Rory McIlroy fights back tears after win two years on from Ryder Cup meltdown
Rory McIlroy had tears of relief following his 3&1 victory over Sam Burns to put Team Europe on the verge of regaining the Ryder Cup on Sunday. McIlroy’s tears from Europe’s humiliating defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021 showed how much the Ryder Cup means to the Northern Irishman and he’s had revenge on his mind ever since.
That showed throughout Friday and Saturday with McIlroy winning three points alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick. The only point McIlroy dropped came on Saturday night with tensions rising in the immediate aftermath as the 34-year-old confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie.
The heated exchange in the car park only added to the noise around the Ryder Cup heading into Sunday and Luke Donald gave McIlroy the chance to be the man to clinch Europe’s winning point as he was fourth out in the singles schedule. It wasn’t to be as Scottie Scheffler halved his match with Jon Rahm while Cantlay beat Justin Rose.
But McIlroy got his job done in brilliant fashon as the European star beatn Burns 3&1 to move Europe on to 13 points. And his emotions threatened to come to the surface as he was interviewed on the green immediately after winning his match.
“I needed that to fuel me today and not let it take away from what’s been a great week, and I felt like I used it to my advantage,” he told Sky Sports. “I came out here with a different level of focus, a different level of determination – I think, in a way, it gave the whole team a bit of fire in our bellies and I just wanted to win another point for Europe.
“Ever since Whistling Straits, I was so disappointed in my performance there, so to come here to Rome and win four points, it means a lot to me so hopefully we can get it done. The team we have is incredible. It’s a young team, it will be around for a long time, the support we had was absolutely incredible and it’s been a great week for me personally.
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“But we need to follow the boys here, get them in the house, and get it over and done with.”
McIlroy’s point was swiftly followed by Tyrrell Hatton beating Brian Harman to leave Europe needing just a half to win the Ryder Cup.
If Europe manage to get the win over the line then their unbeaten record on home soil will stretch even further.
Team USA haven’t managed to win on the European continent since 1993 and their next opportunity will come in 2027 in Ireland.
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