Cypress Point, CA – Rory McIlroy has reaffirmed his confidence in a European Ryder Cup victory, framing a potential win at Bethpage Black in 2025 as the pinnacle of his career. The comments came as the Walker Cup commenced, featuring the next generation of talent from both sides of the atlantic.McIlroy’s declaration arrives three weeks before the European team travels to Long Island as underdogs against the American squad. He previously promised a win at Bethpage following the European team’s 2023 victory at marco Simone in Rome,and continues to express unwavering belief in their chances.
“There’s a reason why every Ryder Cup for the last 10 years has went to the home team,” McIlroy stated earlier this week at the Irish Open. “So we certainly know it’s going to be very tough,but I honestly think we have 12 guys and the captain and the vices and everyone else involved,we’ve got all the ingredients. We just need to put them in the oven,and hopefully it all works out for us. I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m also excited for the challenge too.We know it’s going to be a very challenging surroundings to play in, but that’s what we want. The best players want to challenge themselves, and that’s what it’s going to be.”
Looking back on his accomplishments, McIlroy indicated a Ryder Cup win would surpass even his recent career Grand Slam, completed with a victory at the Masters. “When I look at my career and my whole picture as a golfer, I basically, I’ve done everything I wanted to,” McIlroy said. “I guess everything after that it’s a bonus, but you have to reassess your goals. The one thing for me this year to reassess my goals, an away Ryder Cup, after everything that’s happened this year, would be – I would look back on 2025, and there’s no way that I would – if I did have a better year in the game, I’d love to see it. But if we were to win an away Ryder Cup with everything else that I’ve been through this year, 2025 would be the best year of my career.”
The 2025 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team features Luke Poulter,son of Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter,and Niall Shiels Donegan,a recent standout in U.S. Amateur competition. The U.S. team includes World No. 1 amateur Jackson Koivun, Amateur Championship winner Ethan Fang, and U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. Luke poulter referenced the ”Miracle at Medinah” from the 2012 Ryder Cup, recalling his father’s experience and drawing inspiration from the comeback, should the GB&I team find themselves in a similar position at Cypress Point this weekend.
