Rory gets a Belgian soulmate

RORY McILROY might have lost his status as the golden boy of European golf these last couple of days – but he couldn’t care less.

By happy accident, rather than forensic design, captain Darren Clarke partnered his Ten Million Dollar man with Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters in the aftermath of Friday morning’s catastrophic whitewash.

The pair had barely practised together and even had to toss a coin on the first tee to decide who would drive in yesterday’s foursomes.

But in the space of one afternoon fourball victory, followed by yesterday’s 4&2 crushing of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, McIlroy discovered a true soulmate.

Like FedEx Cup multimillionaire McIlroy, Pieters thrives on the challenge of muting Hazeltine’s rogues’ galleries packed with gobby, beer-swilling American patriots.

Pieters, 24, also shares a propensity to hit it long off the tee. This boy is going to be a star.

McIlroy, 27, said: “Darren put a lot of faith in us. We hadn’t really practised, hadn’t chosen which tee to go off. We flipped for it on the first tee. But we found a real chemistry. He’s so talented and has a great future.”

This pair were the No.1 target for the American hecklers yesterday morning but Pieters followed McIlroy’s lead in facing down the locals and for the Northern Irisman it was a first Ryder Cup win in four against veteran Mickelson.

He said: “When I saw the draw last night, I was like, ‘yes, I get to have a go at him again’.”

It’s that have-a-go spirit which has certainly rubbed off on Pieters.