Rory McIlroy relishing his new role as Ryder Cup leader
Northern Irish star aiming to guide Europe’s rookies to victory
Rory McIlroy has embraced his leadership role on Europe’s Ryder Cup squad just as six eager-to-learn rookies join the lineup seeking to defeat the Americans for an unprecedented fourth time.
“I have definitely become more comfortable in that role,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “I relish that role. I understand it’s a big responsibility, but I feel like I’m now ready to take that on my shoulders and hopefully lead by example.”
The world No.3 from Northern Ireland comes off a victory at the US PGA Tour Championship that also brought him the US$10 million season points play-off bonus, edging top-ranked US Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson, the US Open champion and world No.2, for the prize.
McIlroy said he always felt more comfortable leading by example in younger days and in many ways he did that by outlasting Ryan Moore to win in a four-hole play-off.
“To see Rory showing that fighting spirit and battling the way in which he did was wonderful,” Europe captain Darren Clarke said of his compatriot. “That was a very enjoyable thing for all of us to watch.”
McIlroy’s coming to grips with his need to guide comes after a reluctance to do so in 2012 when Europe made the greatest last-day fightback to win in Ryder Cup history.
