Fresh off an iconic victory at the Irish Open on Sunday, Rory McIlroy is making headlines not just for his golf but for the fire within. The Northern Irishman claimed his second Irish Open title at The K Club, sinking a clutch birdie in a playoff against Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren.
The win, which earned McIlroy $1.02 million, came just weeks before the Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black, and it’s clear he’s already in full battle mode.
That also came through loud and clear in a motivational video McIlroy sent to the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team ahead of their showdown with Team USA at Cypress Point.
In the video, McIlroy reflected on his own amateur days and the sting of losing the Walker Cup in 2007.
“As someone who played a Walker Cup and wasn’t able to quite get it done, and then to go on to play Ryder Cups and be able to beat the Yanks in their own backyard, nothing feels better,” stated the Green Jacket winner, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.
McIlroy didn’t stop there.
“Please beat them (Team USA) because I know we’re going to beat them at Bethpage,” he added, sending a bold warning to Keegan Bradley’s squad.
Though the GB&I squad couldn’t pull off the upset, falling 17–9 to the Americans, the message from McIlroy made some noise.
Meanwhile, Team USA’s Walker Cup win got more thrilling with a surprise appearance from Bryson DeChambeau. The LIV Golf star, who will represent the U.S. at Bethpage, showed up at Cypress Point to support the amateur squad.
DeChambeau also delivered a pep talk Saturday night that captain Nathan Smith credited for energizing the team.
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