Rory McIlroy has shared that the European team has been equipped with Virtual Reality headsets containing personalized taunts to brace themselves for enthusiastic American supporters at the upcoming Ryder Cup.

Following the BMW PGA, Luke Donald will fly his team on a charter plane to New York for a two-day training session at Bethpage Black.

In anticipation of the charged atmosphere, the European captain has initiated measures to acclimate the team by distributing VR headsets during a team gathering. Each player can customize the level of verbal attacks they experience, with McIlroy jokingly mentioning, “You can go as close to the bone as you like!”

McIlroy elaborated that the VR sets are designed to replicate the sights, sounds, and noise expected at the event, aiming to desensitize the team beforehand to better handle the pressure.

Reflecting on a past incident where he had a fan removed for making inappropriate comments, McIlroy admitted his need to better control his reactions in such situations.

When questioned about winning over the crowd, McIlroy expressed skepticism, citing the likely American support in New York due to the diverse population. Despite this, he acknowledged the challenge of competing against a home crowd.

McIlroy wrapped up his preparations for the Ryder Cup with a strong final round, finishing on a high note with a 65 and 12-under par. He highlighted his improved performance, particularly on the par 5s, and expressed his appreciation for the supportive crowds in recent tournaments.

His successful finish served as a positive conclusion to his competitive events ahead of the prestigious Ryder Cup tournament.