When it comes to the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy has always been Europe’s heartbeat — but at Marco Simone in 2023, he cranked things up to another level. The Northern Irishman delivered four points, his best Ryder Cup performance yet, and set the tone for Luke Donald’s squad in their dominant win over Team USA.
Now, with the rematch set for Bethpage Black later this month, Donald knows the blueprint hasn’t changed. For Europe to survive the cauldron of New York, stars like McIlroy and Jon Rahm must shine.
The Ryder Cup Partnership Puzzle
Rahm seems settled — his chemistry with Tyrrell Hatton looks solid and battle-tested. McIlroy, though? That’s a different story. In seven Ryder Cup appearances, he’s played alongside nine different teammates, never really locking into a long-term partnership.
At Rome, he picked up two wins with Tommy Fleetwood and added another with Matthew Fitzpatrick, who together claimed Europe’s only Friday afternoon point.
Fleetwood is expected to ride shotgun again this year, but golf analyst Johnson Wagner has floated a fascinating alternative: pairing Rory with Justin Rose.
Speaking on 5 Clubs, Wagner explained, “Rose is so valuable. When you’ve got the veteran leadership, you want him fostering the young stuff… but imagine him with Rory. That’s a duo that could deliver.”
Rose’s steady hand and experience, combined with McIlroy’s firepower, could create a pairing that not only racks up points but also anchors the emotional core of Team Europe. It would be a bold move from Donald, but Ryder Cups are often defined by chemistry as much as form.
History Says Keep an Open Mind
McIlroy’s best partnership to date might surprise some fans: his run with Thomas Pieters back in 2016, when the Belgian rookie racked up four points alongside him. Pieters isn’t on the roster this year, but the lesson is clear — sometimes the unexpected duo clicks best.
With 11 of the 12 players from the 2023 victory returning, Donald has continuity on his side. But at Bethpage, with the New York crowd breathing down Europe’s neck, he may need more than continuity. He’ll need a pairing that can take the air out of the U.S. roar.
Whether it’s Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick, or a surprise McIlroy-Rose tandem, one thing’s certain: if Rory plays anywhere near the level he showed in Rome, Europe has a fighting chance in hostile territory.
