The greatest golfer in the world, wide-eyed and in a trance.
It helps that Rory McIlroy is an avowed Manchester United fan he took his Claret Jug for a visit to Old Trafford last month but faced with Sir Alex Ferguson in the European team room on Tuesday night, the world No 1 became a little like the young kids who gawp open-mouthed when he breezes by and hands them a spare golf ball.
Despite his millions, his trophies two majors this year alone and all the attention his golfing and private life gets, there’s still a good bit of that wide-eyed Ulster boy about McIlroy. And although this is his third Ryder Cup at just 25, there’s still a newness in the event for him.
Rory had met Sir Alex before, but there was something different about this one, with his European team-mates all present, and the great motivator giving it the full Fergie.
“That was the highlight for me of the week so far,” said McIlroy.
“I was just in a trance listening to everything he was saying, this is all the stuff he’s probably said to those Manchester United teams down the years. He told us a couple of stories of past experiences in big games, some of the players he managed.
“Not everyone in the room was a Man United fan, and that was made known! But he told us what the key element to his success was, and how to be successful as a team. He’s a very inspirational man when he talks. He’s got a lot of authority and everyone listens.”
Rory was giving little away about the speech being favourites, at home, is something that should be embraced, was one theme. But Sir Alex’s words, it must be hoped, will have the similar effect to Rory’s favourite inspirational memory, from his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010.
“The conference call with Seve,” he said. “That was incredible, the whole team huddled around that little speaker phone and Seve rallying the troops. He obviously wasn’t very well at the time and couldn’t travel, but it galvanised us and brought us together.”
Rory is clearly one of the European players perceived to be targeted by the US team although Tom Watson has not actually used the phrase this week but he doesn’t hold with the belief that beating him or Ian Poulter counts for anything more than the point on offer.
“I think maybe they’d prefer to beat Poulter than me given a choice because of his record. But even if you target us two that’s just one sixth of our team, we’ve got 10 other world class players all capable of putting points on the board.”
Rory will play a new Nike driver this week, but there are key differences to that and the experience of Phil Mickelson, who broke in new tools at the 2004 Ryder Cup with a lack of success McIlroy recalls only too well.
“I’m well aware of the problems Phil had, he almost hit me down the left hand side of the first fairway at Oakland Hills,” he said. “But Phil had changed club manufacturer coming into that. I’m just changing a driver I’ve been using and practising with since June.
“I wouldn’t be putting it in there if I didn’t think it was going to make me better.”
As for a partner, it’s been fairly well flagged that he and Graeme McDowell will be split for the opening fourballs at least. Martin Kaymer was spotted trying out Rory’s preferred Nike ball on the range, and a pairing encompassing three of the four majors won this year would be some kind of lead-off statement.
“It’s Paul’s decision,” said Rory. “I have a job to do and I don’t care what my number is or who I play with.
“Leading the team out would be a huge buzz and a great thrill. But I’ll still have the same objective, which is to secure my point.”