The 2010 Ryder Cup kicks off on Friday and 21-year-old Irish golfing sensation Rory McIlroy is ready to take on Tiger Woods.

According to the New York Post, the aura surrounding the aura surrounding the world’s No. 1 player “is probably gone.”

Big words from the youngster, but perhaps not out of line considering Woods’ poor record (9-13-2) at the event. The golfing superstar returns to the Ryder Cup as a captain’s choice and it’s his first time at the event since 2008. He played poorly after returning from a layoff to deal with personal problems, and the brash young European clearly thinks the tide has changed.

Phil Mickelson tried to downplay the feud, but Tiger is angry.

Woods, however, isn’t making a whole lot of sense when it comes to discussing his role in the tournament.

“Whatever captain puts me out there however many times, hopefully that’s as many points as I can earn,” he said.

Um, okay? So Woods vs. McIlroy this weekend?

Probably not, unfortunately.

From Golf.com: “U.S. captain Corey Pavin said it would violate the spirit of the matches for him and European captain Colin Montgomerie to arrange Woods and McIlroy to face each other in singles.”

Well that’s no fun at all. Can’t we vote on this or something?