"Maybe McIlroy should ask Ballesteros whether the Ryder Cup is an exhibition."

We have our first crack in the armor that is Rory's British press shield!

Mark Reason in the Telegraph on McIlroy downplaying the importance of the Ryder Cup:

Maybe McIlroy should remember who made this all possible for him. Maybe he should remember Seve Ballesteros and his compadre Jose Maria Olazabal, who was yesterday inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Olazabal had tears in his eyes when he said: "I can never compare myself to Seve. He's out of reach for me."

But Seve was not out of reach. He and Olazabal formed one of the greatest Ryder Cup partnerships in history. They made European golf. Maybe McIlroy should ask Ballesteros whether the Ryder Cup is an exhibition.