McIlroy warns Watson not to target him, Poulter at Gleneagles

Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy has warned US Ryder Cup team captain Tom Watson that he would be making a big mistake if the American asked his players to target him and Ian Poulter this weekend at Gleneagles.

McIlroy is the world number one and the talisman for the European team who would aim to make it six wins out of the last seven encounters with the Americans.

Poulter, meanwhile, is the Ryder Cup dervish who has an incredible 80 percent winning record in the event and who almost single-handedly turned the tide against the Americans at Medinah two years ago, Sport24 reported.

As such, the Northern Irishman and the Englishman would be prized scalps for any of the American players looking to dent European resolve and confidence. Watson understands that, and said in reference to the two golfers that certainly whenever one beats the stud on the opposing team, that gives the team a boost no question.

But McIlroy insisted that beating him or Poulter meant mo more than beating any of the other players. He said that he knows Watson has been talking about targeting them two and whatever, but at the same time, it's only one-sixth of the team.

The Northern Irishman said that there are 10 other world-class players that he has to worry about, as well, and they are just as capable of putting points on the board for Europe. He said that they can try and target them all they want, but there are guys alongside the two of them that can do just as good a job.

McIlroy has been the outstanding golfer in the world this year, winning back-to-back major titles at the British Open and the PGA Championship, and he is back at the top of the world rankings, the report added.