rory McIlroy kickstarts his new PGA Tour season this week at Pebble Beach, but he already has one eye on the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Xander Schauffele is set to miss the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but PGA Tour stars McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are involved.
McIlroy won twice on the PGA Tour in 2024, and narrowly missed out on major success as he finished second to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open.
The world number three is taking on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour once more this season, having just featured at the Dubai Desert Classic on the latter.
A Ryder Cup is also on his agenda this year, with Team Europe meeting Team USA in New York in September.
Rory McIlroy says Europe have a chance of 2025 Ryder Cup success at Bethpage Black
McIlroy says Seve Ballesteros motivates Europe at the Ryder Cup, with the Northern Irishman confident of his side’s chances at Bethpage Black.
“You have heard me say this so many times, but one of the greatest achievements in the game right now is to win an away Ryder Cup and we have an opportunity to do that this year,” McIlroy told BBC Sport.
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“I think there’s one thing holding serve at home, which we’ve been able to do quite consistently. It’s a huge task [away from home].
“It’s a very strong American team, a very partisan crowd. But we’ve got a wonderful captain and we’re going to have a wonderful team and we’re relishing the challenge.”
Rory McIlroy trying to learn for The Open Championship after home struggles
The competition has involved Europe taking the USA from 1979 onwards, with the former picking up four away wins since then, compared to two from the latter.
Europe clinched those upsets in 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012 as the USA triumphed on away soil in 1981 and 1993, with the Miracle at Medinah undoubtedly the most iconic.
And while there is another huge away trip for McIlroy and his teammates coming up later this year, the 35-year-old first has to deal with a major championship on home soil.
Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush plays host to The Open Championship in July, with the home favourite having missed the cut when the event was held there back in 2019.
Discussing his history in front of his own fans, McIlroy said: “I feel like I’ve always struggled to play at home, none more so than at Portrush in 2019.
“But I’m slowly starting to learn how to overcome the mental fatigue of the week and the expectations and everything else, and try to protect myself in my own little cocoon and go about my business. People will argue maybe I’m a slow learner, but at least I’m learning and I’m moving forward.”
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