Rory McIlroy is gearing up for what promises to be an intense week as he prepares to play his fourth away Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.
The five-time major champion is currently with Team Europe, putting finishing touches on their preparations for the highly anticipated showdown with the United States.
The notorious Bethpage Black course will host the matches next week, and European players are bracing themselves for what's expected to be a particularly hostile reception from American fans.
Europe arrives as defending champions, which only adds to the pressure they'll face on enemy territory. It's a familiar challenge for McIlroy, who has experienced the unique intensity of away Ryder Cups before.
Rory McIlroy will likely be heckled at the Ryder Cup later this month
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But it turns out McIlroy's previous away experiences have been even more dramatic than most people realise.
Padraig Harrington, who served as a vice-captain at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, has shared a previously untold story about just how heated things got for the Northern Irishman.
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Speaking on the Irish Independent Podcast, Harrington recalled walking with McIlroy when a spectator hurled abuse at him multiple times near a crosswalk.
"So they said it at the crosswalk so he went into the ropes to go after them," Harrington revealed.
The former Ryder Cup captain found himself in an awkward position, thinking: "And I'm standing behind him and all I'm thinking is if he goes in there, I have to go in there and the two of us are going to be throwing handbags."
Rory McIlroy was targeted by fans in 2016 at the Ryder Cup
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The hostile Minnesota crowd seemed to energise McIlroy that week, as he delivered one of his finest Ryder Cup performances.
He partnered with Thomas Pieters to secure three victories, though Europe ultimately fell short in their bid to win the trophy.
The week culminated in an unforgettable singles match between McIlroy and Patrick Reed.
The American sank a four-foot putt on the final hole to secure a narrow one-up victory in what became an instant classic. The US team went on to claim the Ryder Cup with a 17-11 victory over Europe.
Despite the loss, McIlroy's ability to channel the crowd's negativity into positive performances became a talking point.
Harrington believes there's a delicate balance when it comes to using emotions as fuel on the golf course.
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Rory McIlroy will be looking to lead Europe to victory at the Ryder Cup
| GETTY"I know what you mean, players can play well. I think that's like having an angry emotion," he explained.
The Dubliner offered fascinating insight into how timing matters with these emotional surges.
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"The key here is if I was down in a match, I'd love somebody to shout something bad at me and make me angry, because I'm losing the match, I want things to change," he said.
"If I'm up in a match, I don't want to change anything in my match. I want to keep the emotions the exact same."