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| Rory McIlroy’s singles win set tone for Europe Ryder Cup victory | Rory McIlroy’s singles win set tone for Europe Ryder Cup victory |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rory McIlroy did not win the Ryder Cup on his own, of course. But his crushing win over Rickie Fowler, the first of four needed providing the first of the points needed in the closing round of singles on the final day, was the perfect opening movement to a glorious symphony of victory, Europe’s eighth in 10 years over the United States. | Rory McIlroy did not win the Ryder Cup on his own, of course. But his crushing win over Rickie Fowler, the first of four needed providing the first of the points needed in the closing round of singles on the final day, was the perfect opening movement to a glorious symphony of victory, Europe’s eighth in 10 years over the United States. |
| While the losers might now consider invading Canada or Mexico in search of reinforcements for a biennial tournament that has virtually turned into a sure bet, the winners can reflect on a unique esprit de corps in sport, where golf, normally a lonely pursuit, reaches across a multitude of national boundaries – even though six of the 12 Europeans live in Florida. | While the losers might now consider invading Canada or Mexico in search of reinforcements for a biennial tournament that has virtually turned into a sure bet, the winners can reflect on a unique esprit de corps in sport, where golf, normally a lonely pursuit, reaches across a multitude of national boundaries – even though six of the 12 Europeans live in Florida. |
| McIlroy, one of those Floridians, took just under three hours to remind his West Palm Beach neighbour Fowler, as well as a heaving gallery intoxicated on the rolling drama of matchplay, why he is the best golfer in the world – now and perhaps for a little while to come. | McIlroy, one of those Floridians, took just under three hours to remind his West Palm Beach neighbour Fowler, as well as a heaving gallery intoxicated on the rolling drama of matchplay, why he is the best golfer in the world – now and perhaps for a little while to come. |
| He struck seven birdies and an eagle to win 5&4 on the mildest day of the week, but one charged with plenty of electricity nonetheless, as the Americans fought hard on several fronts to extend the battle into the late afternoon. | He struck seven birdies and an eagle to win 5&4 on the mildest day of the week, but one charged with plenty of electricity nonetheless, as the Americans fought hard on several fronts to extend the battle into the late afternoon. |
| As the visitors struggled to overhaul a 10-6 morning deficit, there was hardly a cheap point earned anywhere on the course, and – despite the margin of the win – that applied to McIlroy’s high-grade match against his friend Fowler, whose splendid recovery after an early wobble arrived too late. The world No1 had to play consistently well to win. | As the visitors struggled to overhaul a 10-6 morning deficit, there was hardly a cheap point earned anywhere on the course, and – despite the margin of the win – that applied to McIlroy’s high-grade match against his friend Fowler, whose splendid recovery after an early wobble arrived too late. The world No1 had to play consistently well to win. |
| Sir Alex Ferguson – whose presence at major events away from football has gone beyond ubiquitous – was among the first to wrap an arm around McIlroy, an avowed Manchester United fan who, clearly, is in awe of the Scottish elder statesman. | Sir Alex Ferguson – whose presence at major events away from football has gone beyond ubiquitous – was among the first to wrap an arm around McIlroy, an avowed Manchester United fan who, clearly, is in awe of the Scottish elder statesman. |
| It was not a faultless campaign for the Northern Irishman, as he endured mortal struggle for much of the first two days before rediscovering his irresistible best late on Saturday and again in the final skirmish on Sunday, finishing the job just before 3pm – third out, first home. | |
| “Very satisfying,” was his immediate low-key response, before returning to the course to cheer Europe home. He was there with the rest of them to celebrate like a schoolboy when Jamie Donaldson’s wondrous shot to the green completed the mission a little after 4.30pm. | “Very satisfying,” was his immediate low-key response, before returning to the course to cheer Europe home. He was there with the rest of them to celebrate like a schoolboy when Jamie Donaldson’s wondrous shot to the green completed the mission a little after 4.30pm. |
| “I knew Paul [McGinley, the team captain] wanted to play me up the order,” McIlroy said. “I was very comfortable with that. I knew what was expected of me and I knew what I expected of myself. I was probably more up for this than the final days of the two majors I won this year. I played my best golf of the week, six under through six holes. That built a comfortable lead that I was able to hang on to.” | “I knew Paul [McGinley, the team captain] wanted to play me up the order,” McIlroy said. “I was very comfortable with that. I knew what was expected of me and I knew what I expected of myself. I was probably more up for this than the final days of the two majors I won this year. I played my best golf of the week, six under through six holes. That built a comfortable lead that I was able to hang on to.” |
