Rory McIlroy
Born: 4 May 1989 (age 36), Holywood, Northern Ireland
Appearances: 7 – 2010 (W), 2012 (W), 2014 (W), 2016 (L), 2018 (W), 2021 (L), 2023 (W)
Points won: 18 (16-13-4)
World ranking: 2
Career titles: 45
If finally winning the Masters, to become just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors was Rory McIlroy’s “Mount Everest”, then nabbing the Ryder Cup on US soil would be going stratospheric.
The Northern Irishman won three points in 2012, the last time a side won away. But he was also part of drubbings in 2016 and 2021 – he was in tears after the latter, frustrated with his own performance at Whistling Straits.
In Rome, he was imperious, claiming four points and since then, he has been second only to Scottie Scheffler in world golf.
On the PGA Tour in 2025, he had notable victories at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship, and at Augusta – the latter two in play-offs against JJ Spaun and Justin Rose respectively.
Then, earlier this month, he drained a 25-foot eagle putt on the final hole to force a play-off at his home Irish Open. And amid raucous scenes, he edged out Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren – another example of his clutch ability.
Helping Europe to an away victory would be a fitting end to an extraordinary season for the world number two.
