World No. 1 Rory McIlroy now has the chance to become the first-ever European player to record five points from five games with European Team captain, Jose Maria Olazabal confirming he is prepared to play McIlroy in five matches.

Only three people in the history of the Ryder Cup have scored five points from five matches and they are all American born.

Not one European has managed the feat though Colin Montgomerie went within 1/2 point of that goal in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

If this www.golffile.ie snapper would move out of the way we could locate Rory McIlroy. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Now McIlroy has the chance to add another chapter to his already impressive pro career CV heading into this week’s Ryder Cup showdown at Medinah.

Olazabal was asked today in Chicago whether he expects to play the 23-year old double Major winner in all five matches.

“Well, to be honest, I expect that,” said Olazabal.

“You expect that from your great players.  In that regard, in that team, everyone is ready to play five matches.

“Obviously that’s not going to happen, but it is nice to know that the guys are willing to put the extra energy and the extra effort in order to achieve the goal, yeah.”

And Olazabal was asked also what difference we can expect in McIlroy given two years ago he arrived in Wales as a European Team rookie.

“Being a rookie happens to all of us,” said Olazabal.

“Once you are a rookie, really you don’t know you can expect.  You really need to be part of it and to experience it to really know what the Ryder Cup is all about.

“If you asked me in ’87 before I played my first match, I didn’t have a clue of what was to come.  And it happens to everyone. This is a very unique event.

“It’s completely different to a regular event, even a major event.  And I’m pretty sure that Rory has a much better understanding today than he had in 2010, obviously, without a doubt.”