Rory's Ryder Cup comments

Mister Sifter

What's the opinions on Rory's comments about the Ryder Cup? The first sign of a hint of arrogance from the young man? Just telling it as it is?

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Rory McIlroy has played down the importance of the Ryder Cup, dubbing the biennial match between Europe and the USA as an "exhibition".

McIlroy made the comments ahead of the start of the 3 Irish Open on Thursday when he will be partnered by Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

"It's not a huge goal of mine," said the Northern Irish youngster.

"It's an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big scheme of things it's not that important an event for me."

McIlroy also added that he would not revise his schedule at the end of a year-long qualifying race to chase Ryder Cup points.

"If I play well enough I play well enough. And if I don't, then so be it," added McIlroy.

606: DEBATE
Shame on you Rory, coming out with that just before you accompany Monty for two rounds in the Irish Open

Potty Trained
Asked for a response to McIlroy's comments, Montgomerie insisted that the contest "is not an exhibition and it never will be" but added that he would not get drawn into any war-of-words with the 20-year-old over the issue.

"It's a very unique, special event and much more nerve-wracking than a major," said the 45-year-old Scot.

"When you play in it you want to be there again and again."

"(But) Please don't say that Monty and Rory are having a war here. I haven't said that.

"Rory will understand when - and it's not an 'if' - he is a Ryder Cup player.

"He'll understand the pressures involved and the whole scenario of the Ryder Cup will hit him very hard.

"If he's qualified or necessitates a pick I would definitely speak to every player as to what to expect."

Despite his views at this stage McIlroy still expects to "relish every moment of it" should he play and adds: "Obviously I'll try my best for the team - but I'm not going to go running around fist-pumping."

Montgomerie declared himself perfectly happy with the decision by the players' committee on Tuesday night to grant him a third wild card.

Opposite number Corey Pavin will have one more than that, but Montgomerie said:"I got what I wanted. I'm just concerned about getting the strongest team and having one more option might just allow me to do that."

Trampas

Just telling it as he see it at this point in his career.

I say he is more focused on winning tournaments and moving up the rankings at the moment.

Maybe when he plays in the Ryder Cup his mind might change

enda1

Well, you know, he's right.

It is an exhibition!

abouttobebanned

A lot of players think the same as him but feign their reverence for it.

ShriekingSheet

Exhibition my a*se!

Who feigns reverence for it? The guys who never make the team? I do enjoy these "inside information" throw-away comments about the deep personal feelings of tour stars.

What they say in interviews is often just designed to either be either diplomatic, controversial or pressure relieving. Here, for example, McIlroy has probably been taken in some way out of context when trying to deflect pressure from himself making the team. Sure, it's disrespectful to the Ryder Cup, and that will annoy people, but he's got to manage this run-away train of publicity and the expectation that comes with it somehow.

The Ryder Cup is huge. We all know the guys who miss out on a place don't watch it on TV, and probably hate hearing anything about it. But that just goes to show how highly they regard it. We also know the passion these otherwise robotic guys like play with for this weekend. We know that many guys do rework their schedule to gather points.

Harrington told the press he set his goals for 2009, but wouldnt reveal a single one. Why are surprised that Rory McIlroy hasn't replied "yes, it's my aim to make the team".

JJJJNR

I find that amazing, I'm sure Eamon Darcy would disagree with him...esp at the fist pumping!!

scrubber72

I seem to remember a certain mr weekley say before the last ryder cup that he would perfer to be hunting than playing in it and after he had changed full circle so dont go bashing rory for what he said he just hasnt experienced it for himself and as everyone knows only if you ve played in it will you truly appriecate the whole experience. He is right in concentrating on winning and should he do that he WILL qualify.

f22

He should have known better in my opinion, if you don't have something positive to say just shut up, especially as you know you are about to piss off your playing partner this week.

scout353

I think Monty summed it up - Rory will realise the importance and the pressure of the Ryder Cup when he plays in it. He will not decline a place on the team and he will be an important member of the team.

He has played Walker Cup so he knows what such an event means - i think he was just downplaying it in the interview.

BeeSee

he's right to be concentrating on his own career and winning tournaments/thinking of majors. what would players prefer to win, the ryder cup or a major / the players / wgc event?

maybe europes lack of success in majors (bar paddy very recently) while still having quality players who've never tasted major success (westwood, monty) makes the ryder cup the big one for many a player. and i understand that.

you could win the ryder cup not having won a point. ya cant do the same in a major.

anyone remember tigers comment of a few years ago? when asked would he prefer to win the AmEx or the ryder cup, he replied the AmEx "I can give you a million reasons why."

i think the ryder cup is bigger here in europe cause the players arent as succesful for the most part, but this competition gives us a great chance at putting one over on the big boys, and for that i applaud it.

still tho, if i was a player i'd pick a major over the ryder cup


edit:

i know rory doesnt mention majors in this interview but i presume thats the summit he wants to reach and thats what his goals are geared towards, being the best player he can be, winning the biggest tournaments. if ryder cup succes comes along with it all well and good but his own success is paramount

Dante

I see absoultely nothing wrong with that, he said what he thinks, its not like he personally insulted anyone. It sounds worse when you analyse it like this than when he actually said it.

jampotjim

f22 wrote: »

He should have known better in my opinion, if you don't have something positive to say just shut up, especially as you know you are about to piss off your playing partner this week.

