Rory McIlroy is preparing to play the role of villain in the 2025 Ryder Cup, which is why many fans were shocked by some comments he made about the United States ahead of the tournament.
The Ryder Cup is being held this year at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. The three-day event is expected to feature a hostile environment, with Team USA looking to exact revenge after being beaten 16.5-11.5 by Team Europe in Italy two years ago.
At a news conference on Thursday, McIlroy was asked for his thoughts on the United States of America as a country. The Northern Ireland native called the U.S. “the greatest country in the world.”
“Everyone wanted to make it in America. It’s the land of opportunity, and I still believe it’s the greatest country in the world,” McIlroy said. “If you come here and you work hard and you dedicate yourself, you can be or do whatever you want. I am unbelievably grateful and lucky that I got to come to America early on. I think success is celebrated here. I think there’s a wonderful sense of work ethic.
“I live here. My wife is American. My daughter is American. I have a lot of affinity towards this country and I think everyone who lives here should have that same affinity because it is a wonderful place.”
Rory McIlroy still believes America is the greatest country in the world. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ttwhgTJKCa
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) September 25, 2025
McIlroy moved to the U.S. when he was a teenager. He has made nearly $200 million on the PGA Tour alone and tens of millions more each year via endorsements. You can understand why he has positive emotions about America, even on a week where he wants nothing more than to beat Team USA.
There was plenty of drama at the last Ryder Cup, and McIlroy was at the center of it. The reigning Masters champion is still going to hear plenty of boos at Bethpage Black, but perhaps his comments on Thursday will help soften the blow a bit.
