"McIlroy urges Ryder Cup team to follow Djokovic's lead against US hostility"

Rory McIlroy Suggests Europe’s Ryder Cup Team Can Learn from Novak Djokovic’s Approach

Rory McIlroy thinks Europe’s Ryder Cup team could take inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s ability to handle intense atmospheres as they prepare to face a spirited crowd in New York later this month.

Djokovic, who enjoys golf, spoke to the team before their decisive win in Rome two years ago. Last week, McIlroy was seen watching the Serbian tennis star at the US Open shortly after finishing the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

This week, while competing in the Irish Open at the K Club near Dublin, McIlroy watched Djokovic defeat the American hopeful Taylor Fritz in their quarter-final match at Flushing Meadows. The world’s second-ranked golfer believes there are valuable lessons to take from Djokovic before Europe’s visit to the lively Bethpage course.

“The crowd was strongly in favor of the American,” McIlroy said, referencing his sole Irish Open victory on the same course nine years ago. “He’s mastered dealing with that kind of pressure. He’s faced it his entire career, whether it’s against an American in New York or against Roger [Federer] or Rafa [Nadal].”

“He discussed some of that with us before Rome, so maybe we can learn from him and use that energy positively. All we can control is how we react and manage our emotions. The less we engage with it, the better for us.”

Following Luke Donald’s announcement of six captain’s picks on Monday, 11 out of the 12 players from Europe’s winning Rome squad will return for the upcoming contest—a first in tournament history. McIlroy called it the “right group.” After a standout season where he completed the career grand slam by winning the Masters, he is now aiming even higher.

“Of course, I’d love to win this week and next at Wentworth,” said McIlroy, who is set to captain a four-player team against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in December’s Golf Channel Challenge in Florida.