Luke Donald on Rory McIlroy's regretful comments: 'It was a rude awakening for him'

Luke Donald has praised Rory McIlroy as 'a very strong leader' when it comes to the European Ryder Cup team, but claims he had a 'rude awakening' when first calling the biennial contest an 'exhibition' ahead of his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010. 

Some 15 years ago, a swashbuckling 20-year-old McIlroy declared the Ryder Cup "was not an important event for me, it's an exhibition at the end of the day."

McIlroy added: "Obviously I'll try my best for the team, but I'm not going to go running around and fist-pumping."

The Northern Irishman's comments raised plenty of eyebrows in the European camp at the time, in particular those of captain Colin Montgomerie. 

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• Luke Donald drops revelation about LIV Golf's Sergio Garcia
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But as it turned out on a wet week in Wales, McIlroy did try his best taking two points from a possible four (1-1-2).

He also went against his word by giving plenty of fist-pumps.

McIlroy got the Ryder Cup bug, and fast. 

Donald, who was part of Montgomerie's victorious team, recalls it well. 

Scroll down for his comments...

"I think it was a little bit of a rude awakening for Rory when he made those comments before his first Ryder Cup in 2010," said 2025 European Ryder Cup captain Donald, speaking at a year to go press conference in New York this afternoon. 

"He pretty quickly found out, you know, it really isn't an exhibition. 

"This is the best event in golf and he said that, you know, after his devastating -- his loss; he had won his singles in Whistling Straits, but it was very, very emotional.

"It just shows what it means to the players on both sides, the rivalry, the history of this Ryder Cup. You know, how playing for your teammates really brings out a lot in you. It brings out so much emotion and so much passion. We saw it with Keegan a couple weeks ago playing in the Presidents Cup. It's nothing like representing and playing for your country, your team, and trying to do your best for them. It really is -- no event in golf like it.

"You know, Rory, he's been a leader for us, certainly. He understands the importance of the Ryder Cup. He understands that he wants to prepare as best as he can just like he would a major to be ready for that Ryder Cup. You know, he's always a very strong leader, a strong voice in the team room, and he's great to have on your team because of that."

McIlroy hilariously recounted his 'exhibition' comment ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in Rome, where he went on to be the top points scorer for the week. 

Watch his reaction here: 

Donald, who will look to retain the Ryder Cup in New York next September, also dropped a bombshell during today's press conference that LIV Golf's Sergio Garcia and record Ryder Cup points scorer could return to the fold in 2025. 

GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts will be speaking to Garcia on Thursday so we'll hopefully find out more then. 

Garcia, 44, has won more points in the Ryder Cup than any other golfer with a career total of 28.5.

The Spaniard has not exactly turned it on in the majors of late but he did finish third in the individual standings on LIV Golf this season, highlighted by a first LIV victory on home soil in July. 

Many golf fans believe if Garcia does return to the DP World Tour in 2025 then he would have a very good chance of making Donald's 12-man team given his current form and most importantly his Ryder Cup experience. 

LIV Golf duo and Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were recently let back onto the DP World Tour as a result of appealing their fines for having joined the Saudi-bankrolled circuit earlier this season.

Hatton won last week's Dunhill Links to become the first player in history to win the iconic DP World Tour event three times. 

Rahm lost out in a playoff on home soil at the Open de Espana last month before picking up another top-10 finish at the Dunhill Links.

Both players, you would anticipate, will walk into Donald's team even if they require a pick next September. 

Elsewhere during today's Ryder Cup press conference, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley offered a predictable response to a crucial question.

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