Unlike two years ago, Paul McGinley insists there’s no chance of Rory McIlroy missing any of his Ryder Cup tee times at Gleneagles.

Indeed, McGinley suggested that after causing such a commotion at Medinah the current World No. 1 could virtually fall out of his bed onto the first tee of the PGA Centenary course.

Two years ago, McIlroy came within 11 minutes of delivering what could have been victory to the US team in having to forfeit his match in favour of Singles rival Keegan Bradley.

McIlroy had been scheduled to play his Singles match at 11.25am Chicago time, and despite unanswered calls to his hotel room, he eventually turned up to Medinah at 11.14am in an unmarked police car.

Rory McIlroy in an unmarked police car and being rushed to the 2012 Ryder Cup.

One excuse was that McIlroy got his time wrong thinking 11.25am was US Eastern time and not US Central time.

The red-faced Northern Irishman went on to beat Bradley 2 & 1 but admitted it was the most nervous he’s ever felt and ‘would never have forgiven himself’ if he had not made his tee time.

But there’s no likelihood of a repeat of the incident next week at Gleneagles with his hotel room just a wedge shot away from the first tee of the PGA Centenary Course.

Also McGinley even arranged for a small booklet to be produced and will be handed to each member of his team that includes a route map from the hotel to the practice range and first tee, as well as overhead photographs.

Looking back two years first McIlroy recalls the day and then those around also recall their reaction in learning he was not at the course.

RORY McILROY –

“I have a decent alarm clock this time.  And the good thing is it’s in my own time zone and the hotel is right on the course so I could roll out of bed onto the first tee.  It was pure panic I got to the course eleven minutes before my tee time.  It was what the average golfer does on a Sunday morning; put their shoes on and head to the first tee.  But not on the last day of The Ryder Cup.

“I just kept saying to myself if I can stay all square by six then it wIll be okay because I’ll be warmed up by then.  And actually I was two up by six.  It was the best I’d played all week.   I played well and won the match but that won’t be happening again”.

PAUL McGINLEY – (Medinah vice-captain)

Paul McGinley at the 2012 Ryder Cup but says there is no chance of Rory McIlroy missing a tee time this week at Gleneagles. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“I didn’t know anything about what was happening to he was on site as I started hearing through one of the team radios ‘He’s arrived, he’s arrived.  Rory’s arrived’.  I then asked:  “What do you mean Rory’s arrived?”  Someone was trying to explain to me what had happened but it was just so busy getting Rory set-up for his match and before I knew it he was on the putting green having a Snickers Bar and getting ready to go and play.

“But there’s no chance of that happening this year as he can virtually fall out of bed and onto the first tee (smiling).”

KEEGAN BRADLEY – (McIlroy’s Singles rival)

“I was on the putting green and that was the first time I heard there was something wrong but then I knew he would make it in time to the course.  I spoke to a few officials to ask what the procedures were and while there was talk of a forfeit, I said I would be happy to move back so that it would allow time for Rory and myself to play our match so they were happy with that.

“So in the end there was no concern and he played well.”

IAN POULTER –

Ian Poulter during the Saturday morning foursomes at the 2012 Ryder Cup 2012. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.Golffile.ie)

“I was on the putting green and my reaction was hope he gets to the course in time.   I know he came in a police car and you could have almost heard the tyres screech.

“But then he’s the only one who can do that.  I don’t think anyone else in both teams could have pulled that off like Rory did.

“It’s pretty funny now looking back but I know I didn’t think it was funny at the time, including him.”

MARTIN KAYMER –

“I was having a late breakfast when I heard that Rory was running late but then really I could not be worried about him as I had to think about what I needed to do.

“I then went onto the range and they were still wondering where Rory was but I didn’t think for a moment he wouldn’t miss his tee time.

“So he made his tee time and won his match and that’s all we could ask for.”

LUKE DONALD –

“I was first out on Sunday playing against Bubba Watson so I would have been on about the fourth or fifth hole when word came through the crowd he was not at the course.

“But then I thought if anyone is going turn up just 10 minutes before his tee time it would probably be Rory, as I heard he got out still pretty relaxed and seemingly not to concerned on the outside of missing his tee time.

“It was very ‘Roryest’ like.”

LEE WESTWOOD –

Lee Westwood was in the Medinah locker room preparing for his match as McIlroy was being rushed to the course. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“I was in the locker room when I heard there was some sort of concern over Rory but then it really didn’t worry me at all because he’s a sort of player who doesn’t need to warm-up that much.

“In the end he made his tee time and got the point for the team.”

JIM FURYK –

“I was on the putting green and I don’t really remember that much as it wasn’t a big moment in my life.

“I just assumed he would get there but then the first thing that would go through my mind in that situation was a little bit of disbelief that there wasn’t a checking process in place and that someone didn’t realise sooner he was not in a car on the way to the golf course.

“So there has to be an assistant captain in charge of counting players coming out of the hotel or whatever, and when there is one missing you have to say:  ‘Oh, shit.  There’s still one player to come out’.

“More than anything I was kind of chuckling to myself that something like that could happen but then I guess it won’t happen this year as you can walk from the hotel to the golf course.”

PAUL LAWRIE –

Paul Lawrie learns of Rory’s drama from his wife, Marian. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“I didn’t find out he was running late to after my match, so I had no idea at all as I was on the golf course.   I had been on the practice range and he was third out and I was out two matches behind him.

“Marian (wife) then came onto the green and said to me:  “What about Rory?”.  So I had no idea and I was in my zone.  I don’t think anything like that has happened before.”

NICOLAS COLSAERTS –

“I didn’t know anything about it.  I wasn’t told but then I was three groups behind and it wasn’t to after my match I was informed.   But then I learned that there was a lot of the team in shock and concerned, and it was weird that here was someone who had spent so much time in American watching the Golf Channel, and he gets the time zone wrong.

“But then he got the point for the team and that’s all that mattered.”