McIlroy is a ‘marked man’, says Furyk

Ryder Cup star insists world No.1 Rory is the man to watch at Medinah

Watch out, Rory: Jim Furyk says stopping Rory McIlroy will be vital to America’s Ryder Cup prospects

American Ryder Cup star Jim Furyk has said that Rory McIlroy will be a ‘marked man’ during next week’s match at Medinah Country Club.

Furyk, who will play in his eighth Ryder Cup this year after receiving one of captain Davis Love III’s four wildcards, insisted that taking down the Northern Irishman will be one of the American team’s main objectives as they seek to regain the famous gold trophy.

“Obviously, is a marked man,” said Furyk ahead of the FedEx Cup finale, the Tour Championship, taking place in Atlanta this week. “He’s the number one player in the world. He’s going to garner all the attention, as well he should.  He’s played phenomenal this year. Won the PGA by eight shots or whatever it was. Won his last two events, and no matter how he plays here at the Tour Championship, he is right now the present day Tiger Woods where everyone’s eyes are on him.

“I know how much the Ryder Cup means to both sides. The Europeans always get up. They’re always excited. The fans are loud. They’re boisterous. We know it means a lot to them, so it’s not going to be difficult for Rory to flip the switch and go into the Ryder Cup.  it’s a whole new dynamic, a whole different type of game in matchplay. But he’s the best player in the world right now, and he’s going to be the toughest guy to beat.”

Of his own participation in the match, Furyk said he doesn’t feel any extra pressure to perform and justify captain Love’s decision to give him one of his picks.

“I think this is the first time on any of those teams where I’ve been a captain’s selection,” said the 42-year-old. “I feel like those selections were made not only by Davis and the assistants, but the eight guys that had qualified for the team. They helped pick the guys they wanted to form their team and wanted them to be part of the 12.

“Once the matches have started, I’ve never looked back and said, ‘Well, your captain picked these four guys, I wonder how they’ve played.’  I feel just as much a part whether I qualified in the top eight or was chosen. It feels good that the team and captain put trust in me and my game.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered