Ryder Cup 2025: Rory McIlory helping Euro newbie Rasmus Hojgaard tie a tie is the most charming Ryder Cup moment so far

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Rory McIlroy won’t be a popular fella at Bethpage Black this week. He’s the elder statesman of Team Europe. He’s spent much of the build-up talking trash. He’s skipped tournaments, turned down interviews and refused to back down from his claims that, essentially, he’s earned the right to do those things.

But for all the things Rory McIlory has said and done since winning his triumphant green jacket in April, every now and then we get a glimpse of the true Rory—divorced from the narrative, expectations and pressure. On Tuesday night, we got just such a look when McIlroy was seen helping Euro newcomer Ramus Hojgaard learn how to tie a tie ahead of the Ryder Cup welcome dinner. Even the most die-hard yanks will have to admit, this is charming as hell.

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This exactly the kind of teamwork you want to see from your Ryder Cup veterans, and if the Europeans do manage to spring an upset this week, it will be because of road dogs like Rory helping to shepherd young pups like Rasmus. The U.S. team may have the lion’s share of the talent, but when it comes to Ryder Cup experience, the point goes to the Europe and it’s not particularly close.

That doesn’t mean much if those veterans are aloof, operating apart from the team, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. McIlroy is one of the biggest athletes on earth and can be standoffish with the media at times, but this video of him playing the role of older brother for Hojgaard—salt and pepper hair and all—is a reminder of the Rory we used to know, bushy maned and pudgy cheeked. Most relatable of all, however, is the fact Rory went with the entry-level half Windsor … and it still took a few tries to get right. If that isn’t cause to shout “ONE OF US!,” we don’t know what is.

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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com