Rory McIlroy says Europe will head to the Ryder Cup buoyed by the team’s players’ performances at the BMW PGA Championship.
Tyrrell Hatton was co-finalist while Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood occupied fourth, fifth and six places, with McIlroy sharing seventh place.
“It’s great. We’re in a good position,” world number two McIlroy said.
McIlroy joined everyone else on the team in qualifying Friday night after a final birdie, but he then moved up the field over the weekend after rounds of 67 and 65.
“We had a very good day in Rome on Monday, the team has trained very well over the last few months, everyone was in pretty good shape,” said McIlroy, before heading to Mykonos for the funeral of life as a friend’s boy Monday.
“There’s still almost two weeks until the first ball is hit on Friday morning, but I’m sure you’ll ask all the boys who come here, they’re all so excited to get to Rome and get going.” .
McIlroy began the final round 10 shots behind the lead held by Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg, but closed to within two after covering his first 15 holes in seven under.
However, the 2014 champion failed to birdie the 17th or 18th, both par fives, to put more pressure on players still on the course after an 82-minute weather delay.
“It’s not a disappointment not to have won, I’m even more disappointed not to have been able to take advantage of the positions I placed myself in at 17 and 18,” McIlroy added.
“There are a few things to work on and try to correct some hiccups in my game.
“I’m a little quick in transition with a few iron shots and leaving a few to the right, but other than that I feel like everything’s going pretty well.”
