Rory McIlroy tells BBC Sport that if Europe can beat the USA in this week's Ryder Cup it would represent one of the "greatest accomplishments" of his career.

The five-time major winner is part of the European team for the eighth time.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Bethpage Black

"Bring on Bethpage!"

"One of the big accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that's what we're going to do at Bethpage," Rory McIlroy triumphantly stated after Rome.

As the players and fans revelled in Rome, all demanding "two more years" for skipper Luke Donald, statisticians reached for the record books.

They would have revealed that the past five Ryder Cups have been won at a canter by the home side, with margins of five, 10, seven, six and five points.

There have been six away wins in the 22 matches since 1979, when the contest became Europe v the US. The once all-conquering US side have not won away since 1993.

European Ryder Cup legends past and present have explained to BBC Sport why they believe this is the best opportunity Europe have had to notch their fifth win on the road - and how they can do it.

Read more.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Remember you can also stay across all the action with Mark Chapman and the BBC Radio 5 Live team by clicking play at the top of this page or by sticking on the wireless.

For younger folks, that means the radio.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

Image source, Getty Images

Europe's captain Luke Donald says his team are "fuelled by something money can’t buy" as he cranked up the Ryder Cup intensity.

All 12 of the United States team - plus captain Keegan Bradley - are being given $500,000 (£370,000) for the New York event, with $300,000 (£220,000) of that going to a charity of their choice.

It is the first time in the biennial tournament's 98-year history that players have received a stipend. The Europeans are not paid to play.

"[The Ryder Cup] is not about prize money or ranking points. It’s about pride, it's about representing your flag, your shirt and the legacy you leave behind," Donald said during Wednesday's opening ceremony.

He added: "We are fuelled by something money can’t buy - purpose, brotherhood and a responsibility to honour those who came before us, while inspiring those whose time is yet to come.

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Europe's Matt Fitzpatrick says his parents have decided not to attend the Ryder Cup at Bethpage partly because of abusive American fans they encountered four years ago.

There's also the fact that both Russell and Susan are playing in the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland next week - but the fact they were so shocked by some of the comments made towards their son at Whistling Straits in 2021 also played a part in the decision.

Ken Brown
BBC Sport commentator at Bethpage Black

Both captains realise what a critical role the opening pairings play in terms of who is going to come out on top come Sunday.

Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley have gone all guns blazing and are trying to make an imprint immediately. The opening match-up is exceptional and will be like a football match on heat.

Overall, I think the European pairings are fractionally better, but it’s not by much. Such an exciting mornings play in store - I cannot wait.

Ken Brown
BBC Sport commentator at Bethpage Black

The course is perfectly set up for matchplay and I cannot praise Bethpage enough for the job they have done getting it ready. The rough is almost non-existent so you can get a decent club on it from almost everywhere, while the greens are perfect, making this a brilliant test of golf. Over the years the Ryder Cup organisers, when they set up the course, are now looking for scoring. At the majors they try to make it difficult, but here it’s all about entertainment so expect plenty of birdies.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Bethpage

Image source, BBC Sport

It’s all, dare I write it, feeling a bit flat out here at the moment.

Much has been said about this huge stand skirting the back of the first tee and adjacent 18th green and how 5,000 fans will help create a bear pit environment but there is zero intimidatory factor right now.

Sporadic attempts to get the U. S. A. chant going are being drowned out by the generic tunes being belted out that you hear at all these events.

At Rome, the stands towered over the tee on three sides… still, 40 minutes before the first tee and the sky is turning a lovely shade as the sun creeps above the horizon.

And the music stops as I type and an announcer PA tries to whip up the crowd with an expletive to get the U. S. A. going but it just drifts away as ‘Ole, ole, ole’ takes over… Europe 1UP!

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor at Bethpage Black

It has been 13 years since a team won the Ryder Cup on foreign soil, and that was the so-called 'Miracle of Medinah' where Europe recovered from 10-4 down to stun their American hosts.

In the five tournaments since, it has been a procession for the home team, with the smallest margin of victory still being five points.

However, it has not always been this clearcut.

Indeed, zooming out a touch, since the competition became USA against Europe in 1979, the contingent from this side of the pond have held their own in the States.

Europe have won four times away from home, including twice this century (2004 and 2012).

If anything, the concern about travel is for the Americans, who have not won on blue territory since 1993 and only twice in total.

Rory McIlroy spoke to the BBC's golf correspondent Iain Carter yesterday about how a settled European side, with just one change from Rome, has the chance to break the cycle of Ryder Cup home wins.

He also chuckled about US captain Keegan Bradley's slip of the tongue in his speech when he said Justin Rose had holed the winning putt for the USA at the infamous 1999 Ryder Cup instead of Justin Leonard.

"We made sure we got Justin Rose to apologise to Jose Maria for running all over his line at Brookline," joked McIlroy.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor at Bethpage Black

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch again as Luke Donald's Europe take down the USA at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome in the last Ryder Cup in 2023.

This time around will be a lot tougher...

Right then golf fans, we want your thoughts on all things Ryder Cup. Who will take home the trophy this week? Who will be the top scorer? Will the crowd overstep the mark?

Send us all your thoughts by using this form.

You can also post your thoughts on X using #bbcgolf.

And of course there's our old favourite - our thumbs up and down buttons! So let's kick it off with an easy one. Thumbs up for Europe, thumbs down for Team USA - who wins?

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

Image source, Getty Images

Bryson DeChambeau - two-time US Open champion, audience-attracting YouTuber and MAGA-loving ally of President Donald Trump - has morphed into a talisman for the American team.

It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who did not make the US team two years in Rome.

Read how DeChambeau - a popular but divisive figure - has become America's gladiator.

BBC Radio 5 Live's James Gregg has been having a chat with the great Gianfranco Zola.

Even shades of Chelsea's late 1990's away kit about his attire.

Not long to go now until the Ryder Cup begins - and here's the full rundown of how the next three days will go.

All times stated are in British Summer Time.

Friday's foursome matches will tee off at 12:10, 12:26, 12:42 and 12:58, with the fourball matches teeing off at at 17:25, 17:41, 17:57 and 18:13.

Saturday's foursomes and fourballs will follow the same tee times as Friday's matches.

Sunday's 12 singles matches will start at 17:02, with each subsequent match teeing off in 11 minute intervals.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Bethpage

Image source, BBC Sport

That, I believe, is Justin Thomas on the practice putting green. It's a bit difficult to tell, given it’s still pitch black and he is putting by torchlight.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor at Bethpage Black

Our BBC sports editor Dan Roan has been getting a close look at the security at Bethpage Black...

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

What’s that phrase… early bird catches the worm?

Those up at kicking-out time in the Manhattan nightclubs (maybe they came straight from there?) have been rewarded.

About 40 minutes after the gates opened at Bethpage, stewards are bellowing that the first tee grandstand is full.

Bethpage is still in darkness.

Image source, BBC Sport