Those are the big headlines from an interview with McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the Irish Independent.

Neither are surprising.

Overlooked in the first part of the interview, which was published Sunday, was what McIlroy considered to be a clever move by European captain Luke Donald when it came to the Sunday singles at Marco Simone.

Most memorable was the dust-up on the 18th green late Saturday afternoon in the Ryder Cup when Cantlay made a 45-foot birdie putt.

McIlroy describes his relationship with Cantlay as "average at best".

What annoyed McIlroy is he felt his side in the fourballs match tried to quiet the European crowd, and that Cantlay (and LaCava) didn't return the favour to him and Matt Fitzpatrick. McIlroy describes a "red mist" that stoked his anger long after the match and into the night.

Here's where Donald comes in.

The pairings for singles came out that evening and McIlroy was in the No. 4 spot.

"I thought it was a stroke of genius," McIlroy says in the Kimmage interview.

"Why? Because I usually play one or three, and if you look at where they placed Cantlay, that's probably what they expected, and it would stir the whole 'Rory and LaCava' thing again.

"He needed me to go out and just win a point, and it would be easier for me to win a point if I didn't have that distraction."

In his six previous Ryder Cups, McIlroy was in the No.2 spot in his debut, the No. 3 spot the next two times, and the lead match the past three.