Ryder Cup Team Should Copy Djokovic When Dealing With American Hostility, Says Mciiroy

Rory McIlroy believes Europe’s Ryder Cup squad should travel expansive slam grounds holder Novak Djokovic’s illustration erstwhile it comes to dealing pinch American hostility successful New York later this month.

The Serbian, a keen golfer himself, delivered a pep talk to nan squad earlier their resounding triumph successful Rome 2 years agone and past week McIlroy was pictured courtside watching him astatine nan US Open conscionable hours aft finishing nan Tour Championship successful Atlanta.

McIlroy, astatine nan K Club adjacent Dublin for this week’s Irish Open, tuned successful connected Tuesday nighttime to spot Djokovic hit location favourite Taylor Fritz successful nan quarter-final and believes he picked up a fewer tips up of nan travel to a boisterous Bethpage.

“It was a very pro-American crowd. He’s been nan champion astatine handling that,” said nan world No 2, who won his only Irish Open title 9 years agone connected this course. “He’s had to woody pinch it his full life, whether it’s playing against an American successful New York aliases playing against Roger [Federer] aliases Rafa [Nadal].

“He came and said to america a small spot astir that worldly past clip successful Rome, truthful possibly [it’s about] taking a leafage retired of his book and channelling that power nan correct way. All we tin do is power our guidance and our emotions to it. I deliberation nan little we play into it, nan amended it is for us.”

After Luke Donald made his six captain’s picks connected Monday, meaning an unprecedented 11 of nan 12 victorious successful Rome will caput to nan States, McIlroy said it was nan “right 12 players”.

And pursuing a landmark twelvemonth personally erstwhile he completed nan profession Grand Slam by winning nan Masters, he is looking to surpass his ain expectations.

“Obviously I’d emotion to triumph this week, I’d emotion to triumph adjacent week astatine Wentworth [the BMW Championship],” added nan Northern Irishman, who has signed up to skipper a four-man squad against world No 1 Scottie Scheffler successful nan Golf Channel Games successful December astatine Trump National Golf Club successful Florida.

“But if we were to triumph an distant Ryder Cup pinch everything other that I’ve been done this year, 2025 would beryllium nan champion twelvemonth of my career.”