Ryder Cup legend says Europe needs ‘volatile’ Rory McIlroy to upset U.S.

With a long, successful history in Ryder Cups, Paul McGinley knows a thing or two about the biennial event. And the way McGinley sees it, there is one key to a European victory at Bethpage Black: for a “volatile” Rory McIlroy to show up to New York with his best game.

McGinley made the comments in a recent interview with BBC Sport, where he also discussed why he believes that McIlroy may never again rise to the World No. 1 ranking.

Paul McGinley talks Rory McIlroy’s lack of ‘consistency’

McGinley played on three European Ryder Cup teams, winning all three events. He then captained the European team to a lopsided victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. That year, the U.S. team devolved into infighting over 65-year-old captain Tom Watson’s decisions.

At Bethpage, McGinley is occupying two distinct roles. He’ll be an NBC Sports analyst during the tournament, but he’s also acting as the strategic director for the European team.

McIlroy is the best player on the European team without question. The World No. 2 completed the career Grand Slam in April with his first Masters win, adding three other victories in 2025.

But McIlroy also experienced a swoon in his play in the middle of the season. McGinley acknowledged that such inconsistency is a feature of McIlroy’s game, calling it “volatile.”

“Rory [McIlroy] has always been a volatile performer; his career has never been a straight line, there have been loads of dips and then he comes roaring back,” McGinley told BBC Sport.

He continued: “Rory is charismatic, dynamic in how he plays, a risk-taker and he draws people in because he plays in the Arnold Palmer style.”

McGinley also knows that the European team will need the world-beating McIlroy to show up at Bethpage to have any chance at an upset victory on American soil. But he also sounded confident that would be the case come next week.

“One of the things you can always say about Rory is when he has something in his sightline he generally achieves it and generally performs,” McGinley added.

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McGinley questions if Rory McIlroy will ever be No. 1 again

While McGinley is not worried about McIlroy’s performance at an event he cares so much about, like the 2025 Ryder Cup, he also noted the big differences between McIlroy and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Though McIlroy has reached the No. 1 ranking in the past, McGinley expressed doubt that he could overcome Scheffler, who is “more detailed and conservative in his approach,” for the top spot again.

“It is no surprise Scheffler is leading the world rankings and will do,” McGinley said. “I don’t know if Rory will ever lead the world rankings again because he doesn’t have the consistency Scottie has.”

He continued: “Rory’s personality is in and out. He gets a flourish, he’s unbeatable and then he looks like he’s going to miss the cut and then he comes back again.”

Ultimately, McGinley argued that who wins this Ryder Cup will come down to if Europe’s top players like McIlroy can perform their best in front of vociferous crowds heavily biased toward the American team.

“You can have all the vibe, all the preparation, but can the players perform in a hostile environment – that is the question,” McGinley said. “Can our top players bring a massive haul of points, because you win the Ryder Cup with top players’ performance.”