Speaking ahead of the inaugural DP World India Championship in New Delhi, the Masters champion and world No. 2 said he’s ready to accept that top-level sport is now a “reality show” that arouses passions from its audience and that athletes must “do a better job of blocking out the noise.”
But he’s still saddened that the focus on the abuse meted out to him and other European players by fans at Bethpage Black took the spotlight away from Europe’s fifth away win in the event.
“Obviously, it’s been two weeks, and I’ve been following the narrative coming out of the Ryder Cup just like everyone else,” McIlroy said at a tight Delhi Golf Club, where he has vowed not to take his driver out of the bag all week.
“But unfortunately, I think it takes away from what we focused on, which is what an incredible performance it was by the European team.
“Obviously, as I’m playing my matches, I’m focused on trying to win my point. You know, you see that the other guys are winning their matches or they are doing well, but you don’t realise how well they are playing.
“So just over the last two weeks, being able to watch the highlights and just see, especially those first two days, in the foursomes and the four-balls, how good the European Team were. The Americans would hit it close; we hit it closer.
“The Americans hole a putt, and we hole a putt on top of it, and it happened every single time.
“The unfortunate thing is people aren’t remembering that and they are remembering the week for the wrong reason.
“I would like to shift the narrative and focus on how good the European Team were and how proud I was to be part of that team to win an away Ryder Cup.”
McIlroy conceded that live sport now attracts a different audience than it did years ago and golfers will have to adapt to the new landscape.
“I would say that deep down at its core, the essence of watching sport, it’s the reality show that we have,” he said.
“We don’t know the outcome. We don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s amazing. There’s very little content on TV nowadays that can actually do that.
“So my sport will always be what it is, and I think the majority of sports fans watch it because of that.
“But look, it’s a big business, and big business and money comes from having opinions on things; and the more eyeballs things are ultimately a good thing, if it can be harnessed the right way.
“But yeah, it’s definitely changed. When people watch sports for the gambling aspect and put money on games, that is something that, especially in America, is changing.
“But I think at its core, watching sport, whatever that is, is still very pure and it’s still pure competition, and I think that’s an amazing thing.
“As an athlete and knowing that you’re going to get criticised for your performances, good or bad or whatever it is, I think at this point in time and in this modern world, that’s — I wouldn’t say it’s a price to pay but yeah, you just – it is what it is.
“I think athletes nowadays have to do a better job of blocking out the noise. So not going on social media. Trying not to read anything about yourself. Easier said than done.
“But I think the more athletes in this day and age, if they can do that, I think it’s better. I think it’s better for their performance. I think it’s better for their mental health, and I think it’s better for their longevity in a given sport, as well.”
Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and captain Donald also tee it up this week.
But while Europe has yet to decide who will captain the side at Adare Manor in 2027, don’t expect McIlroy to take the reins for another decade.
“Sometime, yes,” McIlroy said of when he’d like the captaincy.
“Certainly not 2027. I hope I’m still playing at that point. But yeah, I would love to be the European team captain at some point.
“But that will be beyond my playing days, or at least when my playing days are coming to an end and I’m not good enough to make the team, or I make way for the new generation to come along.
“Hopefully that’s not in 2027. Hopefully, I’m still good enough to play and put points on the board for Europe.”
On Donald, he added: “He has 100 per cent respect of the entire team and everyone that’s worked for him are all behind him.
“If I can be nearly as good as a captain as Luke Donald, I’ll have done a good job.
“So hopefully one day in the future, but I’d say not until the mid-2030s, hopefully, if I can keep playing well.”
