Rory McIlroy reckons the five confirmed European Team rookies and possibly a sixth will be in for a ‘rude awakening’ when they get to Hazeltine later next month for the Ryder Cup.
It’s not that McIlroy says the rookies will have anything to fear in tackling the Ryder Cup host course.
The big concern will be dealing and coping with the overwhelming partisan American crowds each day of the three-day biennial showdown.
And while Darren Clarke hailed his Hazeltine top-9 automatic qualifiers as a ‘fantastic blend of youth and experience’ McIlroy agrees and after topping the European Ryder Cup qualifying for a third straight Ryder Cup.
Clarke’s team included two current Major winners in Masters champion Danny Willett and Royal Troon winning hero, Henrik Stenson.
However, Clarke’s side does boast five rookies headed by Willett along with fellow Englishman Chris Wood, Danny Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick plus Spain’s very in-form Rafa Cabrera-Bello.
Rory McIlroy at his first Ryder Cup in 2010 at Celtic Manor and chatting with Captain Colin Montgomerie.
“I am absolutely delighted with the nine players who have qualified,” said Clarke.
“They offer not only a fantastic blend of youth and experience but also some exciting partnership possibilities.”
It’s why McIlroy, who is returning to competition at this week’s Barclays Championship at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island, could not agree more with his fellow Ulsterman.
“I have to agree with Darren totally that the nine who have qualified is a great mix of experience and youth,” he said. “It’s great we have four experienced guys in Sergio, Justin, Henrik and myself.
“Then with his three ‘wildcard’ pics, Darren is going to need to pick at least two of those who have plenty of experience.
“So the onus will be on the likes of me and the others in the team to let the rookies know what to expect before and when we get to Hazeltine.
“The rookies may be playing on the PGA Tour but they’re in for a for a rude awakening when it comes to playing in a Ryder Cup in the States as it will be tough as the whole crowd can be against you and you don’t really get much reaction from them.
“Then that’s understandable over here as they will be rooting so hard for their own team.
Then Ryder Cup rookie Rory McIlroy shows his excitement during the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.
“But then our team is looking so strong what with Henrik winning The Open and ‘Rosie’ having won the Gold medal in the Olympics and guys like Danny (Willett) winning the Masters.
“As well, Sergio is playing well. Rafa (Cabrera-Bello) played well last week at the Wyndham and I feel like I am starting to play well again.”
For a third Ryder Cup running, McIlroy topped the list of automatic European qualifiers and while this year’s appearance will be his fourth he revealed it wasn’t till the 2014 Gleneagles Ryder Cup he felt comfortable in the European Team colours.
“Gleneagles was the first time I felt comfortable at a Ryder Cup and getting a good feel as to what to expect,” he said.
“So now that this will be my fourth Ryder Cup, I guess there will be a bigger onus on me when it comes to on-course responsibility.
“But even though we are heading to Hazeltine to win four in a row, I still feel we are the underdogs as they are playing home, and they have a young and hungry team that really want to win.
“There is many among their top-eight qualifiers at present who have not experienced what it is like to win a Ryder Cup.
“So they are going to be really up for it and that is the hurdle Europe have to climb, and climb successfully if we are to retain the trophy”.
Clarke still has three ‘wildcard’ picks to announce at 12.30pm Irish time next Tuesday and with the likelihood they will come from either Scotland’s Russell Knox along with Lee
Westwood, Martin Kaymer plus the Irish pair of Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry.
Lowry will putt all his hopeful Hazetline eggs into this week’s Made in Denmark event while McDowell, who has virtually written off making a fifth straight European Team, will be teeing up in the Barclays Championship and the opening event of the FedEx Cup Play-Offs.
Rival USA captain Davis Love 111 will announce three of his four ‘wildcard’ picks next Monday in New York City after the Barclays and save his fourth and final pick to September 11th.
At this stage, and with the Barclays to decide his Hazeltine side, Love 111s top eight are U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker and rookie Brooks Koepka are set to make the team while Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler are still in the mix.
