McIlroy vows to be ready for Ryder Cup after FedEx miss

Phil Casey 07:30 16/09/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Satisfied: Despite missing the $10m bonus, McIlroy was happy with his season.

    Rory McIlroy admitted he was looking forward to seeing the back of his golf clubs for a few days after failing to land a $11.44million jack­pot in Atlanta.

    Victory in the Tour Champion­ship would have seen McIlroy also win the overall FedEx Cup title and enjoy an amazing payday, but the world No1 struggled to a closing 71 as playing partner Billy Horschel won both prizes instead.

    McIlroy and Horschel started the day tied for the lead but the North­ern Irishman’s chances suffered a massive blow when he found water on the sixth to double bogey, while he also dropped shots on the ninth, 10th and 11th.

    “I was making bad swings at the wrong time and getting punished for them,” McIlroy said. “When Billy was making bogey on 10 I thought I had a decent chance and then I three-putt there for the sec­ond day in a row and I felt like any chance I had to win the golf tourna­ment went.”

    Asked about his season overall, McIlroy added: “To win two majors, my first WGC event and give it a real good run in these FedEx events, I’m really proud of myself the way I hung in there and dug deep the last few weeks. When I look back on the year as a whole it’s been my best year to date so I can’t complain.”

    The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles from September 26-28 now looms large and McIlroy added: “I’m ex­cited about it. I’m excited to take a few days off to be honest and then I will gear up for the Ryder Cup.

    “Right now I just want to get a bit of rest and not see my golf clubs for a few days. I want to be itching to get back on the range at the end of the week.”

    However, McIlroy was magnani­mous in his praise for Horschel, and said he was glad Europe were not facing him and a couple of other hot American players at Gleneagles.

    “He was very solid. Today, he didn’t really put a foot wrong, apart from the tenth hole there, and he made a huge putt on 16. A big up and down on 15, a huge putt on 16, and you know, played the last two holes really, really well,” said McIlroy.

    “There are a few guys I’m glad I’m not going to see at Gleneagles: him, Ryan Palmer, Chris Kirk. There are a few guys that are playing well that aren’t on this US team that obvious­ly had a great chance to make it.”

    Recommended