Rory McIlroy says America is the best country in the world as Ryder Cup nears, after relocation to UK

Rory McIlroy has drawn attention by declaring America the best country in the world as the Ryder Cup approaches in New York, a remark that has sparked discussion about his recent living arrangements. The Masters champion told reporters that the United States remains ‘the land of opportunity’ and that, with hard work and dedication, someone can achieve almost anything there. He also underscored his personal ties to the United States, noting that his wife is American and his daughter is American, and that he continues to feel a strong connection to the country even as the family has relocated portions of their life to Britain.

McIlroy’s comments come as he and Erica, his wife since 2017, continue to establish themselves in the United Kingdom. The couple have moved into a new British home in Wentworth, Surrey, after previously owning a property in Florida. He has repeatedly described his time in America as formative, while acknowledging that his family now spends more time back in Europe. During interviews this week, he framed his personal situation in the broader context of a week that will see him compete at Bethpage Black and engage with teammates and fans ahead of the competition.

On the course, McIlroy arrived in New York with Erica by his side, the pair stepping into a Ryder Cup moment that many players view as the culmination of years of preparation. They were among the first to arrive for the official Ryder Cup Teams’ Welcome Dinner at Hempstead House in Sands Point, a formal prelude to tee times at Bethpage Black. McIlroy wore a dark suit, and Erica wore a sleek black dress as teammates and partners gathered for the evening that is part of the event’s ceremonial build-up.

The timing of McIlroy’s trip across the Atlantic matters not just for sport but for the narrative around his personal life. The path to this week has included a high-profile period in 2024 when divorce papers were briefly part of the public conversation, followed by a dramatic U-turn indicating that the couple intended to stay together. McIlroy has since sought to steer the focus back to golf, though he has acknowledged that rumors about his private life have circulated. "There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate," he said. "Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."

Beyond the headlines, McIlroy has also spoken about his family’s logistical and emotional shifting period. He first indicated in April that he and Erica were waiting for the Wentworth home to be completed before moving in, and he confirmed three months later that they had settled into the property. In remarks to The Telegraph ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open, he described the time spent away from competition as a chance to reflect and to rekindle his enthusiasm for the rest of the year. The Ryder Cup week in New York marks a new chapter for a family that has balanced personal decisions with the demanding calendar of golf’s most prominent team event, and for McIlroy, the chance to compete while navigating recent life changes remains part of the broader story of this week’s tournament.

As the matches unfold under Bethpage Black’s watchful gaze, all eyes will focus on how McIlroy combines form with family choices that have kept him in the global spotlight. The Ryder Cup is a test of adaptability as much as it is of scoring, and McIlroy’s ability to maintain high performance amid a significant relocation underscores the broader narrative of a sport where personal and professional lives increasingly intersect in real time.