Thrilling duel ends in water torture for Rory
What a pity the match of the day concluded in such ignominy
At Hazeltine against Patrick Reed he had to win the hole. Here in Paris, however, Rory Mcilroy walked to 18 all square and in a decent position to at least put half a point on europe’s total in the opening singles encounter.
First on the final tee, Justin thomas. the american hit a beauty, sending a ball down this fairway for the first time since Friday morning and watching it fly some 319 yards. it was perfect, slap-bang in the middle.
armed with his three wood, Mcilroy then followed. it was time to play safe, keep it simple and make sure he struck an early blow for europe by taming one of america’s strongest players.
But the difficulties Mcilroy endured on the front nine, when he struggled to find the short grass, returned at the worst possible moment.
it was a wild shot, way right and when Mcilroy arrived at the bunker to find his ball plugged deep into the sand, he was left with no option but to play out sideways. Oh no. never mind not making it back to the fairway. Mcilroy failed to even clear the trap after seeing his ball bounce on top of the grassy mound and then drop back into the sand.
now the Ulsterman really was in trouble. With thomas still waiting to take his second, Mcilroy was faced with the challenge of trying to play from bunker and carry the water from just shy of 180 yards. after discussing with his caddie, Mcilroy settled on a seven iron.
Oh blimey. Carry the water? Mcilroy only just made the water, catching the lip of the bunker and sending his ball skidding across the fairway to leave him playing five from the drop zone.
When thomas then sent his second into the centre of the green and Mcilroy failed to hole his approach shot, it was time to end the misery and concede defeat. ‘Jt,’ Mcilroy called out before congratulating his friend.
What a pity what was arguably the match of the day concluded in such ignominy. What a shame this tense, nervy and utterly thrilling duel did not quite go to the wire.
Sure, it was not the astonishing birdie-fest we witnessed between Mcilroy and Reed two years ago, the american eventually clinching victory on the final hole. But it was mesmerizing stuff, and memorable as much for the opportunities missed as brilliant iron play.
Mcilroy has struggled at times with this course but he played some terrific golf yesterday, wowing the crowd on a number of occasions by responding to a fine shot from thomas with an even better one of his own.
the fans were willing Mcilroy to win, a crowd of close to 60,000 that circled the first two holes chanting ‘Rory, Rory, Rory’. after exchanging blows in the opening two holes a birdie on three enabled Mcilroy to put some blue on the scoreboard and give europe a bit of momentum. But Mcilroy will curse the putt he missed at six when he could have gone three up, just as he will reflect with some regret on putts that were lipped or slipped away on 11, 14, 15 and 16.
in fairness, he also sunk a couple of pressure putts on five and 17. and there were times when thomas found it every bit as difficult to seize the initiative. He had a wonderful chance to win 17, only to invite Mcilroy to halve the hole from four feet after missing out on a birdie.
But when it mattered most thomas displayed the mental fortitude to finish the job. and thomas, while ultimately a loser, was able to reflect on taking four points from five. Mcilroy secured two from the same number of matches, a measure of his Ryder Cup.