Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim: "There'll be an urgency"

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says Rory McIlroy is at his best when he feels threatened by his contemporaries. 

McIlroy, 34, has already been called out by 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark ahead of next week's contest in Italy. 

Clark told Golf Channel as much as he respects the four-time major champion, he believes he's the better player. 

There is no doubt McIlroy's competitive juices will be flowing in light of the American's comments. 

But McIlroy is primarily concerned with what Team Europe's players think of him, according to McGinley. 

In an interview with Telegraph Sport, McGinley said the Northern Irishman will be comparing his contributions to other Europeans.

McGinley said:

McIlroy's has won 12 points for Europe in 24 matches played since his debut in 2010. 

His ratio took an absolute hammering two years ago at Whistling Straits but he still trails European stalwarts such as Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal. 

McGinley explained: "Rory will know this and there'll be an urgency to rectify it. Yeah, there is [Jon] Rahm as well, and now Viktor [Hovland], but Rory is the one the team looks to." 

The 56-year-old, who captained Team Europe to a five-point victory at the 2014 Ryder Cup, reckons McIlroy needs to be paired with 'an equal' instead of being put out with a rookie as a father figure. 

He said:

McIlroy himself has been defensive when he has asked about his own Ryder Cup record. 

He has 3.5 points from six singles matches and Zach Johnson's Team USA will be aware of that. 

In a recent interview, McIlroy said: "Everyone thinks they could probably be doing more. 

"Yeah, 18 holes, match play - it’s certainly not tossing a coin but I've had some Ryder Cup matches when I haven't played well and won, and played some great matches and lost. I feel over the course of the six Ryder Cups I've played, I made a good contribution in most.

"Last time skewed the numbers a bit but, yeah it's important to feel you're doing your bit. As everyone saw in Wisconsin, I didn't feel I did what I was supposed to and I'm obviously trying to put that right this year."

The highest point scorers in the current Ryder Cup teams



McIlroy & Rose - 14 points

Spieth - 9.5 points pic.twitter.com/REwXUOEBfL

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 8, 2023

Ryder Cup European top points scorer odds:

• Rory McIlroy 9/2
• Jon Rahm 5/1
• Viktor Hovland 11/2
• Tommy Fleetwood 13/2
• Tyrrell Hatton 15/2
• Matt Fitzpatrick 8/1
• Ludvig Aberg 9/1
• Justin Rose 12/1
• Shane Lowry 18/1
• Sepp Straka 25/1
• Nicolai Hojgaard 25/1
• Robert MacIntyre 33/1

Read more:

• Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup team put on full blast over Solheim Cup video message
• Report: Netflix convinced (?!) Keegan Bradley he made Ryder Cup team
• Matt Fitzpatrick responds to Luke Donald's bold Ryder Cup plan
• Brooks Koepka addresses controversial Ryder Cup comments: "You spun it that way"