Ryder Cup 2014: Rory McIlroy ‘was in a trance’ listening to Sir Alex Ferguson

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/24/rory-mcilroy-trance-alex-ferguson-ryder-cup-europe

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Rory McIlroy admitted he was star-struck in the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson when the former Manchester United manager spoke to the European Ryder Cup team ahead of this week’s defence of the trophy against the United States.

“I was just sitting there and looking up at him,” McIlroy, a staunch United fan, said of their Tuesday night meeting, “and I didn’t take my eyes off him. I was in this trance just listening to everything that he was saying and I’m thinking, this is all the stuff that he’s probably said to Manchester United teams over the years.

“He told us a couple of stories of past experiences in some big games and big matches, and [about] some of the players that he managed. It was a great evening. It was a really cool thing to be a part of.

“Not everyone in that room was a United fan, and they made that known. But it was very useful, because we got to ask some questions about different things and what he thought was the key element to being successful, and a successful as a team. He’s a very inspirational sort of man when he talks. He’s got a lot of authority and the room just goes quiet and everyone listens.”

McIlroy brings two majors and tons of confidence to the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and said he would relish leading the charge when the competition starts on Friday, but was happy to play where ever the captain Paul McGinley decided was best for the team.

“That’s completely Paul’s decision. I have a job to do which is to go out and win points for Europe, and I don’t care what number I play or who I play with. I’ve got a responsibility just to put points on the board, and I’m one twelfth of a team unit here. I’m going to play the same role as everyone else.”

He rejected the suggestion that he and Ian Poulter were the Americans’ main target, which the US captain Tom Watson hinted would be the main plank of their strategy – although the Irishman conceded Poulter brings a lot to the party because of his experience and results in the format.

“Maybe in this format and in this environment and in the Ryder Cup, probably Poulter [would be the bigger scalp] just because how good his record is.

“I know Watson has been talking about targeting us two but, at the same time, we’re only one-sixth of the team. There’s 10 other world-class players that he has to worry about as well, and they are just as capable of putting points on the board for Europe. They win a match against me, they get a point, no more, no less.”

McIlroy nevertheless will embrace the pressure. “I’m the sort of character that would enjoy that, enjoy that environment, enjoy being in the spotlight, I guess, and being one of the guys that sort of everyone is focusing on. I like that. I’ll embrace that, and it comes as part of what I’ve done this year and who I am. Being No1 in the world and all that comes with that, you expect that and you just try to handle it as best you can.”

He acknowledged he is in a better place than 12 months ago, when his form was wayward. “This time last year, I was coming off the back of a pretty disappointing season on both tours. I didn’t make it to the Tour Championship. It’s completely different, and it’s amazing what can happen in a year. I’ve always said, golf is such a fickle game.

“Whenever you are playing bad, you wonder how you ever played so well, and then whenever you’re playing well, you wonder why you’ve ever played so badly. It can come and go so quickly, especially for me for some reason. But I’m in a much better place this time this year than I was last year.”

He dismissed the notion that a third consecutive win for Europe would devalue the competition. “Even if we win this week, we’re still a long way behind what the US have done over the years. Look at the records. The States won I don’t know how many in a row at one stage.

“Europe has still got a long way to go to catch up with America, and even though we’ve been successful, the last few, that doesn’t mean that things can’t change. But I definitely don’t think it will put into any doubt the competitive nature of the Ryder Cup or that people will lose interest, because it’s such a great event.”