After his disappointing second place last week in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy is back on the grill, starting with the press conference where he reacted to Ian Poulter's comments. The Englishman thus revealed that he wants to one day be captain of the European Ryder Cup team.
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McIlroy, statements
Ian Poulter embodied the true Ryder Cup spirit of the European team in the heart of the 2010s. It seemed almost natural in the order of things to see the Englishman one day succeed Luke Donald at the head of Team Europe.
But the emergence of LIV Golf and the flight of the pillars of the Old Continent have reshuffled all the cards. Yet in an interview with Al Arabiya English, the 48-year-old played his part in raising the possibility of seeing him again as the leader of the European clan, hoping that a rapprochement between the rival sides of mens professional golf would give him the opportunity to become captain of a team he represented seven times between 2004 and 2021.
The problem is that Poulter has given up his DP World Tour membership, making him ineligible for any future participation in the biannual competition. Ahead of this weeks BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Rory McIlroy was asked for his thoughts on Poulters comments.
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I think its difficult because we dont really see them (LIV players) anymore, the world number three said. You need someone you feel comfortable with. When you look at what Luke Donald has done over the last few years, you can see that hes really made an effort to come here.
He played in the Czech Republic, you know He was in Switzerland. Hes trying to get to know the players and make them feel comfortable, and the young guys who havent had a chance to make the team or are trying to get a place in the team.
In his usual eloquence, the Northern Irishman added: With the guys gone, how do the young guys connect with them if theyre never there, if you cant see them? I think thats a really important part of the Ryder Cup and being a Ryder Cup captain.
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Im not saying Poulter doesnt have the skills to be a Ryder Cup captain, but I just think that as it is, you need someone whos there and whos showing their face as much as possible. At the moment, it is not possible because they are elsewhere."
