Rory McIlroy blew the chance to create European Ryder Cup history when he and fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell lost their afternoon Fourball match to their American rivals Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley on day one of the 39th Ryder Cup.

The U.S. Open winning duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have their legs chopped from under them by the American pair of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in the opening Fourballs at Medinah. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

McIlroy arrived in Chicago expected to play all five matches this week that would present the World No. 1 with the chance of becoming the first European player ever to score the maximum five points.

But while he and ‘G Mac’ won their opening Foursomes encounter the fact the pair were humbled in the afternoon has now spoilt McIlroy’s goal of achieving the feat of five points from five games.

Mickelson and Bradley defeated the Northern Irishman 2 & 1 and remain unbeaten after winning their morning Foursomes match.

“Phil and Keegan got off to a very fast start, and at the end of the day we just gave ourselves a little bit too much to do,” said McIlroy.

“We started a little sluggishly.  Obviously it was just a high to end this morning and then to try to get ourselves back for the afternoon, just didn’t start as well as we would have liked.

“But we were trying to claw our way back, and we played some good stuff on the way in, but Keegan and Phil were just too strong this afternoon.”