Rory McIlroy fires warning to Team USA as record-breaking Ryder Cup first-tee plans emerge in jaw-dropping images

The Ryder Cup is still over two months away, but that hasn’t stopped the trash talk from arriving early.

Rory McIlroy got the banter going on Friday morning at the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.

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McIlroy will play an important role at this year’s Ryder Cup in SeptemberCredit: GettyThe hot topic surrounding the Ryder Cup is whether or not Team USA captain Keegan Bradley can do both: play and captain the team.

A feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Arnold Palmer did it back in 1963.

McIlroy was asked his thoughts on the situation.

“Hopefully it is impossible,” McIlroy playfully joked.

READ MORE GOLF”Keegan has played great. He’s had a great year. He had the win at the Travelers. I’m not in those conversations and from an outside perspective, it’s going to be interesting to see what the U.S. team does with that.

“I definitely think the U.S. team is better with Keegan playing than not playing. I definitely think he’s one of the best 12 American players right now. It’s going to be an interesting couple months to see how that all shakes out.”

The top six on the U.S. points list automatically qualify, which ends on Aug. 17. Bradley is currently ninth on the list, but he has the power to draft the remaining six, including himself if he chooses.

The current top six are Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, followed by Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin and Bradley.

The official Ryder Cup USA X account posted a photo of the renderings of what will be the first tee at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York and it is a sight to behold.

“This and 50,000 screaming Ryder Cup fans,” the caption read.

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McIlroy and Bradley have a friendly relationship with one another going back yearsCredit: GettyMcIlroy was also asked his thoughts on when it came to different philosophies between Team USA and Team Europe.

“It’s a different perspective, absolutely,” McIlroy explained.

“It really feels like it’s a player-led team in America, and obviously we have our input as a player on the European team, but we do have that one figurehead in [captain Luke Donald].

“That’s important. I think even going back to Rome, when the Americans got off to a pretty rough start, I think because [then-U.S. captain Zach Johnson] gave the team so much ownership, they had no one to look to.

“They were looking at each other instead of having a focal point, tell us what to do. That is something that Europe has done very, very well. But also the players have allowed the captain to be a captain as well.”

The competitive juices will be flowing come the end of September.

The best Ryder Cup stories you may not have ever heard!

In the meantime, McIlroy will focus on the Scottish Open this weekend, before he returns home to Northern Ireland and play in the Open at Royal Portrush.

McIlroy is hoping to win a second Scottish Open having been victorious in 2023, while next week at Portrush he will aim for just a second professional title on the island of Ireland.

Back in 2016 he won the Irish Open at the K Club, but an Open at Portrush would be even better – but McIlroy sees the bigger picture.

“I think it’s a great representation of how far Northern Ireland has come in the last 30 or 40 years.

“In the 70s, the 80s and the 90s, no one would have dreamed of hosting an Open Championship in Northern Ireland. So it’s a testament to the people of Northern Ireland for how far we as a country have come.

“I think my generation couldn’t care less about what had happened in the past. ­Everyone’s just looking forward. My mum and dad both grew up in the 60s and the 70s and Northern Ireland was a very different place.

Read More on talkSPORT”I feel very fortunate that I’m of the generation that I am that I didn’t have to deal with any of that or very little of it.

“It has come a long, long way. People really appreciate when a huge sporting event that the world’s eyes are on that week happens. Everyone there really appreciates that and excited to show the country in the best light possible.”