The interest in the topic stems from the impending decision by Keegan Bradley over whether he’ll select himself as one of the 12 members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, which would make him the first playing captain since 1963 when golf legend Arnold Palmer did it.

Rory McIlroy believes the Ryder Cup has become too big of an event for a captain to play in the matches and said Wednesday he already shot down the idea when approached about doing it himself someday.

Rory McIlroy has laid down the Ryder Cup gauntlet by insisting the idea of a playing captain cannot work. Team USA’s qualifying race ends this week at the BMW Championship in Chicago, the hours ticking down to Keegan Bradley’s eagerly awaited decision on whether to name himself as one of his team picks.