| Fowler said later: “When you are down that much early, you try to stick to the gameplan and keep hitting good shots. I felt like I got some things going. But he never really opened any doors for me. He took care of business today. He played really well.” | Fowler said later: “When you are down that much early, you try to stick to the gameplan and keep hitting good shots. I felt like I got some things going. But he never really opened any doors for me. He took care of business today. He played really well.” |
| McIlroy acknowledged the contribution of galleries as loud as they are knowledgable. “All week has just been a pleasure to play in front of unbelievable crowds. We don’t get to experience it too often. It’s once every four years, a home Ryder Cup for us. It’s been an amazing experience.” | McIlroy acknowledged the contribution of galleries as loud as they are knowledgable. “All week has just been a pleasure to play in front of unbelievable crowds. We don’t get to experience it too often. It’s once every four years, a home Ryder Cup for us. It’s been an amazing experience.” |
| That supportive noise began as soon as the players completed the short journey from the Gleneagles Hotel to the first tee, golf’s ringwalk. The volume reached a rowdy pitch as the combatants stepped up to be introduced – redundantly, given everyone from Auchterarder to the Mull of Kintyre knows who they are – by the melodious and almost as famous Ivor Robson. | That supportive noise began as soon as the players completed the short journey from the Gleneagles Hotel to the first tee, golf’s ringwalk. The volume reached a rowdy pitch as the combatants stepped up to be introduced – redundantly, given everyone from Auchterarder to the Mull of Kintyre knows who they are – by the melodious and almost as famous Ivor Robson. |
| Some of the chants the past couple of days have carried the air of corporate manipulation but the Barmy Army-style singing on Sunday sounded genuine enough – and loud. Ferguson, who’d returned to give Europe another final chat, looked to be enjoying it; Jack Nicklaus, less so. | Some of the chants the past couple of days have carried the air of corporate manipulation but the Barmy Army-style singing on Sunday sounded genuine enough – and loud. Ferguson, who’d returned to give Europe another final chat, looked to be enjoying it; Jack Nicklaus, less so. |
| When they got down to hitting a golf ball, Fowler was the first to cock it up, duffing his greenside chip to gift the best player in the world first blood after just five minutes. | When they got down to hitting a golf ball, Fowler was the first to cock it up, duffing his greenside chip to gift the best player in the world first blood after just five minutes. |
| The harder Fowler tried to land a blow, the more he missed by, and the further away from him did McIlroy move, like Ali skipping clear of Frazier. Within half an hour the Americans’ only vaguely rock’n’roll golfer must have felt like tearing his freshly customised hair out. | The harder Fowler tried to land a blow, the more he missed by, and the further away from him did McIlroy move, like Ali skipping clear of Frazier. Within half an hour the Americans’ only vaguely rock’n’roll golfer must have felt like tearing his freshly customised hair out. |
| Nicklaus was doing a stint in the Sky commentary box, and given he had designed this course it was surprising to learn he did not know the fourth fairway – Gowden Beastie, or Golden Bear – was named after him. It didn’t matter what the par 3 was called, Fowler still couldn’t locate the green and pushed his tee shot into the back fringe, and the Northern Irishman surged on. | |
| When McIlroy drained a 20-footer to match Fowler’s birdie on the ninth, he went five under while remaining four up, and it seemed whatever the American came up with was not good enough to disturb the equanimity of the world No1. Victory looked just a careful journey home. | When McIlroy drained a 20-footer to match Fowler’s birdie on the ninth, he went five under while remaining four up, and it seemed whatever the American came up with was not good enough to disturb the equanimity of the world No1. Victory looked just a careful journey home. |
| The fans – perhaps discreetly lubricated – rose to acclaim McIlroy’s perfectly judged birdie putt on 12. They were nearly as generous when Fowler matched him (it is as well to be courteous when defeat is not a remote possibility), and it was clear the American, trailing by four for four holes now, was going to keep punching until the cause was lost. | The fans – perhaps discreetly lubricated – rose to acclaim McIlroy’s perfectly judged birdie putt on 12. They were nearly as generous when Fowler matched him (it is as well to be courteous when defeat is not a remote possibility), and it was clear the American, trailing by four for four holes now, was going to keep punching until the cause was lost. |
| However, a wonderful second shot by McIlroy on the par-4 13th carried the front bunkers and Fowler finally succumbed to the sustained pressure with his second bogey of the match. When his brilliant long putt slid a couple of inches past on the 14th, the deed was done. | However, a wonderful second shot by McIlroy on the par-4 13th carried the front bunkers and Fowler finally succumbed to the sustained pressure with his second bogey of the match. When his brilliant long putt slid a couple of inches past on the 14th, the deed was done. |