Europe's Ryder Cup team
would be "silly" to focus on Tiger Woods as they attempt to wrench
back the title from the United States, Rory McIlroy believes.
Both McIlroy, who took to the Albatros course at Le Golf National for
practice with team-mates on Wednesday, and Team Europe captain Thomas
Bjorn were in upbeat mood ahead of the three-day showdown from
Friday.
Fourteen-time Major winner Woods has captured much of the attention
after claiming a first win in five years at the Tour Championship at
the East Lake Club in Atlanta last weekend.
But 29-year-old McIlroy, who played the last round with Woods on
Sunday and is appearing at his fifth Ryder Cup, said that victory
would count for nothing.
"This week, he's one of 12," he said. "We're not looking at any
individuals. We're just trying to beat the US team. It's great what
he did on Sunday. It was great for golf. It brings a lot of
excitement to the game."
McIlroy, who has won four Majors, said Woods' return to Ryder Cup
action for the first time since 2012 after being a vice-captain in
the US victory two years ago at Hazeltine will have "given their team
a little bit of momentum coming over here."
But Team Europe is focusing only on beating the US team, who have not
won in Europe for 25 years, and "not looking to just beat Tiger
Woods," he said
"I think to focus on one player is silly, especially when I might not
even see him at any point this week because I mightn't be on the
course with him or play against him," he added.
Bjorn likes what he sees around the European team camp as
anticipation grows for the biennial event.
"They are all in a good place and happy and smiles on their faces,"
he said.
"We're pretty happy with everything. I have to say, we're out there,
and the weather is amazing and fans are starting to come in, so some
of those guys that haven't been in it before are starting to get a
feel for what's ahead of them.
"I feel they are in a good place."
Bjorn and his US opposite number, Jim Furyk, will be spending the
next 24 hours pondering their pairings for the foursomes and
fourballs.
"My job is to create a process for those 12 players to go out and
perform their best," Bjorn said.
"Are we underdogs? Probably on paper we are. But we still believe
that we can win. We still believe that we can go out and do a job on
the golf course, and we concentrate on us."
The world rankings - with 11 Americans in the leading 17 - suggest
the US will start as favourites, but Furyk knows the Ryder Cup has
its own dynamics.
"You know, we're coming into a golf course that they know a lot
better than we do that will be set up in a fashion that they think
suits their game. Those are obstacles we have to overcome," he said.
And the US team, although "feisty and confident," are also bracing
for intimidating home support.
"Their crowd is phenomenal. They make a lot of noise," Furyk said.
"When we walk into that first tee and they announce both teams, they
are going to say, 'And from the United States,' announce two guys,
and there's going to be a nice applause.
"And when they announce the two folks from Europe, there's going to
be a giant roar and those players are going to feel that presence,
and you're going to hear those roars around the golf course."