CHASKA, Minn. — As Rory McIlroy walked off the tee at the par-5 third hole on Saturday afternoon, someone in the crowd at Hazeltine National Golf Club yelled: “Rory, take off your cape.”
Considering all of the other comments hurled his way during the second day of the 41st Ryder Cup this was considered a compliment. McIlroy will need to play like Superman on Sunday if the Europeans are to have any chance of overcoming a 9 ½ to 6 ½ deficit and retaining the Cup.
McIlroy will be matched against Patrick Reed in the opening singles match in what is the most anticipated pairing of the day. McIlroy is carrying the European team at this point with his play and his passion, as is Reed, the fiery Texan who has been the heart and soul of the American effort.
“Obviously, that’s going to be a fun match to watch, two of the best players in the game going at it,” U.S. captain Davis Love III said.
It will be just one of 12 singles matches, but it will demoralize the Europeans if McIlroy loses. He also could provide some early momentum should he lead throughout and win.
McIlroy already is the only reason Europe still has a chance to defend the Cup. He teamed with Thomas Pieters of Belgium to win their foursomes and four-balls matches on Saturday.
The fan who suggested McIlroy take off his cape made the comment just after the Northern Irishman drained a 20-foot putt for birdie at the par-4 second hole to give his team a 1-up lead against Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka during four-balls. It was one of a plethora of clutch putts McIlroy made on Saturday to give his team a 3 and 1 victory. It was the only European win during the afternoon four-balls as the Americans won the other three matches to take a three-point lead into the singles.
The Europeans came from 10-6 down to win at Medinah in 2012 and are confident they can capture the Cup for a fourth straight time. McIlroy is a big reason for that confidence, which is why European captain Darren Clarke put him in the leadoff spot.
“I know for a fact that he can’t wait to get on that tee tomorrow morning,” Clarke said.
McIlroy clearly has put the European team on his back, not only battling the U.S. Ryder Cup team, but also an often hostile gallery. Every time McIlroy made any important putt, the native of Northern Ireland pumped his fists and screamed at the grandstands as if to say, “Is that all you got?”
His fiery spirit inspired Pieters, a Ryder Cup rookie, who helped to dispose of Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson, 4 and 2, in the morning foursomes and played even better during afternoon four-ball.
We should have seen this coming. Earlier in the week, McIlroy noted his special relationship with Clarke, also of Northern Ireland, whom he met on his 10th birthday when Clarke was already a star on the European Tour. They have had a special bond since.
“I’ve always wanted the win for the captain,” McIlroy said, “but probably even more so this year just because of Darren and the relationship that we have.”
Seldom has McIlroy been as demonstrative as he has been the past two days, beginning with the bows he took on the 16th hole late Friday after clinching a four-balls match with an eagle. It continued on Saturday when McIlroy and Pieters whipped Fowler and Mickelson, and then during the four-balls session.
The more the crowd tried to get into McIlroy’s head, the better he seemed to play. At the par-4 seventh hole, his approach landed at the back of the green. After everyone else chipped on and Pieters missed his putt for par, McIlroy drained the 25-footer for the birdie to halve the hole when it looked as if the Americans would win it. More clenched fists; more screaming.
Reed was doing the same for the U.S. side. On Sunday they will decide who really is Superman.