What a turnaround.
Never doubt for a minute that Rory McIlroy is a fighter.
McIlroy and Thorbjorn Olesen looked to be set to give Europe a decent start in the morning fourballs when, after eight holes, they were 1 UP.
Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson took five of the next eight holes to win 4&2 and give America a big, fat point for their tally. It was a tough slog for McIlroy as he did not have a single birdie in his round.
It was a disastrous start for Thomas Bjorn’s men as they lost the morning session 3-1 to an extremely strong American team.
Quite a few misses right for McIlroy this morning. Will he be in the foursomes? Has never missed a session in a Ryder Cup.
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) September 28, 2018
Following that resounding loss, many golf fans could not get their head around the Holywood native being selected, by Bjorn, to head out for the afternoon foursomes.
Rory McIlroy has played absolute dog shit this morning and for the sake of the team should be dropped this afternoon. Will he be? I doubt it.
— Tony Ansell – Wizard Of Odds (@progambler47) September 28, 2018
Why is Rory McIlroy out this avo?! Planned or not, he failed to make a single birdie this morning. The only player to do so. Poor. #rydercup
— Chris McHardy (@ChrisMcHardy19) September 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/WoganKeith/status/1045635757283725312
Why the fuck has he put Rory McIlroy back out there this afternoon? Shit today #RyderCup
— #CCS (@StevronConnor92) September 28, 2018
McIlroy was paired with Ian Poulter and tasked with getting the better of American pair Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson. After three holes McIlroy and Poulter were 2 DOWN.
That was the score after eight holes but the Europeans won four straight holes – while only carding one birdie – to go 2 UP themselves.
The clincher ion the round arrived on the 13th as Poulter’s tee-shot went perilously close to dropping in the water. McIlroy had a nasty position, on a slope, for his approach but it was a beauty and his playing partner dropped a birdie to say thanks.
"That's unbelievable!"#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/1kJTGBP5bi
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2018
The next two holes were halved and the Europeans got the win with a birdie on the 16th to win 4&2.
“We have a bit of a discussion earlier in the week and, it was kind of last minute but we decided to go with me and Poults,” McIlroy told sky sports. “we played well in Medinah and Gleneagles… it was good to deliver again.”
McIlroy may not be in stunning form but, like Poulter, he loves The Ryder Cup. He loves the scrap.
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