RORY McILROY wants to star as Rocky VIII after his latest Ryder Cup triumph and land a KO blow on America in 2025.
Justin Rose revealed McIlroy has been dubbed ‘Rocky’ by his Europe pals for kicking off in a car park as tempers boiled over following his fourball defeat on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy warned Team USA that Europe are out for more at the Ryder Cup
McIlroy helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in Rome
The Holywood hotshot, 34, was filmed letting rip at US caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay before being bundled into a waiting vehicle by team-mate Shane Lowry. McIlroy is celebrating a 16½-11½ win at his seventh Ryder Cup by calling on Team Europe to spank the Yanks at New York in two years’ time.
He said: “I texted Bones this morning. He was the first American I saw after I got out of the locker room, so he was the one that took the brunt of it.
“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I texted Bones this morning and apologised for that.
“I’ve said this for the last probably six or seven years to anyone that will listen: I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.”
World No 2 McIlroy was furious with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava for blocking his lie and waving his cap in celebration before the match was over.
McIlroy said: “I was hot coming out of that match. I was pretty angry. I didn’t agree with what happened on 18 but I think I let it fuel the fire today and it focused me and I was able to go out there and get my point.
“It was directed at Joe but said at Bones. But Joe wasn’t there. We talked about it as a team last night. We felt it was disrespectful.”
McIlroy revealed how Lowry ordered him into an ice bath at Team Europe’s hotel to cool him down after his incredible bust-up.
He recovered to win his singles match against rookie Sam Burns to end his seventh Ryder Cup with a victory to wipe out memories of a record 19-9 defeat two years ago.
McIlroy said: “He took me down to the cold plunge in the hotel and let me cool off. I’m not a scrapper but can be if I have to.
“I made sure it focused me. I read a few quotes from the great Marcus Aurelius.
“I just thought as a former emperor of Rome and as we are in Rome, it would be a good time to revisit some of his thoughts.”
America mounted a late charge in the final-day singles until Tommy Fleetwood ensured the decisive half point when opponent Rickie Fowler conceded a putt on the 16th green.
England’s Fleetwood went on to win 3&1 and said: “I did see how tight it was getting. I was more relieved than anything.”
Europe skipper Luke Donald, 45, is now undefeated as a player and as a captain in golf’s biggest team event.
He said: “At one point I was looking at the board trying to figure out how we get to 14½ points but in the end we got there easily.”
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