Rory McIlroy to golf reporters: "You don't want to know. Not for publication"

Rory McIlroy has revealed European players have been wearing VR headsets to help prepare for the Ryder Cup in two weeks' time. 

Luke Donald's Europe will clash with Keegan Bradley's United States from 26-28 September. 

No team has won in hostile territory since Europe completed their miracle comeback at Medinah in 2012. 

McIlroy was part of that remarkable one-point triumph and will be relied upon heavily if Europe are to have any chance of being victorious at Bethpage Black. 

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman told reporters after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth that captain Donald is leaving absolutely nothing to chance. 

Donald's dozen have been wearing VR headsets to simulate the type of conditions they may face. 

A volatile reception from the New York crowd is expected. 

Xander Schauffele's father Stefan has already decided he won't be in attendance as the contest has become "unwatchable".  

Stefan previously told The Times of London he felt disgusted seeing the abuse endured by both sets of players during the 2021 matches in Wisconsin and in Italy two years ago. 

He said he witnessed Shane Lowry's wife being verbally abused in front of the golfer, whilst he felt the treatment his son and Patrick Cantlay received by the European fans at Marco Simone was over the line. 

McIlroy told the Guardian: "They said: 'How far to you want this to go?'

"And I said: 'Go as far as you want. It is just to simulate the sights and sounds and noise. 

"That's the stuff that we are going to have to deal with. So it's better to try to desensitise yourself as much as possible before you get in there. 

"You can get them to say whatever you want them to say. So you can go as close to the bone as you like."

He added: "We are doing everything we can to best prepare ourselves for what it is going to feel like on Friday week McIlroy said.

"But nothing can really prepare you until you’re actually in that. You can wear all the VR headsets you want and do all the different things we've been trying to do to get ourselves ready but once the first tee comes on Friday it's real and we just have to deal with whatever’s given."

McIlroy refused to say what messages came through his headset. 

"You don't want to know," he said. "Not for publication."

The reigning Masters champion finished the DP World Tour's flagship event with a flourish. 

He eagled the 18th to finish the tournament on 12-under. 

McIlroy and his European team-mates will head to Bethpage Black next week for a three-day reconnaissance trip.