Excitement for the Ryder Cup is reaching peak levels, and few are more fired up to see Team USA take on Europe than Charles Barkley.
On a recent episode of Smylie Kaufman’s “The Smylie Show,” Barkley implored Team USA captain Keegan Bradley to play Rory McIlroy’s past comments — in which he said Europe was going to win on American soil — to get fans rocking and rolling at Bethpage Black.
“You know New York is going to be ready,” Barkley told Kaufman. “Listen, the first thing I’m going to do, because they’re probably going to have scoreboards around — if I’m Keegan Bradley, I’m putting that Rory McIlroy soundbite up to start the matches.
“I want the crowd rowdy and ready to go. … I’m playing that to start the Ryder Cup. I want ESPN, when ya’ll coming up to interview us, I want you to play that soundbite. I’m calling NBC, leading up to the match, I want you to play that as much as possible. I’m trying to make the environment as hostile as possible. That’s what home advantage is. I’m trying to get the crowd on my side. I’m playing that Rory McIlroy soundbite everywhere, plain and simple.”
Barkley Says Rory McIlroy’s Trash Talk Can Fire Up Team USA
McIlroy hasn’t been shy about his confidence in the Europeans. Just hours after Europe soundly beat the Americans in Rome at the 2023 Ryder Cup, he made a proclamation:
“I’ve said this for the last six or seven years for anyone that will listen,” McIlroy said in 2023. “I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that’s what we’re gonna do at Bethpage.”
He reiterated the same message in a video he sent to the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team before the recent tournament.
“As someone who played a Walker Cup and wasn’t able to get it done,” he said, per Sports Illustrated, “and then to go on to play Ryder Cups and be able to beat the Yanks in their own backyard, nothing feels better. Please beat them because I know we’re going to beat them at Bethpage.”
Chuck Shows Respect for Rory, Though
Despite wanting to see the Americans reclaim the Cup on Long Island, Barkley did concede he loves McIlroy’s attitude.
“I think what Rory said is one of the smartest, coolest and important things,” Barkley said. “I 100% agree with him. It’s easy to win when you got everybody cheering for you. As a player, I love a hostile environment. You’ve got those 12 guys, you’ve got the coaches, that’s it. There was nothing better than sticking it to ’em. There was nothing better.”
The Europeans certainly face a tall task going into New York. The home team has won the last five Ryder Cups and eight of the last nine. The lone road win came in 2012 when Europe, with McIlroy on the team, pulled off the “Miracle at Medinah,” shocking Team USA in singles play to steal the Cup.
Team USA is a slight favorite (-145, per DraftKings Sportsbook), but the Europeans are uniquely suited for success at Bethpage Black. If Europe does deliver on McIlroy’s promise, it’s safe to say there will be another celebration for the ages.
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