[Photo: Orlando Ramirez]<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy is gearing up for the defence of his titles at next week\u2019s Players Championship and the Masters in early April, and the good news for the Northern Irishman is that he feels his game is in good shape coming out of America\u2019s West Coast.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Jon Rahm sends private jet to stranded LIV Golf players in Middle East<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really happy with the signs that I saw at Pebble Beach and Riviera,\u201d he said on Wednesday at Bay Hill Club on the eve of the $US20 million Arnold Palmer Invitational, the third signature event of the PGA Tour season.<\/p>\n OK, great. But enough about the golf game of the world\u2019s No.2 player. His competitive prospects are of interest, but during his pre-tournament press conference, the state of his game quickly took a back seat to more pressing issues, namely an event that is 18 months away.<\/p>\n Ryder Cup news has been the hot topic this week, and McIlroy, the firebrand of the European team, was asked to weigh in on both the good and potentially bad related to the team that has won the past two editions in Rome and New York.<\/p>\n On the positive side of the ledger is the return of Luke Donald as the European captain for a third time<\/a>. The Englishman will make history if he leads Europe to a third straight victory when the Ryder Cup is contested at Adare Manor in Ireland September 17-19, 2027.<\/p>\n McIlroy couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s amazing. I think it\u2019s obviously a huge advantage for the European team to have that continuity and that consistency,\u201d said McIlroy, 36, who is close friends with Donald. \u201cI was sort of banging on that drum going into Bethpage. And we\u2019ll have it even more so again\u2026 The team may be a little bit different, or it could be obviously really similar to Bethpage to what it was in Rome. I maybe envision a couple other guys maybe breaking their way on to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s wonderful to have Luke back,\u201d he added. \u201cThere\u2019s not one player or one person behind the scenes that helps with Ryder Cup Europe that isn\u2019t thrilled that Luke agreed to come back and do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Tempering his enthusiasm is his aforementioned reference to the team roster. It could indeed be a little different, or significantly different with the possible absence of Jon Rahm. The Spaniard has taken a mystifying position<\/a> in regard to his membership on the DP World Tour, which is mandatory to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team.<\/p>\n McIlroy finds it difficult to digest the fact that Rahm has refused a deal in which he must play in an additional two DP World Tour events \u2013 six in all not counting the major championships \u2013 to retain his membership while also competing on the LIV Golf League. Eight other LIV members have accepted the terms, but Rahm is holding out, even after the tour waved fines that LIV golfers were expected to pay.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy talked for more than 3 minutes about Jon Rahm, the DP World Tour penalties and the Ryder Cup. <\/p>\n “In my opinion, it’s a really generous deal. Like it’s a much softer deal than what Brooks took to come back and play on the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n “Obviously Jon doesn’t think so,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Mt68elyUQe<\/a><\/p>\n