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Rory McIlroy hopes to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris, but the four-time major champion still has the Ryder Cup in mind.
The Olympic golf tournament begins on Thursday and is being played at Le Golf National — the same venue that hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018. McIlroy was part of a European team that dominated the United States 17 1/2 to 10 1/2 that year.
While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, McIlroy was asked if he anticipates Le Golf National playing any differently during the Olympics than it did six years ago. When a reporter mentioned how the rough might not be as thick as it was during the Ryder Cup, McIlroy responded with a sharp jab at the U.S.
“Ask the Americans. I wasn’t in it much that week,” McIlroy said.
Rory McIlroy on how the rough will play this week at Le Golf National in comparison with the 2018 Ryder Cup: "Ask the Americans. I wasn't in it much that week."
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) July 30, 2024
McIlroy went 2-3 at the 2018 Ryder Cup, but the individual results don’t matter. That is what makes the event so great. He was part of a winning effort and has earned the right to brag about it. The Europeans dominated the Americans again in the Ryder Cup last year, and McIlroy was at the center of some drama during that event.
While McIlroy was obviously just having fun, potential U.S. team golfers will take note of his little quip as they prepare to host the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York.
More must-reads:
- Olympics golf best bets: 2 long shots to target at the Paris Games
- The best golfers who never won at the Masters
- The 'U.S. Open Champions' quiz
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