Rory McIlroy makes Ryder Cup revelation: 'No, I've shot it down straight away...'

Rory McIlroy has revealed he has zero interest in ever becoming a playing captain at the Ryder Cup.

McIlroy, 36, made his feelings be known ahead of this week's BMW Championship where he makes his return after three weeks away from the PGA Tour.

After defending his decision to skip last week's FedEx St Jude Championship, which marked the start of the Playoffs, McIlroy was asked whether being a playing captain at the Ryder Cup is something he would ever want to do. 

The question arose in light of Keegan Bradley potentially assuming that position at next month's Ryder Cup in New York. 

"No, I've been asked to do that, and I've turned it down," asserted McIlroy in front of a group of reporters at Caves Valley GC in Maryland. 

When pressed further as to whether he has been asked to be a European Ryder Cup playing captain, McIlroy replied: "No, I've -- the idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon coming up has come up, and I've shot it down straight away."

Why? quizzed the reporter. 

"Because I don't think you can do it," answered McIlroy.

Watch McIlroy's comments here: 

As it stands, Bradley lies 10th in the US Ryder Cup team standings with two more weeks left until he makes his six picks.

A number of players believe Bradley needs to pick himself should he not make it into the automatic six by deadline day. 

Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler both agreed yesterday during their press conferences that Bradley deserves his place on the team.

Even McIlroy believes Bradley is "one of the best 12 American players with now."

McIlroy added: "That's why everyone is so interested and it's such a compelling case, and it's going to be -- I'm just as interested as everyone else to see how it all plays out."

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald recently accepted a captain's agreement with Bradley that allows him to become a playing captain should he wish to follow through with that decision. 

The 2025 Ryder Cup takes places at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 September.

McIlroy is one of three players already locked in for Luke Donald's Team Europe.

The other two players are Justin Rose, who won the FedEx St Jude last week, and Tommy Fleetwood, who is still going in search of a first PGA Tour title in his 163rd appearance this week. 

The 2027 Ryder Cup will be staged at Adare Manor in Ireland, so perhaps that's the biennial contest McIlroy was recently asked about the player captaincy role. 

Scottie Scheffler starts a red-hot tournament favourite ahead of the BMW Championship, which marks the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Scheffler leads McIlroy in the season-long race having won four times compared to the Ulsterman's three.

McIlroy is a record three-time winner of the FedEx Cup.

Scheffler is looking to become the first player ever to successfully defend the FedEx Cup. 

Unlike past seasons at next week's Tour Championship where there has been an adjusted handicap start, all the points reset and the winner of the tournament will win the FedEx Cup.

McIlroy is making his first start on the PGA Tour in three weeks since finishing in the top 10 at his home Open Championship at Royal Portrush.