Rory McIlroy is a man on a mission entering the Ryder Cup, aiming to put the cherry on top of a historic season by achieving one of golf’s most difficult feats.
He put the marker down after winning the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. “One of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage”, said a fired-up Rory McIlroy. Now’s the time to cash that cheque.
McIlroy is Europe’s leader heading into the Ryder Cup. The Northern Irishman is now a Grand Slam winner after his Masters victory in April, and he’s one of two players on the team to have won an away Ryder Cup before.
But beyond his sheer talent and leadership, there’s one trait that McIlroy possesses that makes him easily paired by Luke Donald, according to Nicolas Colsaerts.
Nicolas Colsaerts says Rory McIlroy will play with any golf ball
The Ryder Cup captains have established their team’s culture, selected their players, and are now finalising their preparations for one of the most highly anticipated Ryder Cups in recent years.
They’ll be faced with key decisions on the weekend, none more critical than their player pairings for foursomes and fourball. It has been a topic of fervent debate in the build-up to the tournament.
Keegan Bradley’s biggest headache is Bryson DeChambeau, and who to pair with the LIV Golf star. The American hard-hitter uses a different ball from his 11 American teammates, which raises the question of which player will be able to hit his ball in foursomes.
Donald won’t face the same issue with his star man, according to Ryder Cup icon Colsaerts. He revealed that DeChambeau’s rival, McIlroy, is happy to hit any golf ball, as long as it’s “white and round.”
He told Joseph LaMagna of Fried Egg Golf, “I know for a fact that Rory [McIlroy] has no problem playing someone else’s ball.
“As a captain, when you’re trying to do your foursomes pairings, it’s a bit of a luxury to have somebody that good who is willing to say, ‘You know what, just give me anything with a bit of dimples. Something that’s white and round, with a bit of dimples on them and we’re going.’”
McIlroy won the Irish Open in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup, and his fine form in 2025 will be crucial if Europe are going to hold on to the famous trophy in New York. But his ability to put points on the board may well depend on his playing partner.
Tommy Fleetwood predicted Rory McIlroy pairing for 2025 Ryder Cup
Since the golf ball that McIlroy plays is unlikely to be a factor in his pairings, that opens up a host of possibilities for his playing partner during Friday’s foursomes. But after Europe’s success in Rome, is Donald willing to risk breaking apart his already successful pairings?
McIlroy joined forces with Tommy Fleetwood in 2023, in a pairing dubbed “Fleetwood Mac” by fans. It was a surprising decision by Donald at the time, and McIlroy and Fleetwood rewarded their captain’s choice by winning both of their matches together.
Following their triumph in Rome, which led to Fleetwood hitting the winning shot on Sunday singles, the Englishman predicted that he would be paired alongside McIlroy if they both qualified in 2025.
He told Golf Monthly in 2024, “If we’re both there at Bethpage, I’m pretty sure you’ll see us teaming up again.”
Both Fleetwood and McIlroy enter this Ryder Cup with an increased level of confidence. McIlroy finally won his Green Jacket, and Fleetwood took his first PGA Tour win in the year leading up to the tournament.
As was the case two years ago, Fleetwood Mac would be a formidable opponent for any American pairing.
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