‘Diddly Squat’ Declares McIlroy As Europe Extend Home Soil Winning Edge To 29-Years.

7 years ago by Comments Off on ‘Diddly Squat’ Declares McIlroy As Europe Extend Home Soil Winning Edge To 29-Years.

“It doesn’t mean diddly squat,” was Rory McIlroy’s answer to the American-based The Golf Channel when asked his reaction to losing to Justin Thomas in the opening match of the of the Ryder Cup Sunday Singles encounters at Le National in Versailles.

Thomas had won the first with a birdie but was quickly 2 down after McIlroy birdies at two, three and four before a birdie at eight and a birdie also at 10 had the 2017 PGA Champion back to all-square with his Irish rival.

McIlroy won the 13th with a birdie to go 1up but then at the par-5 14th he looked a picture of despair when his par saving putt lipped-out for Thomas to get back to even.

Thomas could not believe his misforture at the next, the par-4 15th when his birdie also missed finding the bottom of the cup but with McIlroy failing to take advantage and putt out for a par.

 

Then at the par-3 16th Thomas’ birdie putt from the fringe also hit the hole but failed to drop whereas McIlroy produced a rare fist pump in managing to halve 17 with a par.

McIlroy and Thomas were all-square going done the last hole where McIlroy found a fairway bunker right but onto to leave his second shot in the bunker before sending his third into the water guarding the entire left side of the hole.

And after Thomas sent his second onto the green there was the ‘waving of the white flag’ call from McIlrory:  “Hey JT, JT.  Well done!”

McIlroy was approcahed by the Golf Channel after losing to Thomas and asked his views.

“It means diddly squat me losing my match as long as the team wins, and the way things stand that looks like happening,” said McIlroy.

McIlroy may have lost 1 down to Thomas but in the bigger picture his European Ryder Cup team won the war with a stunning 17 1/2 to 10 1/2 success and in the process extend Europe’s ‘home soil’ advantage to 29-years given Europe will next host the Ryder Cup in 2022 in Rome.

McIlroy has now played in five European Ryder Cup sides since making his debut as a 21-year old in 2010 and now is a member of four victorious teams.

“It’s incredible. We took a really tough loss at Hazeltine a couple of years ago and that stung. That was my first experience of what it feels like to be on the other side, so coming in here, obviously none of us want to feel like that object a Sunday afternoon,” he said.

“I think that the leadership’s been great. I think the players, the rookies have been phenomenal. You know, we’ve all just stuck to our jobs and we’ve all — one of the great things about today is we all won The Ryder Cup points.

“Jon Rahm got a point and Thorbjørn got a point and I’m delighted for them, it means that all 12 — it validates what Thomas has wanted to do. It validates who made the team, the picks he made.

“It’s a culmination of two years of very hard work and I’m delighted for everyone that’s a part of it.”

McIlroy went into the 2018 Ryder Cup with a record of four wins, six losses and four halfs and here’s how his fifth Ryder Cup showing unfolded:

Day one Fourballs – McIlroy and Thorbjorn lost 4 & 2 to the Americans Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler

Day one Fousomes – McIlroy and Ian Poulter won 4 & 2 over defeated Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson

Day two Fourballs – McIlroy and Sergio Garcia won 2 & 1 over Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau

Day two Foursomes – McIlroy and Ian Poulter lost 4 & 3 to Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

The final day dawned with Europe leading 10-6 and with European Team captain, Thomas Bjorn looking for McIlroy to go out first and hopefully lay the foundations for what would be a ninth European Team success in the past dozen Ryder Cup’s.

As it turned out, Europe lost two of the opening Single and halved a third for their USA rivals to advance to 8 1/2 points to Europe’s 10 1/2 and while Tommy Fleetwood was hammered 6 & 4 by his rookie rival in Tony Finau to brige the gap to 10 1/2 to 9 1/2 it was the closest the Americans would come.

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup record is now six wins, nine loses and four halfs.

And as the celebrations got fully underway McIlroy was he thought of the host course and the atomsphere it presented over the three days.

“Unbelievable, you just look at the stands on the first and the 18th, and the natural terrain of this place just is built for big event golf,” he said.

“I’m so happy that the Ryder Cup has come here and it would be very fitting if it were to return here one day.

“We thought this course would suit us and suit our sort of style of games and it’s worked out that way.”

And a word or two on the European Team celebrations.

“Francesco and Tommy have gotten awfully close this week so I don’t know what’s going to happen between them tonight,” McIlroy said smiling.

“It’s been incredible. The atmosphere has been fantastic. Even after the loss at Hazeltine, we had a good time on Sunday night because it’s the last time we’re all going to be together for a while this.

“This one will be extra special.”

Félicitations l’Europe sur un travail bien fait.

 

 



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