Rory McIroy’s motivation to put one over on “the greatest team ever assembled” is all that’s needed to get Europe’s competitive juices flowing at the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
A chill morning in Minnesota – every bit as cold as it was at Gleneagles two years ago – greeted the first practice yesterday with McIlroy, now an unquestioned team leader, playing with Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood and Sergio Garcia, whom he partnered last time, when the Northern Irishman really came of age as a senior figure in the European team.
McIlroy is fresh from his thunderous finish at Atlanta to grab the Tour Championship, FedEx Cup and the cool $10 million bonus, and has his mojo back, teasing the US about Task Forces and Davis Love’s rather outlandish claim for his team last week.
“I don’t think it’s hard for us to find motivation,” he said, asked whether it was tough to find the underdog spirit after you’ve won eight of the last 10 Ryder Cups.
“Anywhere you look or listen, the sea of red on the golf course or the comments in the media by the team of the US captain give us so much motivation already.
“I mean, whenever you are going up against one of the greatest teams ever assembled, that’s motivation enough to say, how good would it be to beat a team like that?” he asked, staying remarkably straight-faced.
In truth, for all the banter McIlroy knows how difficult it will be for Europe to win four-in-a-row.
“Obviously I’ve followed it all and I’ve had a bit of fun with the task force, greatest team ever assembled and whatever else they’ve been saying, but it’s going to be tough this week,” he admitted.
“Apart from Gleneagles, it’s always been tough, and we’ve won a couple we maybe shouldn’t have. I mean we shouldn’t have won in 2012, that was a steal, grab and go, it was unbelievable how that worked out.
“Even in Celtic Manor in 2010, we only won one session. It’s been a lot closer than people realise, and it’ll be close this year against a great American team.”
He doesn’t even blame the US for trying to change things, but feels that they may be in danger of overdoing the team bonding thing.
“If Europe were in the same position as America have been through in the last few Ryder Cups, we’d be searching for answers and doing the same thing,” he continued.
“We are fortunate that we’ve had this blueprint passed down from captain to captain and that’s evolved into a very successful team, but it’s not like we think about that too much, it’s not rocket science.
“The culture of the European Tour is a little different with guys socialising with each other. It’s great that the US have been trying to bond a little more, but that’s been a natural fit for us.
“I think there does come a point when you maybe try a little too hard, you can “over-team” it instead of it happening naturally.”
McIlroy’s own role has changed in the team from four years ago, when he played as World No 1 having just won a major, but still didn’t feel like a senior figure.
“I didn’t feel like it was my place, we had so many players with such great experience in the Ryder Cup and I still didn’t feel like I deserved it,” he recalled.
“I also made a couple of comments before 2010 that seem very stupid now. I thought I knew what it would be like from having been to 2004 and 2006 and Junior Ryder Cups but I had no idea, really.
“At Gleneagles, however, Paul McGinley said he needed me to take on more responsibility and I relished the chance to be one of the leaders and speak up in the team room, and I’m ready to do that again.”
He also has a close relationship with skipper Darren Clarke, dating from their first meeting on Rory’s 10th birthday.
“My present was to play the Valley course at Royal Portrush, I’d also got a Cleveland Rusty Wedge which was the big thing then; it was my birthday and the day couldn’t get much better, then I meet Darren.
“I was just in awe. He’d just won the WGC Matchplay, was a top 10 player in the world and he was a hero. Obviously I was part of his foundation after that and got to know him really well.
“That day has always stuck with me. Now here we are, the biggest stage of the game, and I’m playing under him as Ryder Cup captain. I’m very much looking forward to that.”
