Treffan, Ireland – Rory McIlroy watched Novak Djokovic Trreistous spectators during a victory over the US Open and is ready to follow the tennis lead on the Ryder Cup that is being held in the United States this month.
A hostile and part-time crowd will greet McIlroy and the European team of Bethpage Black for the 26-28 September matches, while the Americans want to regain the cup in Rome two years after losing Rome.
Djokovic had to deal with a similar environment during his US Open Quarter Final match against home favorite Taylor Fritz and used it well, even blowing kisses at a certain moment for the fans rooting against him.
McIlroy loved what he saw from Djokovic, who gave Europe’s golfers a motivating speech in their team room before the victory over the Ryder Cup 2023 about dealing with high pressure moments.
“He has been the best in dealing,” said McIlroy at the Irish Open on Wednesday. “He has had to deal with it all his life, whether it is about playing against an American in New York or plays against Roger (Federer) or Rafa (Nadal).
“He came and spoke a bit about that stuff last time in Rome. So maybe perhaps remove a magazine from his book and channel that energy in the right way. But again, we can only control our reaction and emotions on it. I think the less we play in it, the better for us.”
Rome’s experience should come in handy at Bethpage for a European team – completed on Monday – with only one change two years later, with Rasmus Hojgaard automatically eligible to be the only Rookie in the 12 -man Roster.
Mcilroy used Robert Macintrye – a rookie in Rome and now a regular competition for events on the PGA Tour – as an example to support his conviction that “almost every player in the team is more accomplished than what they were two years ago” and believes that Europe has a “wonderful opportunity” to win a Ryder -Cupker.
“They have a very strong team,” said McIlroy about the Americans. “They go a pretty raw crowd by their side and on a golf course that many of them know reasonably well from previous tournaments there.
“So make no mistake, we know we are against it and we know that we have a long task in our hands, but I love the team that Luke has collected.”
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