Rory McIlroy will leave nothing on the course but won’t let it all hang out so early this time at the Ryder Cup, admitting yesterday that he let the excitement and hostile atmosphere of Hazeltine get to him.
McIlroy’s singles match against Patrick Reed two years ago was massively dramatic for nine holes but then a massive comedown for both, although the American hung on for the point that started the inevitable slide to a US victory.
But the emotion McIlroy expended that Sunday was an important lesson to him, he said.
“I could play (at that adrenalin level) for nine holes, and then it suddenly hit me,” he said. “It reached its crescendo on the eighth green, and the last ten holes wasn’t quite as good.
“I look back as those videos and I look back at the last Ryder Cup and see it wasn’t just Sunday. It was Friday and Saturday. I’m surprised I had a voice left at the end of the week.
“It looked tiring to have to play golf like that for three days. So I think I learnt a lot from that.
“It’s good to get excited and it’s good to have that, but at the same time, if I’m called upon to play a late match on Sunday, I want to have all my energy in reserve so that I can give everything for 18 holes because I did hit a wall that back nine on Sunday, and it cost me.”
He hopes to have the full backing of the galleries here, however, and won’t react the same way.
“Playing on the road is becoming increasingly difficult, with how partisan the crowds are and how they get behind their teams, the same as in other sports,” he pointed out.
“Thinking back to Medinah in 2012, we were 10-6 down and it was a long shot that we were going to win that.
“We ended up winning, which was very special, but that could have started a run of home victories for each team.
“And then, you know, we do have a little more control of the golf course. The way Hazeltine was set up is not the way this is set up, which is not the way Medinah was set up. There are certain differences that play into the home team’s advantage, I guess.”
McIlroy arrives in Paris having his competitive instincts questioned. He’s had a poor year by his standards, and that after putting himself in decent position at more than a few tournaments only to play dispiritingly flat on Sunday.
It’s even suggested that he felt the intimidation factor on Sunday at the Tour Championship wth Tiger Woods, but he laughed that off.
“Was there any element of intimidation? Yeah that rough on the East Course was tough,” he said.
“That was the most intimidating part about it. Started hitting a few drives left and right early, and I didn’t actually have quite a good view (of Tiger) from the trees on Sunday.”
And there is no specific focus on Woods either.
“This week, he’s one of 12. We’re not looking at any individuals. We’re just trying to beat the U.S. Team.
“It’s great what he did on Sunday. It was great for golf. It brings a lot of excitement to the game.
“But to focus on one player is silly, especially when I might not even see him this week at any point this week because I mightn’t be on the course with him or play against him.
“It may give their team some momentum coming here. But you know, we’re looking to beat the US team. We’re not looking to just beat Tiger Woods.”
