Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim: "There'll be an urgency"

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has offered his thoughts on how four-time major champ Rory McIlroy will approach the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Ben Smith

24 Sep 2023

Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim: "There'll be an urgency" — Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim: "There'll be an…

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says Rory McIlroy is at his best when he feels threatened by his contemporaries.

McIlroy, 34, has already been called out by 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark ahead of next week's contest in Italy.

Clark told Golf Channel as much as he respects the four-time major champion, he believes he's the better player.

There is no doubt McIlroy's competitive juices will be flowing in light of the American's comments.

Wyndham Clark calls out Rory McIlroy ahead of Ryder Cup: "I am better than him"

But McIlroy is primarily concerned with what Team Europe's players think of him, according to McGinley.

In an interview with Telegraph Sport, McGinley said the Northern Irishman will be comparing his contributions to other Europeans.

McGinley said:

"Yeah, of course Rory is a team player and that's ultimately what he cares about. But he will be mindful of the contributions of the Europeans and will compare himself to them, rather than any Americans."

Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim:

McIlroy's has won 12 points for Europe in 24 matches played since his debut in 2010.

His ratio took an absolute hammering two years ago at Whistling Straits but he still trails European stalwarts such as Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal.

McGinley explained: "Rory will know this and there'll be an urgency to rectify it. Yeah, there is [Jon] Rahm as well, and now Viktor [Hovland], but Rory is the one the team looks to."

The 56-year-old, who captained Team Europe to a five-point victory at the 2014 Ryder Cup, reckons McIlroy needs to be paired with 'an equal' instead of being put out with a rookie as a father figure.

He said:

"I'll keep coming back to it, my hunch is that Rory is at his best when challenged - and that means by his partner as well. [Thomas] Pieters was one of the best ball-strikers on the European Tour and Rory felt he had to be at his best to match him that week [at the 2016 Ryder Cup].

"Yet when he has been put out as the father figure with a rookie - as he has a few times [with Andy Sullivan, Thorbjorn Olesen and Shane Lowry] - they've lost and the pairing has quickly been shelved for the match which is too dispiriting and uplifting to the opponents.

"He needs an equal alongside, or least someone who can live with his ball-striking. Maybe that will be [rookie, Ludvig] Aberg this time, or Viktor, or Tommy [Fleetwood]."

McIlroy himself has been defensive when he has asked about his own Ryder Cup record.

He has 3.5 points from six singles matches and Zach Johnson's Team USA will be aware of that.

In a recent interview, McIlroy said: "Everyone thinks they could probably be doing more.

"Yeah, 18 holes, match play - it’s certainly not tossing a coin but I've had some Ryder Cup matches when I haven't played well and won, and played some great matches and lost. I feel over the course of the six Ryder Cups I've played, I made a good contribution in most.

"Last time skewed the numbers a bit but, yeah it's important to feel you're doing your bit. As everyone saw in Wisconsin, I didn't feel I did what I was supposed to and I'm obviously trying to put that right this year."

The highest point scorers in the current Ryder Cup teams
McIlroy & Rose - 14 points
Spieth - 9.5 points pic.twitter.com/REwXUOEBfL
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 8, 2023