European Ryder Cup captain reflects on Rory McIlroy's role after ‘rude awakening’ from regretful comments
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has highlighted Rory McIlroy’s importance in the squad. The Northern Irishman had earlier made some skeptical comments on the matchplay event and its format. However, his skipper seems confident in the ace golfer now. He claimed that the four-time major champion has been a “leader” for the European side.
McIlroy has played seven times on the European team from 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023 and has won five times. Interestingly, the 35-year-old, who already enjoys a veteran status at the team event, had once called the event an “exhibition at the end of the day.” Speaking ahead of his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in 2010, the PGA Tour said that a win at the event wasn’t a “huge goal” of his.
Donald has now called McIlroy’s initial comments on the event a “rude awakening” as the latter later became emotional about it.
Speaking at a press conference in New York on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 event at Bethpage Black, Team Europe skipper Luke Donald said, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“Rory McIlroy has been a leader for us. He understands the Ryder Cup, he understands that he wants to prepare as best as he can just like he would for a major. He is always a strong leader and strong voice in the team and he is great to have because of that.”
Addressing McIlroy's regretful comments about the competition ahead of his Ryder Cup debut in 2010, Donald added:
“I think it was a little bit of a rude awakening for Rory when he made those comments before his first Ryder Cup in 2010… Pretty quickly he found out it really isn’t an exhibition. This is the best event in golf and he even said that after the loss at Whistling Straits. He was very emotional.”
Rory McIlroy’s U-turn on Ryder Cup stance
A young Rory McIlroy turned several heads in 2009 when he called the Ryder Cup an ‘exhibition’ event. However, he was later forced to eat his words as he broke down in tears following Europe's record-breaking defeat to the United States in 2021. Golf fans across the globe lauded the ace player’s change in approach to the competition.
Rory McIlroy told Sky Sports at Whistling Straits after the 2021 loss:
“The more and more I play in this event, I realise that it is the best event in golf bar none. I love being a part of it, I can't wait to be a part of many more. Yeah, it is the best.”
Interestingly, the star golfer reiterated the same later when speaking about the 2025 edition of the competition. Looking ahead to next year's event, the 26-time PGA Tour winner admitted to eye a rare victory on away soil and stated that winning an away Ryder Cup was “one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now.”