WORLD CUP:RORY McILROY said winning the World Cup for Ireland with his good friend Graeme McDowell this week would be an "awesome" way to end a brilliant season.
The two Ulstermen fired a 14-under-par 58 to take a three-shot lead after the first-round fourballs on Thursday, the perfect way for McIlroy to show he was over the disappointment of narrowly losing the race to be Europe’s number one last week.
“I got over it by the time I woke up on Monday morning to be honest,” the 20-year-old told reporters. “I’m looking back at it now, and I’ve had a great season. I mean, it’s been brilliant. It’s been a great, almost like a breakthrough, year. Twelve top-fives, a win, played well in the majors and everything.
“This was a week obviously I wanted to do well because I’m playing with Graeme and it would be great to win together. It would be awesome.”
Although separated by a decade in age, the two players clearly have a close relationship, fostered when McDowell took McIlroy under his wing when he joined the European Tour and continued through frequent practice rounds together.
“We just don’t play for money any more because he beats me all the time,” joked McDowell, adding that he considered the younger man a “phenomenon”.
McIlroy and McDowell are representing the whole island this week under the auspices of the Golfing Union of Ireland.
“It’s obviously a very sensitive issue,” said McDowell (30). “I’m not really sure of the history of why certain sports are two separate teams and golf is an all-Ireland team.
“When I grew up I wanted to play golf for Ireland and I wanted to wear the green blazer.
“I hate what politics has done to the country really, in a way, you want to get as far away as possible from that. It’s an honour to represent Ireland and an honour to represent your country doing anything.”
If McIlroy were to take part when golf makes its return to the Olympics at the 2016 Summer Games, however, it would almost certainly be as part of the British team.
The prospect of teeing off in Rio de Janeiro is something the world number 10 finds appealing.
“I think golf’s inclusion in the Olympics has been great for the sport,” he said.
“It would be a great honour to play in the Olympics one day, for whoever that may be.”
And after winning three out of four matches in September as Britain and Ireland claimed the Vivendi Trophy, Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie certainly has a firm contender for a pairing at Celtic Manor next year.
Each contributed seven shots to the impressive 14-under par total, which was just one shot shy of the World Cup fourballs record.
The eagle three from world number 10 McIlroy at the heavily bunkered par-five 15th was the highlight as the 20-year-old reaped the rewards for his big-hitting style.
