Rory McIlroy: I used anger to my advantage on way to Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph
Rory McIlroy has told rebel LIV golfers that they are now history in the Ryder Cup following Europe’s impressive triumph in Rome over the weekend. A barn-storming first day powered Luke Donald’s side to victory despite a spirited fightback from the USA, who were said to have been rocked by a bitter internal dispute between players.
Several legends of the Ryder Cup such as Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were ineligible to represent Europe after leaving the DP World Tour and defecting to LIV. The peace deal currently being negotiated between the PGA and DP World Tours and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which owns LIV, could potentially open the door for the rebels to return in future.
McIlroy, however, believes that those players are no longer needed after Europe flourished in their absence to beat the USA for the first time since 2018.
“They’ve had unbelievable Ryder Cup careers and they’ve made their choices, and they’ve done what they’ve done and no one can take away the impact that they’ve had for the European team over the years,” said McIlroy, who won four points from his five matches in Rome.
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“But I feel like this week, not having those big personalities in the team room let other guys have that chance to flourish and to shine: Viktor [Hovland), Jon [Rahm], myself. There wasn’t a ton of space taken up in that room by some of the other big personalities and I think that just let the rest of the team just sort of flourish.
“It’s a young team, we can all grow together. I could potentially be the oldest person on the team next time. It’s a new era and it’s a pretty good one.”
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McIlroy’s comments were echoed by Europe team-mate Shane Lowry, who insisted that the dressing room was a nicer place to be without the rebel LIV golfers alongside them.
“I think not having those guys there this week gave certain guys the opportunity to be something different in the team room and I think that made a big difference,” said Lowry.
“We have had three of the top four players in the team room this week. If those other guys were in the team room, they are obviously big Ryder Cup legends and have been amazing, but maybe Jon, Rory and Viktor wouldn’t have been what they were this week.”
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