McIlroy finished top of both qualifying lists by a massive margin thanks to a brilliant season which saw him win the BMW PGA Championship in May and then record three victories in succession in the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA Championship.
Famously described the Ryder Cup as “an exhibition” the year before making his debut in 2010, but has changed his opinion since the narrow victories at Celtic Manor and Medinah, where he beat Keegan Bradley in the singles despite only arriving at the course with minutes to spare.
Player stats
Nation: Northern Ireland
Age: 25
Caps: 2 (2010, 2012).
Record: W4 L3 H2
Majors: 4 (2011 US Open, 2012 US PGA, 2014 Open, 2014 US PGA).
