Ryder Cup: Sir Alex Ferguson's pep talk receives praise from Europe players
Last Updated: 25/09/14 2:16pm
Sir Alex Ferguson's Ryder Cup pep talk went down positively inside Team Europe, with one well-known Manchester United fan more excited than most.
Ferguson spent an hour addressing the team at their Gleneagles base on Tuesday night at the request of European captain Paul McGinley.
McGinley was keen to tap in to Ferguson's experience in motivating his United teams to 13 Premier League titles, and big United fan Rory McIlroy was among the keenest listeners.
McIlroy paraded the Claret Jug at Old Trafford after winning the Open Championship in July, fulfilling another one of his childhood ambitions.
"For me being a Manchester United fan it was the highlight of the week so far," McIlroy said.
"I was just sitting there and looking up at him and I didn't take my eyes off him.
"I was sort of in this trance just listening to everything that he was saying and I'm sort of thinking, this is all the stuff that he's probably said to Manchester United teams over the years.
Stories
"He told us a couple of stories just of past experiences in some big games and some of the players that he managed and it was a great evening. It was a really cool thing to be a part of."
Graeme McDowell, who also supports United, added: "It was fantastic to have Sir Alex in there. It felt like he was addressing 12 men going out on to the field at Old Trafford.
I was just sitting there and looking up at him and I didn't take my eyes off him.
Rory McIlroy
"As a United fan I enjoyed it immensely. He definitely gave us a few insights into things he would say to the lads getting them prepared for the big games.
"It was very inspiring. I think all the lads enjoyed it, even the non-United fans. Even Poults. We had a lot of fun, it was a great atmosphere. He's one of my heroes and it was great to hear insight into a guy who was a great man-manager and got the most out of his team most weeks.
As McDowell hinted, those who support other teams also found Ferguson's talk enlightening, including Sergio Garcia.
"Obviously I am a Real Madrid fan and probably not his (Ferguson's) biggest fan in the world, but I think when you have the possibility of listening to somebody that has been up there in sports and been able to perform at a really high level for that long, it's always interesting to kind of pick his brain and see what things he's gone through," he said.
"It was really, really interesting, and I'm actually glad that I got to... I think we all did, got to know him a little bit better and listen to him a little bit."
Legend
And the talk proved to be one of the highlights of the week for Ryder Cup rookie Stephen Gallacher, a Celtic supporter.
"There's been a lot (of highlights) but it was nice to hear Sir Alex Ferguson talk last night," he said.
"I thought he was brilliant. He spoke for half an hour and then we sort of asked him some questions and he was very candid and very open.
"There's bits that I definitely would take away from it, not just as a team aspect, but for progression going forward.
"I kind of knew he was (a confident person) anyway, but to hear him talking you can see why the players respected him so much. You can see his sort of passion for the game and how much he loves football and how much he loves the strategy and the game.
"He misses it a bit he said, but you know, an absolute legend in my eyes."
