From swearing at USA fans to crying on TV - How Rory McIlroy's Ryder Cup views have dramatically changed
Rory McIlroy's views on the Ryder Cup have changed significantly since his early years in golf.
After winning one just one professional competition, the 20-year-old was asked in 2009 about the importance of the tournament and shocked fans with his frank response.
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"It's not that important an event for me," he said. "It's an exhibition at the end of the day.
"Obviously I'll try my best for the team but I'm not going to run around fist-pumping."
But 14 years later, the 34-year-old - who has won the tournament four times in six attempts - was read his quotes back and speaking on the Ryder Cup's official channels, he laughed: "Who said that?!
"I said that in my naivety as a young, swashbuckling lad.
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"I've now been a part of the Ryder Cup a lot and what those quotes are couldn't be further from the truth."
From swearing at USA fans, winning the competition in 2012 following a miracle comeback by Europe to crying during a live TV interview after losing the 2021 Ryder Cup, McIlroy has seen it all and described it as 'the purest competition in golf'.
He said: "Obviously I'd watched Ryder Cups on TV, I'd cheered for the team and I'd played team golf before, but it's just a completely different environment once you get in there and seeing how much it means to everyone.
"It is the purest competition in golf. To me it doesn't get any better than that.
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"You can't replicate that feeling of playing as part of a team, winning and feeling like you've contributed in some way while doing it for other people and not just yourself.
"I remember that afternoon in Chicago in 2012 and the emotions of it when you finish your match and you watch the others come in and that churn in your stomach of watching other guys trying to get it in.
"Seeing Martin Kaymer hole that winning putt - I didn't do anything but it was the best feeling in the world.
"You can only get those feelings in Ryder Cups. There's no other place that we can experience something like that."
The 2023 Ryder Cup tees off in Rome this Friday and we'll have full commentary on talkSPORT 2 from 6am
