The Ryder Cup is getting closer and closer, and naturally, it’s on the mind of everyone in the golf world. Rory McIlroy, for whom the event is of transcendent importance and could mark his career, is undoubtedly one of them.
Speaking about the topic during his press conference ahead of the Amgen Irish Open, which takes place this weekend at The K Club in Ireland, McIlroy left no doubt about how much a potential victory at Bethpage Black would mean to him.
“If we were to win an away Ryder Cup with everything else that I’ve been through this year, 2025 would be the best year of my career,” he told reporters, according to the transcripts of his presser.
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The Northern Irishman, who completed this season one of the greatest feats in professional golf, the Career Grand Slam, also explained why he values winning the Ryder Cup on foreign soil so highly.
“One of the greatest achievements in the game right now is to win an away Ryder Cup … There’s a reason that every Ryder Cup for the last 10 years has gone to the home team. The home team does have a big advantage from the setup of the golf course to how partisan the crowd is,” he added.
The European team hasn’t won on American soil since 2012, when they sensationally took the title at Medinah Country Club. As you’ll recall, the United States entered the singles matches of that edition leading by four points (10 to 6), but ended up losing 14.5 to 13.5.
McIlroy, who was one of the authors of the “Miracle at Medinah,” believes the European team for the 2025 edition has the potential to achieve a similar feat.
“I think this European team has a great opportunity to do that (to win at Bethpage Black),” McIlroy said, according to the transcripts. “We’re all very excited. We know it’s going to be a tough task … we know it’s going to be very tough, but I honestly think we have 12 guys and the captain and the vices and everyone else involved, we’ve got all the ingredients. We just need to put them in the oven, and hopefully it all works out for us.”
McIlroy continued: “I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m also excited for the challenge too. We know it’s going to be a very challenging environment to play in, but that’s what we want. The best players want to challenge themselves, and that’s what it’s going to be.”
The American team has fared even worse playing on European soil. Their last victory in an away Ryder Cup was in 1993, when they defeated Europe at The Belfry, England, 15-13.
The Americans have since lost seven consecutive editions held across the Atlantic.
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