Rory McIlroy has admitted he regrets calling the Ryder Cup "an exhibition" last year, and says he is feeling nervous ahead of his debut at Celtic Manor next week.
In May last year McIlroy said: "The Ryder Cup is a great spectacle but an exhibition at the end of the day and it should be there to be enjoyed. In the big scheme of things it's not that important to me."
However, although he still puts success in majors and even the world championship higher on his list of career goals, McIlroy insists he has real respect for the competition.
"Next week is going to be fantastic. It's definitely not an exhibition, it's a great spectacle. I said exhibition last year when I was not focused on a team event."
McIlroy, winner of four points out of five for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy last September, added: "I sort of forgot how good it was. We won and it was great to share the win with 11 other guys."
The 21-year-old admitted to nerves before he makes his debut, when he is being tipped to lead things off for Europe alongside his compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell.
"Obviously it's my first experience [of a Ryder Cup] and one I'm going to try to enjoy. Hopefully the adrenaline will make me play well. I'm going to be very nervous over my first tee shot, but once you get that out of the way all you are thinking about is winning your match."
Three of his victories at the Vivendi Trophy came with McDowell as his partner and all of them were achieved going out first. Asked about the likelihood of them being put together again he said: "I'm not sure. I will have a better sense when we get there [on Monday].
"It worked well last year and I'd like to, but whatever Monty thinks I don't mind. I'm very close to 'GMac' and I think we would both love to partner each other. Hopefully we'll get a couple of games and try to make the most of it."
McIlroy is one of six uncapped players, the most Europe have had since 1999, but he points out: "There's a lot of experience with Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Ian Poulter and GMac's played one.
"Then you have the vice-captains [Sergio García, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn] and obviously Monty. It's great to have people like that in and around the team.
"They will have a big role to play. I don't know how I am going to be in the team room, but I will definitely be listening to those guys. It's not like it's my first experience of a big event. I think we will be fine."
McDowell, meanwhile, said McIlroy's view of the event would change with experience. "Rory is an extremely ambitious kid and he's all about major championships and WGCs. But I think he'll have a different respect for the Ryder Cup next weekend when he gets out there and feels it and understands it. Of course it's different from a major and a WGC – it's not an individual win – it's just something a bit special."