Rory McIlroy embraces Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe on the 18th green after finishing their practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Sergio Garcia – gone. Ian Poulter – gone. Lee Westwood – gone.
He might not be the oldest player on the roster – Justin Rose at 43 is – but this is Rory McIlroy’s team.
This will be the seventh time he puts on the Blue and Yellow, and now he has to take the reins.
Across McIlroy’s first six appearances, he’s gone 12-12-4 and 3-2-1 in Sunday singles. Nothing to turn your nose up at, but probably not good enough in his eyes.
The record took a beating two years ago at Whistling Straits, a week that saw McIlroy go 1-3-0 – his only win coming Sunday against Xander Schauffele – and being benched for the first time in his Ryder Cup career as he watched Saturday foursomes from the sidelines.
He gave an emotional interview afterward, letting fans across the globe know what this event means to him. The difference this time around is he’s coming into the week in fantastic form.
Since tying for 47th at the Wells Fargo Championship in early May, McIlroy has made 12 worldwide starts. He’s finished outside the top 10 once – T-16 at the Irish Open – and added a stellar come-from-behind win at the Scottish Open.
Rome is the perfect opportunity for McIlroy to put the world on notice.
This is just one of five burning questions about the Ryder Cup we’re dying to get answers for this weekend.
— Riley Hamel
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