Ahead of India debut, Rory McIlroy opens up on Ryder Cup crowds, future schedule and more

In a career where Rory McIlroy has checked just about every single box a golfer can, he's doing something for the first time this week.

The world No. 2 is in Asia at Delhi Golf Club, making his Indian debut at the DP World India Championship. The field is loaded with talent; also teeing it up are Tommy Fleetwood, Ben Griffin, Brian Harman, Shane Lowry and others.

"India is a country that I've wanted to travel to for a long time," McIlroy said. "It's a very vibrant place. I haven't had a chance to see a lot of the country or a lot of the city, but the welcome has been incredible and everyone that I've met has been wonderful and welcoming. So I really appreciate that.

"I'm excited to play a golf tournament in a place that I've never played before. 18-odd years into a professional career and to still be able to do things for the first time is something that excites me. I've watched this tournament – obviously, it's a new tournament – but I've watched tournaments on this golf course over the years on TV, and you know, the course certainly lives up to its reputation."

"The next time I hit my driver will be in Abu Dhabi!" 🤣#DPWIC | @McIlroyRoryhttps://t.co/Ztf9tD1btOpic.twitter.com/SzK6TORowk

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 15, 2025

Delhi Golf Club is extremely narrow, with McIlroy joking he likely won't hit driver, if at all, this week. "The next time I hit my driver will be in Abu Dhabi," he said.

It's his first time playing since the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he played all five sessions and compiled a 3-1-1 record. However, his stellar play helping Team Europe win an away Ryder Cup is hardly talked about because of the well-documented fan behavior issues, including some directed at McIlroy and his family.

"Obviously it's been two weeks, and I've been following the sort of narrative coming out of of the Ryder Cup just like everyone else," McIlroy said. "Unfortunately, I think it takes away from what we focused on which is what an incredible performance it was by The European Team. Obviously as I'm playing my matches, I'm focused on trying to win my point. You know, you see that the other guys are winning their matches or they are doing well but you don't realize how well they are playing.

"So just over the last two weeks, being able to watch the highlights and just see, especially those first two days, in the foursomes and the four-balls how got European Team were. The Americans would hit it close; we hit it closer. The Americans hole a putt and we hole a putt on top it and it happened every single time. The unfortunate thing is people aren't remembering that and they are remembering the week for the wrong reason. I would like to shift the narrative and focus on how good The European Team were and how proud I was to be part of that team to win an away Ryder Cup."

McIlroy's journey to India is a business trip. Being his first time in the country, he hopes to take in a cricket match and visit the Taj Mahal at some point, though he acknowledges that'll likely happen on a week he isn't playing golf.

With India on his schedule this week and Australia coming up in December, a more international schedule is what McIlroy wants to have in the coming years.

"I would say as time goes on, my schedule will get hopefully more international. Because that's what I've enjoyed doing," McIlroy said. "But I think over the last few years, I've enjoyed it even more. I've enjoyed the travel. I've enjoyed getting to play in front of people that I've never played in front of before. But it does, it fits really nicely."

To close out his press conference, McIlroy was asked about Luke Donald's comments Tuesday saying McIlroy is primed to take over the Ryder Cup captaincy role when he's ready.

While there's still plenty of Ryder Cup matches left to be played for the Northern Irishman, McIlroy's time as a captain will come.

"Sometime, yes. Certainly not 2027," McIlroy joked. "I hope I'm still playing at that point. But yeah, I would love to be The European Team Captain at some point. But that will be beyond my playing days, or at least when my playing days are coming to an end and I'm not good enough to make the team or I make way for the new generation to come along.

"Hopefully that's not in 2027. Hopefully I'm still good enough to play and put points on the board for Europe. So hopefully one day in the future, but I'd say not until the mid-2030s, hopefully, if I can keep playing well."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy on Ryder Cup crowds, future schedule, playing in India