The interest in the topic stems from the impending decision by Keegan Bradley over whether he’ll select himself as one of the 12 members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, which would make him the first playing captain since 1963 when golf legend Arnold Palmer did it.

There may have been a couple motives behind McIlroy's recent take on what may happen for the American side in 2025

Rory McIlroy has spent much of the last decade as the emotional leader and constant on Europe’s Ryder Cup teams, making his future as a captain an inevitability. He said on Wednesday, however, that it will not be until he’s done as a player.