European Golf Players Absent from Ryder Cup: Rory McIlroy Comments on their Absence
ROME (AFP) – Rory McIlroy, the most experienced player on either team, expressed his thoughts on Wednesday, Sept. 27, about the European golf stalwarts who will not be participating in this week’s Ryder Cup in Rome. McIlroy stated that those who have joined LIV Golf will be “missing being here more than we’re missing them.”
The trio of Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and Ian Poulter, who have been part of the European team since 1995, will not be present at this year’s event as they recently joined the Saudi-backed LIV golf circuit and resigned from the European Tour. McIlroy, who has been a constant presence at the Ryder Cup since 2010, admitted that their absence feels strange.
“It’s certainly a little strange not having them around,” McIlroy told reporters. “But I think this week of all weeks, it’s going to hit home with them that they are not here, and I think they are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them.”
Initially, McIlroy was a critic of LIV Golf when the rebel circuit was established. However, he has spoken less about the situation since a financial merger with the PGA and European tours was announced earlier this year.
“It’s just more I think this week is a realization that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week, and that’s tough,” clarified the Northern Irishman. “The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future.”
McIlroy, who is the third-oldest player in Luke Donald’s European team, highlighted the significant changes in his career since his debut as a 21-year-old at Celtic Manor. He was criticized in 2009 for referring to the Ryder Cup as “an exhibition” and “not that important.” In a social media video released by the European team, McIlroy humorously read out those quotes, asking, “who said that?”
“I think in 2009, I was just so focused on myself and trying to get my career off the ground that I felt like I had sort of bigger and better things to achieve for my individual goals and stuff like that, that I just didn’t put any emphasis on making a Ryder Cup team,” he explained. “Until you make one, and then you never want to be off one again. I think that’s sort of the crux of it. So I love being a part of this team. My most enjoyable moments in my career have been being a part of European Ryder Cup teams.”
The European team, led by Justin Rose, will be striving to regain the Ryder Cup trophy after suffering a record 19-9 defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021. Rose, who missed out on selection two years ago, described the importance of nurturing the younger generation within the team.
“You start to get the rookies off to a good start this year at home, and suddenly you start to blood some of the future with positive experiences,” said Rose. “Yeah, the transition starts… But the more we can blood the younger generation coming through, the quicker you’re going to skip through that transition phase.”
The European team will begin their quest for a seventh consecutive home victory on Friday morning with the opening foursomes matches.
