Ryder Cup 2016: Rory McIlroy pockets £9m and wins Tour Championship to head to Hazeltine in top form
Team Europe face Team USA at Hazeltine on Friday
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Your support makes all the difference.Rory McIlroy will be going into the Ryder Cup on Friday £9m richer after winning the Tour Championship, and the $10m FedEx bonus, after a fourth sudden-death play-off hole.
The Ulsterman is the highest ranked European going into this weekend’s clash with Team USA at Hazeltine but needed four extra holes to see off the challenges of Kevin Chappell and Ryan Moore, with the trio tied on -12 after the final hole.
McIlroy shot a final-round 64 to secure the play-off but missed a six-foot eagle opportunity to take the title after the first extra hole before sinking a 15-foot birdie putt to win it on the 16th.
The four-time major winner beat eight members of the US Ryder Cup team on the way to winning the title, overtaking world number two Dustin Johnson to win the FedEx bonus.
But McIlroy was not dwelling on his victory as he threw his thoughts straight to beating Team USA on their own turf.
He said: “Luckily, that amount of money doesn't mean much to me anymore.”
“It is better winning away,” said the Ulsterman. “There is more satisfaction doing it away from home, way more satisfaction.
“Obviously it is great to win at home where it is like you are playing with a 13th man.
“But they are so up for it. It is always important but there are a lot of guys in that team who have not experienced a winning Ryder Cup experience and we have.
“And that would make it all the sweeter to beat them because of how up for it they are. To beat them in their own backyard would be massive.”
McIlroy is engaged to American Erica Stoll, who used to work for the PGA of America, and says she has now converted to a fully-fledged European supporter.
“She has always supported Europe,” McIlroy said.
“They always did a poll at the end of the day who were nicer to the staff - the Europeans or the US team - and every day it was: Europe, Europe, Europe.
“So her and one of her co-workers were secretly European fans. She is now officially a European fan. It is funny how everything worked out for the best. I am so happy.”
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