Rory McIlroy lays down Ryder Cup challenge to Team Europe ahead of US showdown

Rory McIlroy has challenged his European team-mates to become legends by winning an away Ryder Cup this weekend. Eight of the last nine showdowns have been won by the home side - with the Ulsterman and Justin Rose the only players left from the Miracle in Medinah.

After winning back the trophy in Rome, the Ulsterman stated that winning an away Ryder Cup is “one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now” and added: “And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.” Now he is on Long Island, the Masters champion admitted it is going to be “very difficult” to become only the fifth European team to win on American soil.

And the five-time Major winner said: “Basically since 2012, the home team has won every time. But they also have won convincingly. It's been pretty one-sided either way. So whatever team, whether that's Europe or America, that is the one to break that duck, I honestly think is going to go down as one of the best teams in Ryder Cup history.

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“And Luke (Donald) said it in his opening remarks yesterday. We are here and we are playing for history and we're playing for the players that came before us and the people that basically laid the foundations for what the European Ryder Cup Team are.

“But we are also playing for the guys that are going to come behind us, as well, the young boys that are dreaming of becoming European Ryder Cup players. We want to try to leave a legacy for them as well. We have a wonderful opportunity this week but we also understand it's going to be very difficult.”

Before his eighth Ryder Cup appearance, McIlroy said: “I love the continuity of this team. I love that 11 of the 12 are the same as we had in Rome and the 12th has the same DNA as the other one. We've won before. I feel like it's been a really cohesive group for the last three years. We all know what to expect. I think that that has us prepared to give it a really good go this week.”

McIlroy infamously called the Ryder Cup an “exhibition” before his 2010 debut but revealed his view was changed in the team room at Celtic Manor. “I remember Seve (Ballesteros) was sick, and we had him on one of those conference call things like back in the day. He's speaking to the team, and we're all in the team room on the Wednesday or Thursday night. I look around and the majority of the team is crying as Seve is talking to us. I'm like, that's the embodiment of what the European Ryder Cup Team is. I think that was the moment, that conference call with Seve in 2010, was the moment for me.”

Now McIlroy revels in the atmosphere and the football-style chanting. “It's amazing,” he said “And I think, as well, growing up as a fan of football and going to Manchester United games and hearing those songs with the lyrics changed into something that has something to do with you. As a boy, I dreamt of playing at Old Trafford and having those songs sung about me. I just didn't know they would be sang to me on a golf course!”