McIlroy finally feels he can act as a leader and be a big noise for Europe
RORY McILROY will not sit in the shadows should he be needed to rally his team-mates at Hazletine this week.
The Northern Irishman has kept his counsel during previous Ryder Cups but, as he prepares to play in his fourth edition, he says he now has the confidence to step forward with advice for his fellow European team members.
McIlroy was a rookie at Celtic Manor in 2010 and then leading European in 2012 and 2014, the latter of which he was appearing at as world No.1. It was in that match at Gleneagles that McIlroy says he finally felt accepted as a team member.
“Gleneagles was the first Ryder Cup where I really felt comfortable with my position on the team and what I needed to do,” he said. “I feel like that was the Ryder Cup where I played like the way I know I can play. Even the one at Medinah, I played okay but I was still a little tentative and trying not to lose rather than going out to win.
“So, heading into Hazeltine, I have more of a feeling that I am now accepted. At Medinah, I was aged 23 and I was No.1 in the world but I still didn’t feel I was a veteran or someone who could raise their hand and say something in the team room.
“That was because of my age and because they were a lot of guys in there who had a lot more experience than I had, especially in that environment.
“Also, at Gleneagles it felt good to me because I had a lot of dialogue with Paul McGinley so I felt really a part of a lot of the decision-making and again, this time, I have had a lot of dialogue with Darren.”