Rory McIlroy is very much going to be the key man for Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup but with his experience, it seems he’s also set for a new role.

McIlroy is very much one of the elder statesmen in Luke Donald’s side now and in the future, he’s an absolute lock to be a captain.

For McIlroy, winning on American soil is what he wants. After dominating in Rome in 2023, McIlroy has boldly predicted that the next step was winning at Bethpage.

• READ MORE: Who is Rory McIlroy? A closer look at one of the greatest golfers of all time

Of course, Luke Donald very much has his vice-captains and leaders in place already.

But according to 5 Clubs’ Jaime Diaz, McIlroy is very much set in stone as one of those leaders now.

Rory McIlroy’s new role in the European Ryder Cup team

With this being McIlroy’s eighth Ryder Cup appearance, he’s very much on course to become one of the all-time leading appearance makers.

With that, comes experience and responsibility and according to Jaime Diaz, that is now starting to come to the fore in 2025.

“I think for the first time he is legitimately really a leader. He has earned that position. He has always been vocal but he has always been a supportive vocal. Now I think that he is an initiator of this is what we are doing here and this is important. This is part of being great,” Diaz said.