SPACE INVADERS

Rory McIlroy reveals Europe Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington fired up team with video about travelling to space

RORY McILROY and his Europe team-mates have been urged to reach for the stars to retain the Ryder Cup.

European captain Padraig Harrington fired up his side for their defence at Whistling Straits with an emotionally charged video to highlight the exclusive club they represent.

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Rory McIlroy knows the size of the task facing Europe this weekCredit: Getty
Padraig Harrington fired his team up with a video about travelling to spaceCredit: Getty

Only 164 golfers have squared up against the Americans - less than a third of the number of people who have been into space.

And Harrington’s inspirational video - named ‘We are the 164. Make it Count’ - was hailed by McIlroy.

Four-time major winner McIlroy said: “Padraig played a video for us last night to put it into context.

“164 players have represented Great Britain and Ireland and then Europe in the Ryder Cup, but 570 people have been into space.

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“And over 5,000 people have climbed Everest, while 225 have won a men's Major. When you sort of break it down like that it's a pretty elite group, and it's pretty cool.

“We now have this thing this week where we've all been given a player number, as one of the 164.

“I'm No. 144; I think Lee Westwood is No. 118. You look at all the players who came before you, but you also look at guys like Bernd Wiesberger, who is making his debut this year. He's No. 164.

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“It's a small collection of people that have played in the Ryder Cup, and I think that's what brings us very close together.

“That has been one of our sort of big focus points this week, that just being here as part of the European team is very special. Very few people can call themselves a European Ryder Cup player.”

The video was released on both the Ryder Cup and European Tour twitter sites.

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McIlroy admitted Europe start as massive underdogs, despite winning seven of the last nine Ryder Cups.

The USA boast eight of the top ten players in the world, and their average ranking is ninth.

Padraig Harrington's European side are underdogs in WisconsinCredit: Getty
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World No 1 Jon Rahm has no-one from Europe for company in the top ten, and their average ranking is 31st.

So McIlroy reckons another European victory would probably top the 'Miracle at Medinah in 2012' when Ian Poulter inspired an incredible comeback that turned a 10-4 deficit into a 14½- 13½ victory.

He added: “Winning a Ryder Cup on the road has just become more meaningful for some reason. We experienced it in 2012, which from a European perspective is probably one of the best days in the Ryder Cup that we've ever had.

“I'd certainly love to have that feeling again. You look at the world rankings and everything, we're coming in here with a lot of things stacked against us. So I think winning again would make it even more of an achievement.”

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