Rookies face star-spangled Ryder reception

RORY McIlroy reckons the five confirmed European Team Ryder Cup rookies will be in for a “rude awakening” when they get to Hazeltine later next month th for the Ryder Cup.

It’s not that the rookies will have any- thing t o f e a r i n tackling ing the host course in Minnesota, nesota, McIlroy says. ays.

The e big concern, according to McIlroy, cIlroy, will be dealing ealing and c o p i ng wi t h t h e o v e r - w h e l m i n g l y partisan san Ameri c a n c r owd s each day of the three-day e-day biennial showdown. wdown.

And d while Darren Clarke ke hailed his Hazeltine top-nine automatic qualifiers as a “fantastic blend of youth and experience,” McIlroy agreed. Clarke’s team includ included two current Major winners in Masters champion Dan Danny Willett and Royal Tro Troon winn i n g h e r o H He n r i k Stenson. However, Clark Clarke’s side does boast five rookies headed by Willett along w with fellow EnglishE man Chr i s Wood Wood,Danny Sulli Sullivan and Mat Matt Fitzpatric patrick plus Spain Spain’s very in-form Rafa Cabrera-B Cabrera-Bello. “I a m a b s olutely de del ig hted w it h t h he n i ne players whowh have qualif ied,” Clarke said. “They offer not only a fantastic blend of youth and experience but also some exciting partnership possibilities.”

That is why McIlroy, who is returning to competition at this week’s Barclays Championship at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island, which ends on Sunday, could not agree more with his fellow Irishman.

“I have to agree with Darren totally that the nine who have qualified is a great mix of experience and youth,” he said.

“It’s great we have four experienced guys in Sergio, Justin, Henrik and myself.

“Then, with his three ‘wildcard’ pics, Darren is going to need to pick at least two of those who have plenty of experience. So the onus will be on the likes of me and the others in the team to let the rookies know what to expect before and when we get to Hazeltine.

“The rookies may be playing on the PGA Tour but they’re in for a rude awakening when it comes to playing in a Ryder Cup in the States as it will be tough as the whole crowd can be against you and you don’t really get much reaction from them,” McIroy said.

‘Europe the underdogs’

While McIlroy will be making his fourth straight appearance when the Ryder Cup tees off on September 30, he revealed it wasn’t until the 2014 Gleneagles edition that he felt comfortable i n the European Team colours.

“Gleneagles was the first time I felt comfortable at a Ryder Cup and getting a good feel as to what to expect,” he said.

“So now that this will be my fourth Ryder Cup, I guess there will be a bigger onus on me when it comes to on-course responsibility.

“But even though we are heading to Hazeltine to win four in a row, I still feel we are the underdogs as they are playing home, and they have a young and hungry team that really want to win,” said McIroy (pictured, AFP). “There is many among their top-eight qualifiers at present who have not experienced what it is like to win a Ryder Cup.”

Clarke still has three wildcard picks to announce on Tuesday, with all likelihood that they will come from either Scotland’s Russell Knox along with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer or the Ir ish pair of Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry.

Rival USA captain Davis Love will announce three of his four captain’s picks on September 12 and save his fourth and final pick for September 25.