European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is not convinced World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will play all five matches when the Ryder Cup commences in Scotland later this week.
Members of the European Team have begun arriving at Gleneagles and with the Tom Watson led USA Team arriving at 10am tomorrow morning (Monday) into Edinburgh Airport.
They will be greeted by Event Scotland officials and not by Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, who will officially meet the team later in the week.
McIlroy is making his third straight appearance in the European Team on the back of capturing two of the four Majors this season.
However after competing in eight events over the past 10 weeks, including ending the 2013/14 PGA Tour season third in the FedEx Cup Play-Off Series, McGinley not overly confident of playing his ace card over all five matches.
Rory McIlroy on his Ryder Cup debut in the 2010 European Team. (Photo – Manus O’Reilly/www.golffile.ie)
“One thing that Rory has proved is that he’s comfortable with being favourite as he was the favourite going into the USPGA at Valhalla and he won,” said McGinley.
“I know it can be argued that at the start of the week everyone was talking about Tiger and forgot about Rory. But as the week went on and the Tiger story died the big focus was on who’s going to win the PGA and it was quite clear there was one outstanding favourite who was right at the top of the leader board.
“And he relished that and finished the job, just like he did at the Open Championship too. He relished the fact he was going out in the last round with a lead he had to defend.
“So one thing Rory has proved in his career is that he’s comfortable being the lead man. He’s going to have a role in the Ryder Cup, I haven’t yet crystalized exactly what that role will be but my communication with Rory will determine that.
McIlroy is no stranger to playing both sets of Fourball and Foursome matches as he did two years ago at Medinah winning two and losing two others before defeating Keegan Bradley in his Singles encounter.
McIlroy indicated during the course of the Play-Off Series ‘I am up for playing all five matches, and I want to play all five matches’ but it will now hinge of his conversations over the next four days with McGinley.
“I want his feedback first and I don’t want to tax him with all that until he gets to Gleneagles because it’s important to rest and forget about all Ryder Cup stuff,” said McGinley.
Rory McIlroy plays all five matches at Medinah. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“Then we can have a chat next week when we hit the ground.
“My conversations with Rory over the last 18 months have been absolutely brilliant. I haven’t over-communicated with him, I’ve given him lots of space. But when we have communicated he has been so into what I’m saying and so into giving me feedback.
“He’s a guy I really respect, forget about all his golf, I really respect the way he has respected me in my role as captain.
“It’s essential from me as a captain to get that feedback from our top player.”
McIlroy spent Saturday night at Wembley Arena watching George Groves defeat Frenchman Christopher Rebrasse to win the European Super Middleweight crown and also the vacant WBC silver title.
This morning McIlroy was a guest of SKY Sports in their ‘Sunday Goals’ program and was then headed north arriving at Gleneagles early this afternoon.
Teammate Ian Poulter is already in resident at the Gleneagles Hotel from where he has been tweeting pictures of the European Team clothing.
