• Ryder Cup

McIlroy plans to lead by example

ESPN staff
September 26, 2012
Rory McIlroy is happy to listen to senior team-mates like Graeme McDowell at Medinah © PA Photos
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The Ryder Cup gets underway at Medinah Country Club on September 28. ESPN will have extensive coverage of the event - including interactive text commentary, reports and reaction - for all three days.

Rory McIlroy plans to leave his more experienced European team-mates to make the key decisions while he lets his golf do the talking when the Ryder Cup starts on Friday.

The world No. 1 insists he is "one person on a 12-man team" rather than the figurehead of Europe's bid to retain the title in Medinah, but is prepared to stand up and be counted out on the course at his first Ryder Cup on foreign soil.

And the 23-year-old knows he still has much to learn about the nuances of the competition, something his more senior team-mates are better equipped to deal with.

"I think there's leaders on our team who will lead with experience," McIlroy said. "I don't think my role is a leader in the team room, I think it's more as a leader out on the course.

"There are a lot more guys who have played a lot more Ryder Cups than me and have more experience in the team room, know when to speak up and have different views on things. This is only my second so I'm still getting to know and still learning about the Ryder Cup.

"For me, yes I'm one of the leaders on the team, but moreso on the golf course than the team room."

McIlroy has been targeted as the man to beat by members of the US team, but insists he is focused solely on doing a job for Europe.

"This week I'm not the No. 1 player in the world - I'm one person in a 12-man team," McIlroy said. "It's a team effort, 12 guys all striving towards the same goal, and I'm part of that."

McIlroy is prepared for a very different reception than he is used to on the PGA Tour in America, aware that he has gone from golden boy to public enemy No. 1 in the time it has taken to pull on his Team Europe kit.

"It's definitely going to be different. I'm very well-supported over here in the States but I understand people want the US to win and I'm not playing for that team," McIlroy added.

"It's the first Ryder Cup I've played over here and we had such a big support last time in Wales and that really lifted us. We want to try and quieten the crowd as much as we can."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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