Vintage Rory McIlroy embraces villain role, mostly delivers for Europe on Day 1 of Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy delivered a vintage Ryder Cup performance for Team Europe on Friday, leaning into his villain role as the Ryder Cup opened at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course. The world No. 2 helped Europe build a commanding start, teaming with Tommy Fleetwood to push Europe to a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead heading into Saturday. McIlroy won a third straight match in foursomes dating to 2023, part of what Elias Sports Bureau called the best stretch of his Ryder Cup career, and he showed the mix of emotion and precision that has defined him this week. He drew attention for an exuberant moment, flipping a club toward the sky after a late putt didn’t drop, but he also produced a string of clutch moments that underscored his impact on Europe’s early advantage.

In the morning four-ball, McIlroy and Fleetwood dispatched Collin Morikawa and Harris English 5&4 after 14 holes, demonstrating the chemistry that has made them reliable in this format. 'You can play a little tentative with the way the format is,' McIlroy said, 'but again, knowing I have this man beside me, to bail me out if I do hit a bad shot, that’s very comforting to know.' The duo’s win helped set the tone for Europe’s day, and the lead swelled as the morning session progressed.

McIlroy’s afternoon with Shane Lowry carried the same sense of momentum at times, but it included a late hiccup. The pair were two up with seven holes to play when McIlroy’s par putt at the 13th curved around the edge and stayed out, letting Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay square the match. Four holes later, his final putt for birdie veered left and away from the hole, leaving the pair with a half-point instead of a full point. Still, McIlroy’s body of work on Day 1 loomed large for Europe, especially with Scottie Scheffler’s struggles for the U.S. during the session. After the last match of the afternoon, McIlroy said: 'Obviously right now, disappointed I didn’t hole out for a full point. But it’s been a great day for Europe. We have come out of the gates really strong like we wanted to.' He had moved to 6-1-0 in his last seven Ryder Cup appearances, the best stretch of his Ryder Cup career, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

That mix of emotion and efficiency underscored Europe’s plan to lean on McIlroy as a potential anchor as the weekend unfolds. The pairing with Fleetwood gives him freedom to trust his shots, a luxury he said was critical in these formats. As Friday closed, Europe led 5 1/2-2 1/2 and carried momentum into Saturday’s schedule. The U.S. faces a tall task if McIlroy stays in that form, particularly with Fleetwood’s support and the other European veterans who contributed to the early advantage.