Rory McIlroy denies the possibility of serving as a playing captain for Europe during a future Ryder Cup occasion.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are set to tee off at the BMW Championship, a 7,601-yard par 70 course designed by Tom Fazio, which is being held at Caves Valley Golf Club [1]. This marks a busy autumn/winter schedule for McIlroy, who will also be making trips to India, Australia, and the Middle East [1].
The course, which underwent significant renovations since its opening in 2021, features different grass types to promote firm and fast conditions [2]. McIlroy finished fourth at Caves Valley Golf Club the last time the BMW Championship was played there in 2021 [3].
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry's Ryder Cup aspirations have taken a hit due to a disappointing performance at the FedEx St Jude Championship. As a result, he dropped out of the automatic places for the Ryder Cup team and currently sits at 23rd in the FedEx Cup rankings [4]. However, he expects a pick from Luke Donald for Bethpage next month but would rather not rely on the discretion of the captain [5].
In a more intriguing turn of events, Keegan Bradley is considering the possibility of being a playing captain for the Ryder Cup team despite the challenges it poses. McIlroy, who has declined offers to be a playing captain, highlighted the numerous responsibilities that come with the role, including extra media duties, meetings with vice captains and organizers, and preparing speeches [6]. He believes that the Ryder Cup has grown into such a massive spectacle that the role of captain has become much more demanding than it was 20 years ago [6].
The BMW Championship boasts a purse of $20 million (€17 million) with $3.6 million (€3.07 million) going to the winner [7]. The best 50 players on the PGA Tour are participating in the tournament, minus Sepp Straka who pulled out due to a family emergency [8]. McIlroy will be playing with Scottie Scheffler at the BMW Championship this week [9].
As the Ryder Cup approaches, the pressure is on for players like McIlroy and Lowry to secure their spots. With the BMW Championship offering valuable points towards the FedEx Cup standings, it promises to be an exciting event.
References: 1. ESPN 2. Golf Digest 3. Golf Monthly 4. The Guardian 5. Sky Sports 6. BBC Sport 7. PGA Tour 8. Golf Channel 9. Golf Digest
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will be competing in golf at the BMW Championship, a tournament they'll be playing at Caves Valley Golf Club, the same course where McIlroy finished fourth the last time the BMW Championship was held there in 2021. Despite a disappointing performance at the FedEx St Jude Championship, Shane Lowry hopes to secure a pick for the Ryder Cup team, as his Ryder Cup aspirations have taken a hit due to his current rank in the FedEx Cup rankings.
