Rory McIlroy dismissed Rome as a youthful mistake, a self-absorbed individual who is ignorant of history.
McIlroy was a rising star at the Irish Open in 2009, and had just turned 20. He was asked if he would one day play on the Ryder Cup Team. His response was not well-received.
He said, “It is not my main goal.” It’s just an exhibition, at the end. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a very important event for me.”
Oops!
McIlroy laughed at these comments on Wednesday. The most experienced European golfer, McIlroy will be playing in this week’s Ryder Cup. It is his seventh Ryder Cup. Justin Rose has played in six. McIlroy’s Ryder Cup record is 4-2 for Europe.
He said: “I received some criticism for these comments and it was well-deserved.” “I was so focused on my own career and getting it off the ground, I thought I had bigger and better goals to achieve. I didn’t really put much emphasis on being selected for a Ryder Cup until I made one. You never want to miss a Ryder Cup team again.
McIlroy’s comments were tabloid material on the other side of the Atlantic. Colin Montgomerie was not happy with a young player dismissing the Ryder Cup.
He said, “It is not an exhibition. It never will be.” It’s a unique event that is more nerve-wracking than any major. You want to play again and again.”
McIlroy, who was captain of the European team this year (Luke Donald), felt better when his teammates played a joke.
He said that in one of the practice round, he still had long, curly, hair. Some of the other guys came down to the tee wearing wigs and made jokes about it. “Yeah. That meant a lot.”
Rory McIlroy, a golfer for Team Europe, addresses the media during a Ryder Cup practice day at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Adam Cairns – USA TODAY Sports
McIlroy, now an elder statesman, is the most renowned European golfer. However, he does not think of himself as superior to his younger teammates.
He said, “I’m there not giving team speeches and rallying cries,” he said. “I am older and have more experience than most people, and some have seen me play on television. But I don’t think anyone should look up to me. I want to be seen as equal.
“Our team has no hierarchy.” We are one 12-man team, and we move forward together. “I guess that’s one message I have tried to convey to some of our younger players on the team.”
