
via Imago
Image Courtesy: IMAGO

via Imago
Image Courtesy: IMAGO
It’s hard to imagine Europe’s Ryder Cup team without Rory McIlroy. He has been the beating heart for the blue and yellow squad ever since his debut in 2010. And over the years, his role has evolved from an eager rookie to that of the team’s talisman. Isn’t that why he burnt most of the Bethpage Black bullying during this year’s Ryder Cup? The point is, he is going to stay part of the team, atleast for a while now. And if one were to take his words, he would love to be a captain too. But his desiring age might be questionable.
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McIlroy was recently in India, teeing off for the DP World India Championship. When asked about the Ryder Cup, the Northern Irishman was quick to say that he would love to captain the team one day, but that won’t come before the mid-2030s. Now this has certainly raised some eyebrows as Phil Landes and Chris Solomon from the No Laying Up Podcast expressed their skepticism about the same. “That honestly still feels a little early to me,” says Solomon. “How long does Rory’s career last? I mean, we’re talking about one of the great talents of our generation. I don’t think he’ll be done in 10 years.”
One look at Rory McIlroy’s record will prove Solomon’s point. Across eight appearances in the Ryder Cup, he has compiled an impressive match record of 16 wins, 13 losses, and 4 ties, which totals to 18 points overall. His most notable performance was in 2023, where he posted a 4-1-0 record, making him Europe’s top points scorer. Even this year, he gave an impressive record of 3-1-1, that too amidst a hostile atmosphere. This proves that McIlroy’s mental strength is on par, and the fact that he has avoided any major injuries further helps.
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“I don’t think he’ll not [be] one of the 12 best Europeans in 10 years, and how integral he is to the glue of that team and how he has, you know, without patting himself on the back for it, has been like the savvy of the generation,” Solomon further added.
Solomon’s feelings were particularly backed by his example of Justin Rose, who was a part of this year’s Ryder Cup. Rose, who will be turning 45 in a few months, was playing in his seventh event and secured a record of 2-1-0. Solomon thinks that with this record, Rose will still be looking to earn a place two years later, at the Ryder Cup 2027. So, if he could play in the Ryder Cup nearing his 50s, then why can’t McIlroy?
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But the most striking example that Solomons and Landes used was that of Phil Mickelson.
“I do think Rory’s the type of guy, like if he’s committed and motivated to be playing…there’s no reason he’s not going to be one of the 12 best Europeans. And truly, you know, could have shots at major championships. I mean, a guy like Phil Mickelson won the PGA at age what, 50, 51?” points Landes.
Mickelson, who is now with LIV, has a career longevity that defies conventional expectations. He won the 2021 PGA Championship at 50 years, 11 months, and days, becoming the oldest major champion in the sport’s 161-year history. That victory was only the second time a player won a major more than 30 years after their first (his first PGA Tour win came in 1991). Even after joining the Senior Tour, Mickelson was quick to grab 4 victories from his 6 starts.
And although some might say that the PGA Tour is tougher than LIV, Mickelson’s performance at the Saudi-backed league, considering his age (he’s currently 55), is beyond impressive. In the 13 events he played this year, he had 3 top-10 finishes and 7 top-20 finishes. He did not miss a cut and delivered the top result in LIV Hong Kong (3rd), Miami (6th), and Virginia (4th).
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And so if Phil can keep going at his age, so can McIlroy. McIlroy has always focused on his fitness, just like Mickelson. And if he wants to captain, he can while playing. But all the debate goes down the drain if it is not something he willingly wants to do.
Rory McIlroy’s big no to Ryder Cup playing captaincy
Part reason this debate came up is that it is unusual for a Ryder Cup captain to be a part of the playing team. It was done just once before, by Arnold Palmer. Keegan Bradley came close to doing it this time, but made a wise decision not to, heeding the critics. McIlroy, on the other hand, has shared his skepticism about captaining the team while being a part of the play group.
“I’ve been asked to do that [Ryder Cup captaincy] and I’ve turned it down. The idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon has come up, and I’ve shot it down straight away,” he said a few months back. “I don’t think you can do it.”
This is part of the broader desire of McIlroy, who is set to detach himself from competitive golf after a certain age. Just earlier this year, he completely refused the idea of playing on the Senior Tour.
“Absolutely not,” he said with a smile. “I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.”
So, none of the stats and comparisons would work if the man himself has no desire to play. It is not that he would not be able to perform and compete well, but it’s just that McIlroy wants to walk away from golf while he is still in his prime. He might be fit enough and talented enough to be a part of that 12-member squad, but that is not something on his wishlist.
“I thought Rory could certainly be playing world-class golf at that age. As you said, though, it’s going to be up to him whether he really wants to keep up with the full-time grind of professional golf. If anything, maybe he’s telling us like, ‘Hey, I got about 10 years left of like really playing and then I’d like to start transitioning to other things,'” concludes Phil Landes.
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