He is 19 still a kid for gods sake.. I would imagine the Ryder cup is something he isn't overlly pushed about yet as he knows he has to win and play well to get there..

But give the lad a chance he is 19 and will make mistakes as he learns.. I know for a fact when I was 19 I put my foot in it way too many times

Wobs

He was just asked about his comments by Sky after his round today.

He said basically, yeah it is an exhibition but of course he would love to play in it but his main aim is to win a major and he would value that over a Ryder Cup!

I think his comments were fair enough and he has his priorities. His thinking is probably to play as best he can in tournaments and the the ryder cup will follow if he does.

stockdam

He'll learn as he grows older how to handle the press and what to say and when to say it.

partyguinness

Well lets see..there is no money for the winners, no points up for grabs, no relevance in the world order of merit etc..

It is an exhibition as such but so what...its great and I cant wait.

Berti Vogts

He's just telling it like it is.

Lets put it this way. If Colin Montgomerie was told he could swap his excellent Ryder Cup record for one major title, what do you think he would do?

golf_caddy

The Kid is modelling himself on his Hero ....

The World #1 doesnt appear to rate the Ryder on his radar and if that's good enough for the #1 its good enough for Rors

Marshy

Thought it was interesting Monty said it was more nerve-wracking than a major. Wonder if he felt the same as he was going the stretch in all those majors he came second best in(which is a nice way of putting it).

BombSquad

Fair play to Mcilroy. He's using Tiger, Phil and Harrington as his role models and prioritizing the majors. They've all been poor in the last few Ryder cups but haven't done badly in the majors. Were it not for pressure from sponsors I'd say some of the guys would skip it altogether. It's sickening to see Sky hype it up so much every week. There's ten times less discussion about it on the US coverage.

It looks like Mcilroy won't be burning himself out like Mcginley and Dougherty seem to be in playing a million weeks in a row trying to get into the team.

Rory's superlative driving might make him a good bet for a decent US Open finish at Bethpage...

mag

BombSquad wrote: »

Rory's superlative driving

he hits it far but no too straight (link) which isnt the best game to bring to a us open. heres hoping though...

aarymark

Marshy wrote: »

Thought it was interesting Monty said it was more nerve-wracking than a major. Wonder if he felt the same as he was going the stretch in all those majors he came second best in(which is a nice way of putting it).

Its in montys interests to hype up the ryder cup with the record he has in it.but golf is an indavidual sport and so a player must be judged by their performances in tournament golf first and the ryder cup second .
With all due respect to monty, mc ginly darsy o connor walton and the rest majors, world golf championships is where its at
As a former decent snooker player i was part of manys a winning team but the tournaments i won on my own are much more important to me

Squiggle

golf_caddy wrote: »

The Kid is modelling himself on his Hero ....

The World #1 doesnt appear to rate the Ryder on his radar and if that's good enough for the #1 its good enough for Rors

Couldn't agree more with this.

BombSquad

mag wrote: »

he hits it far but no too straight (link) which isnt the best game to bring to a us open. heres hoping though...

I've heard an interview with Rory in which he said that his driving was his strong point. At the Masters the BBC said that Rory and Kenny Perry were the 2 best drivers in the top 100 of golf in terms of accuracy and distance. The stats don't show how much a fairway is missed by and can be misleading. He might only be missing by a few feet but the stats don't differentiate between that and a fifty yard miss thats OB or unplayable ...

OilBeefHooked2

golf_caddy wrote: »

The Kid is modelling himself on his Hero ....

The World #1 doesnt appear to rate the Ryder on his radar and if that's good enough for the #1 its good enough for Rors

Possibilities wrote: »

He's just telling it like it is.

Lets put it this way. If Colin Montgomerie was told he could swap his excellent Ryder Cup record for one major title, what do you think he would do?

BombSquad wrote: »

Fair play to Mcilroy. He's using Tiger, Phil and Harrington as his role models and prioritizing the majors. They've all been poor in the last few Ryder cups but haven't done badly in the majors. Were it not for pressure from sponsors I'd say some of the guys would skip it altogether. It's sickening to see Sky hype it up so much every week. There's ten times less discussion about it on the US coverage.

It looks like Mcilroy won't be burning himself out like Mcginley and Dougherty seem to be in playing a million weeks in a row trying to get into the team.

Rory's superlative driving might make him a good bet for a decent US Open finish at Bethpage...

partyguinness wrote: »

Well lets see..there is no money for the winners, no points up for grabs, no relevance in the world order of merit etc..

It is an exhibition as such but so what...its great and I cant wait.

+1
Glad to see Rory is not afraid to call a spade a spade and has his sights set on greater achievements.

DU.LLAHAN

when rory does play in the ryder cup what odds would u get on him doin a fist pump?

jimbling

Well, seems like his recent achievements have somewhat altered his opinion on the Ryder cup. I for one am absolutely delighted and really hope he is one of the stars of the event.