Rory McIlroy enjoyed a fantastic start to the Ryder Cup, partnering with Tommy Fleetwood in Friday’s foursomes to claim a point for Team Europe.
McIlroy loves playing with Fleetwood, with the European duo combining to defeat Collin Morikawa and Harris English at Bethpage Black.
Fleetwood was looking forward to the Bethpage fans, and he maintained his enthusiasm throughout his first match despite the USA having home advantage.
He and McIlroy stormed to a 5&4 win over Morikawa and English, and played a key role as Team Europe secured a 3-1 lead over the USA after the first session.
They clinched the second point in the third match of the session, which followed Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton overcoming Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas.
Rory McIlroy highlights importance to Team Europe after Ryder Cup foursomes win
Still to play at that stage were Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, along with Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.
And rather than lying low after a busy start to his Ryder Cup, McIlroy was quickly out to cheer on his teammates as they looked to add more blue to the board.
McIlroy was captured arm in arm with European captain Luke Donald watching the action at Bethpage, showing just how important he is for the visitors this week.
His fantastic ability spoke for itself once more early on, but such a show of unity and support will have been warmly welcomed by Donald, even at this early stage.
Unity is a key component at the Ryder Cup, particularly away from home, and McIlroy proved he is a real team player with his actions shortly after impressing on the course himself.
Donald called McIlroy a “leader on and off the course” upon his qualification to the team, and he’s certainly lived up to that label already.
It has even highlighted his potential as a future European captain, but that exciting prospect will certainly not be on his mind right now.
Rory McIlroy helps Team Europe end 21-year Ryder Cup drought at Bethpage
Neither team has won an away Ryder Cup since Europe managed the feat in 2012, but they’ve certainly made a strong case for showing they can repeat those efforts.
They fell just short of a clean sweep in the Friday foursomes, but they have managed to take the opening session on away soil for the first time since 2004.
But there was little time to celebrate, with captains Keegan Bradley and Donald immediately turning their focus to Friday’s fourballs.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, star man McIlroy has been handed the call from his captain, partnering close friend Shane Lowry.
They will take on Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay, while his most recent partner Fleetwood will link up with Justin Rose.
With four of the 28 matches complete at this stage, Europe need points to retain the Ryder Cup, while the USA need 14.5 points to win it.
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