Paul McGinley was quick to give Rory McIlroy his flowers as the Team Europe star looks to defend the Ryder Cup title he helped clinch in Rome two years ago
Rory McIlroy is a golfer with a “big personality” both on the course and away from it, according to Paul McGinley. The Northern Irishman is currently preparing to defend Team Europe’s Ryder Cup crown at Bethpage Black this weekend under captain Luke Donald.
And while the squad will also depend on stars like Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland to dig deep to get Europe across the line at the prestigious tournament, McIlroy’s mindset and dedication could provide them with a massive boost if McGinley’s evaluation is anything to go by.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit said: “He’s a player that has got a big personality behind the scenes, as well as a personality on the golf course. He’s a guy that has really bought in more to this Ryder Cup over the years, I think it’s fair to say that.
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“He won four out of five points in Rome, that’s pretty good. His record at the moment stands at 55 per cent – it’ll be better than that by the time he finishes his career. He’s on the march with this.
“And one thing about Rory you’ve got to really admire is when he puts a goal out there that he really wants to do, he generally achieves it.”
The 2025 Ryder Cup is far from McIlroy’s first time at the competition, marking his eighth consecutive appearance in the prestigious tournament since 2010’s event at Celtic Manor Resort. Alongside his teammates, he’s lifted the title five times and also played a key role in 2023’s title win at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
At the tournament, McIlroy bagged four points from five matches, helping Europe to a 16.5-11.5 victory. After an impressive season on the PGA Tour and in major competitions, golf enthusiasts on this side of the Atlantic are hoping for more of the same from McIlroy as the 2025 Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black on Friday morning with hopes of being part of the first away team to win the tournament since the 2012 Miracle at Medinah.
The Holywood-born star has had three victories on the PGA Tour this year, winning the ATandT Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Players Championship and the Irish Open, as well as completing the Career Grand Slam by finally securing the Masters’ Green Jacket in April.
However, he’ll be up against a raucous New York crowd rooting for Team USA this weekend, not to mention the challenge of outperforming some of America’s top players on the course. But Jaime Diaz believes that McIlroy shouldn’t have any trouble staying cool and collected amidst a sea of hecklers.
The veteran golf correspondent said: “With reference to the Irish Open, that was very revitalising, got him out of that funk. And now here we are and I think it’s just an experience to see he’s about relationships, he’s about the love of competing, and he’s set the goal of, ‘Let’s win an away Ryder Cup’.
“But at the same time, it’s small-scale to me – a small-scale goal. If he doesn’t get it, it’s okay, and honestly, as much as we have all this build-up, Europe doesn’t really have that much to lose. They are the away team.
“If they lose, it’s not going to change the stature of the Ryder Cup or their stature as a team. To me, Rory will be a lightning rod for the fans. I don’t think he’ll rise to the bait.
“I think he’s going to stay above the fray, because he doesn’t want another occurrence like Rome and I think that’ll be better for his concentration and just for his experience. And then when this is all over, he can savour this great year and really look at it in the long view.”
