Rory McIlroy said Europe was given “extra fire in the belly” to seal Ryder Cup victory, following what he believed was a “disrespect” towards her from American caddy Joe LaCava.
McIlroy, 34, played a key role in Europe’s victory over the United States in Rome.
It came after an argument between McIlroy and LaCava over the American’s on-course celebrations that continued in a parking lot.
“I don’t think it just motivated me, it motivated the whole team,” McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
“We didn’t feel respected on that last green [on Saturday]. We wanted to go out and hurt them. »
After winning his first three matches at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, McIlroy lost his match in four balls on Saturday and was involved in an angry exchange with Patrick Cantlay’s LaCava caddy during his celebrations on the 18th green.
The four-time major winner was furious after LaCava continued to celebrate a brilliant Cantlay putt close to the Northern Irishman, who was setting up his own effort to potentially halve a tense match.
But McIlroy says he returned to class on Sunday in a “great frame of mind”, helped by reading the meditation books of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
“I felt like I used it to my advantage and came away with a different level of focus and determination and in a way it gave a little fire in the belly to everyone the team,” he said.
“Leaving the 18th yesterday was the biggest anger of my career. I told the American guys that I found what happened shameful. I said it clearly.
“But I needed to calm down. I could have let it lead me down the wrong path, but I let it focus me.”
How McIlroy always wanted ‘redemption, not revenge’
McIlroy fought back tears of joy rather than disappointment after a career-best performance in the biennial men’s team event, which Europe won 16½-11½ on Sunday.
The world number two claimed a 3&1 singles victory over American opponent Sam Burns to secure four matches in the competition for the first time.
McIlroy felt he let his teammates down in their 2021 Ryder Cup defeat at Whistling Straits after suffering three heavy defeats before beating Xander Schauffele in singles.
He later broke down in tears during a television interview and said he could not wait for a chance at redemption in Rome.
“It’s my best performance at the Ryder Cup so far, and I needed it,” McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
“I knew I needed it this week because, frankly, my performance at Whistling Straits was not what I expected of myself.
“This week I can leave here with my head held high and feeling like I did everything I could for the European team.”
Later in his press conference, McIlroy said he was not the only member of the European team who desperately wanted to atone for the crushing defeat in Wisconsin two years ago.
“The score – 19-9 – hurt, really,” McIlroy added. “Personally, I didn’t feel like I gave my best and I didn’t feel like I did my part for the team.
“There were a few of us here on this team that wanted to come back and, although everyone at the start of the week was talking about ‘do you want revenge’, it wasn’t about revenge.
“It was about redemption and showing what we could do.”