Rory McIlroy believes Europe’s preparations for the Ryder Cup may give them an edge over a “well rested” American aspect.
All 12 members of Luke Donald’s crew made the lower within the BMW PGA Championship final week and 7 completed within the high 10, with Tyrrell Hatton second, Jon Rahm fourth, Viktor Hovland fifth and Tommy Fleetwood sixth.
McIlroy, who solely made the weekend because of a birdie on the 18th in spherical two, carded closing scores of 67 and 65 to climb right into a tie for seventh, with 54-hole chief Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka a part of a tie for tenth.
In stark distinction, solely three Americans can have performed competitively because the finish of August after they tee it up in Rome a month later, with Justin Thomas and Max Homa taking part in the Fortinet Championship and LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka in motion in Chicago.
“The Americans will certainly be well rested,” McIlroy stated.
“I don’t think there’s any substitute for being sharp and playing tournaments. The only thing is it’s match play and not stroke play so it’s a little bit different, but I don’t think us playing a little bit more over these last few weeks is going to hurt us at all.
“If anything I would say it’s certainly better for me. I wouldn’t have liked to go into the Ryder Cup with my last start being the Tour Championship but that’s personal preference. I like to play my way into the big events.”
McIlroy felt Donald would have seen the Wentworth leaderboard as “awesome” and was stuffed with reward for the previous world primary’s captaincy since succeeding Henrik Stenson after he was sacked for becoming a member of LIV Golf.
“I think he’s been fantastic,” the four-time main winner added. “He took the job in very weird circumstances I guess but he’s taken it in his stride and he’s been fantastic with me.
“I’m sure he’s had a lot more interaction with some of the rookies and the new guys that are on the team. I feel at this point I can take care of myself a little bit.
“If you speak to everyone we’ve all been really pleased with the job him and all of his team have done so far; the vice-captains are a big part of it and Ryder Cup Europe with all the backroom staff and everyone involved. It’s been great so far.”
McIlroy is probably the most skilled participant on the European crew and will likely be making his seventh Ryder Cup look in Rome, however Donald has made it clear the place the Northern Irishman’s priorities will lie.
“Yeah, he doesn’t expect me to stand up there and make big speeches or say a lot of things,” stated McIlroy, who was lowered to tears by profitable only one level from 4 matches within the report defeat at Whistling Straits.
“But if I can lead by example and be the first one to the team room if there is a meeting, first one on the bus on the way to the course; anything like that where I’m still doing all the things that you should do and not getting complacent, that’s the way I would like to lead.
“And, as Luke said, lead with my clubs and making birdies and getting blue on the board.”
