Rory McIlroy lets slip on Europe's plan to deal with US abuse at the Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy has revealed that Europe's elite golfers have been using virtual reality headsets to prepare themselves for the abuse that awaits in the Ryder Cup this month.

Luke Donald's team have been tight-lipped on the measures deployed by their captain to tackle what is expected to a fiery atmosphere at Bethpage Black.

But McIlroy has broken ranks by letting slip that the 12 golfers travelling to New York were all given a headset on Tuesday, allowing them to visualise the course and, crucially, to replicate the heckling of the locals. Each player has the option of adjusting the harshness and nature of the abuse.

Speaking after finishing in a tie for 20th at the BMW PGA Championship, which was won on a play-off by Alex Noren, McIlroy said: 'It simulates the sights and sounds and noise. That's the stuff that we are going to have to deal with, so it's better to try to desensitize yourself as much as possible before you get in there.

'You can get them to say whatever you want them to say - you can go as close to the bone as you like.

'They said, "How far to you want this to go?" And I said, "Go as far as you want".'

Asked what messaging was piped into his device, McIlroy added: 'You don't want to know. Not for publication.'

Donald has been exploring a variety of techniques to combat the noise they will face at the end of the month. Earlier this year, at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, that included employing a comedian to heckle Tyrrell Hatton by shouting out that he resembled an 'Armish farmer' on the tee.

McIlroy's rounded off his competitive preparations for the Ryder Cup by shooting a closing 65 at Wentworth, while Noren would go on to claim his second DP World Tour title in the space of three weeks. The fact Noren, 43 and the world No 32, is one of Donald's vice-captains might encourage the question of whether he ought to be travelling to New York in a loftier capacity.

His 19 under par total was matched by Adrien Saddier, with both men shooting 68 in the final group. A Noren birdie at the first extra hole saw him win this title for the second time, eight years after the first.

'I think the other guys have played better than me throughout the year,' he said. 'I have put in a great result now and the last month but a bit too late. The guys on the team will be fantastic. I am really looking forward to that match.'

Tyrrell Hatton, who was two behind after three rounds, shot a 70 to finish four off the pace.

Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick joined him in a tie for fifth before joining the rest of their European team-mates on a charter flight on Sunday night to New York for a two-day reconnaissance trip.