Their fourball partners are onlookers as Europe’s inspiration and the US ice man serve up a rousing finish on Saturday
Halfway through Saturday afternoon, something unexpected happened: the United States finally showed up at this Ryder Cup. And as the top of the scoreboard turned red, and the chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” climbed in volume and intensity, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay became locked in a battle for the ages.
Ostensibly, McIlroy and Cantlay were being partnered by Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark respectively in the second day’s final fourballs. But by the time this epic encounter reached the last five holes a much starker reality seemed to be at play. McIlroy v Cantlay. Hero versus villain. Ultimate team player against a man rumoured – and later denied – to have split the US locker room.
