Brian Keogh on Rory & Ryder Cup 2014

By Brian Keogh of Irish Golf Desk

Rory McIlroy has one reaction to Tom Watson’s call to take him (and Ian Poulter) down in the Ryder Cup – bring it on.

After hitting balls on a barge on the Thames in a promotion for one of his sponsors, Santander, McIlroy spoke to members of the media, including the Daily Mail, The Times, BBC and Sky.

He welcomes the responsibility to leading Europe from the front as world No1 and explained that he’s still close to Graeme McDowell despite their involvement in his court battle with Horizon Sports Management.

“I’d love to play with G-Mac,” McIlroy told the Mail. “I think everyone can see the chemistry we have together and there’s no reason why it can’t be the same this time. This whole thing about our friendship has been blown up so much. We were both playing in Denver two weeks ago and went out to dinner together. There’s no problem between us.”

That battle goes on but next week, McIlroy will be expected to lead Europe by winning points — a reprisal of the Tiger Woods role, but in blue. The opposition will be trying to do what Europe did so well for years and deny the Holwyood star and damage Europe’s morale.

McIlroy is aware he’ll be under pressure but he is taking a “get me if you can” attitude.

McIlroy is not quite in the Woods league just yet, as he acknowledged to The Times’ Rick Broadbent when asked if he’s the Lionel Messi of golf.

“I don’t need another year like this one,” he says. “I need another ten.”

That is if he is to reach his stated aim of becoming “one of the best that’s ever played”. On a pontoon beneath Tower Bridge, he is swinging with one of the worst, Boris Johnson, the messy of golf. The stunt is to launch Santander’s 123 World. This is McIlroy’s life now.