Rory McIlroy: 'It's getting tougher to win Ryder Cup on the road'

There is concern in some quarters that the Ryder Cup has become the domain of home wins.  “It’s going to go more and more like that,” says McIlroy. 

READY TO FLY: Shane Lowry, Bernd Wiesberger, Tommy Fleetwood, captain Padraig Harrington, Tyrrell Hatton, and Lee Westwood of Team Europe walk to the gate with the Ryder Cup trophy before departing Heathrow Airport yesterday, bound for the US. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

When Rory McIlroy used a devilish pre-Masters poser about voting rights to brand the United States “the best country in the world”, it was easy to sense another blow to the once ferocious rivalry as existed in the Ryder Cup. How could McIlroy and other Florida residents, representing Europe for one week every two years, possibly feel antipathy towards their adopted home?

Perfectly easily, as it transpires. McIlroy expands on his “best country” remark by pointing to the convenience of life for someone in his “fortunate” sporting position. McIlroy admires this “land of opportunity.”