The Hollywood star claims that the Ryder Cup defeat that brought him to tears two years ago fueled his exceptional performance over the past couple of years.
When asked about missing players like Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter, McIlroy emphasized that it’s the rebels who will feel the absence of the European Ryder Cup team room this week.
“It’s certainly odd not having them around,” McIlroy stated. “But I believe this week, above all others, will make them realize that their decision has led to their exclusion from this week. I think they will miss being here more than we miss them.”
Ryder Cup by numbers
Aware that his comments might be perceived as yet another jab at the defectors, especially considering his confrontational stance against LIV Golf since its launch a year ago in June, McIlroy paused momentarily.
“I’m not saying it’s like… it’s just that I believe this week will make them realize that their decision has resulted in their exclusion from this event,” he clarified. “And that’s tough.”
Whether they will ever be invited back remains uncertain. The European Tour and PGA Tour have formed a partnership with the Saudi Arabian national wealth fund, which financially supports LIV Golf. The proposed commercial entity still requires finalization and approval.
One of the topics being discussed is the integration of LIV players with their respective tours.
“The golf landscape is constantly evolving and dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future,” McIlroy commented. “I always thought leading up to this week is when they would realize that they won’t be here.”
Even Brooks Koepka, a prominent LIV player from the US, showed no sympathy for the likes of Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau, stating that they had the opportunity to impress Zach Johnson with their performances in the majors but failed to do so.
McIlroy’s aim in Rome is not revenge, but rather a chance to redeem himself for 2021 by playing the exceptional golf that his Whistling Straits disaster ultimately inspired.
“I don’t think I need to prove anything,” he stated during an interview with BBC NI, referring to his six worldwide victories since his emotional breakdown after being dropped from the morning session on day two and subsequently losing in the afternoon.
“I believe my record in the last two years speaks for itself. However, I think Whistling Straits was the catalyst that propelled me to play the golf I’ve played since then.
“My first tournament after Whistling Straits, I emerged victorious. And if you trace back my performance in the past couple of years, it all stems from Whistling Straits and that incredibly low moment I experienced
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