• Ryder Cup

McIlroy hands Monty a selection headache

ESPN staff
September 20, 2010
Rory McIlroy is fired up for the Ryder Cup © Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy has warned his Ryder Cup team-mates that they will come unstuck if they slip below 100% - and thrown a curveball by revealing that he feels he would form a strong partnership with Lee Westwood.

It has been widely assumed that McIlroy would build a formidable alliance with fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell after the pair starred at the Vivendi Cup.

But McIlroy has given European skipper Colin Montgomerie a selection headache by revealing that he would relish the opportunity to team up with the world No. 3, who has been dogged by injury concerns in the run-up to the tournament.

"I don't mind who I'm paired with, I've had a great record with Graeme McDowell in the past, but whoever Monty wants to put me with is fine - I know [Martin] Kaymer has said he might like to play with me and I think Westwood would be another good one," he said.

"The Americans are very, very tough - they've got long hitters like Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson and some experience as well. It's going to be very tough but I'm sure if we can play at our best we'll have enough."

McIlroy was scheduled to compete in the final FedEx Cup event, the Tour Championship, this week - but he missed out after failing to finish in the top 30 of the standings. However, he insists that the rest will allow him to hit the ground running at Celtic Manor.

"I've done a lot of good work with my coach and I definitely feel I'll now be in better shape at Celtic Manor having been home rather than being over there playing in Atlanta," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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