Rory McIlroy explains how call with sick Seve Ballesteros changed his view on Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy has revealed how listening to a sick Seve Ballesteros reduce the European Ryder Cup team to tears was the moment he knew the contest with the United States was more than just a golf tournament.
Rory McIlroy says listening to a speech from a heavily sick Seve Ballesteros days before his Ryder Cup debut was the moment he knew the biennial contest was more than just a golf tournament.
A 20-year-old McIlroy famously referred to the Ryder Cup as "an exhibition at the end of the day" in 2009.
He even went as far as saying the matches against the United States weren't important to him and he wouldn't be running around Celtic Manor fist-pumping.
McIlroy's point of view has changed drastically, with the golfer now able to laugh at those remarks.
He is making his eighth appearance in the blue and gold this week. Luke Donald's team are attempting to become the first team to win on away soil since 2012.
Should Europe achieve the improbable, it would represent McIlroy's sixth victory and second in hostile territory.
On the eve of the 2025 Ryder Cup, McIlroy told reporters that listening to Ballesteros rally the troops two days before his debut was the moment for him.
"I watched Ryder Cups growing up," he said. "I cried whenever America won at Brookline. Like it's not as if I didn't feel something when I watched Ryder Cups.
"I got into that team room at Celtic Manor and I just saw how much it meant to everyone. I sort of started [thinking] I was like, maybe I got this wrong.
"You start to see how much [it means], especially for Europeans.
"I remember Seve was sick, and we had him on one of those conference call things like back in the day. He's speaking to the team, and we're all in the team room.
"This is on like the Wednesday or Thursday night. You know, and I look around and the majority of the team is crying as Seve is talking to us.
"And I'm like, that is - that's it. That's the embodiment of what the European Ryder Cup team is. I think that was the moment, that conference call with Seve in 2010, was the moment for me."
Ballesteros died seven months later at the age of 54 following a long battle with a brain tumour.
The Spaniard is widely regarded as one of the most iconic players Ryder Cup in history.
Ballesteros played a total of 56 matches, securing 29.5 points for Europe. He captained the team twice, and is credited for transforming the Ryder Cup into an emotional spectacle.
Jose Maria Olazabal dedicated Europe's victory at Medinah in 2012 to Ballesteros.
McIlroy downplays DeChambeau rivalry
McIlroy has been Bryson DeChambeau's "rival" since the American pipped him to the 2024 US Open title.
The Northern Irishman responded by winning The Masters and, in the weeks leading up to the Ryder Cup, have exchanged a few barbs.
DeChambeau has said he will be chirping in McIlroy's ear. For his part, McIlroy said the big-hitting American only mentions his name to get attention.
"I promised Luke I would only talk about the European Team today," joked McIlroy. "I'm going to stick to it.
"No, look, I think, again, it's so easy to play into narratives this week and to get swept up in this whole rivalries and Ryder Cup and whatever it is.
"All I want to do is go and try and put blue points on the board. I don't care who it's against. If I come up against Bryson at some point, I think that's great.
"I think that's wonderful for the championship and wonderful for us, as well, in some ways."
"I just want to go out there and put blue points on the board and do what I can for the European Team."
The pairings for Thursday morning's foursomes matches will be revealed at 21:00 BST today.
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