Europe fight back, but US still ahead

Rory McIlroy admitted he took great delight in putting an “exclamation point” on Europe’s brilliant Ryder Cup fightback at a hostile Hazeltine

Europe’s Rory McIlroy reacts after making his putt at the Ryder Cup on Friday. Pic/AP

Chaska: Rory McIlroy admitted he took great delight in putting an “exclamation point” on Europe’s brilliant Ryder Cup fightback at a hostile Hazeltine.

Darren Clarke’s side were whitewashed in the opening foursomes in front of a raucous home crowd, but responded superbly to win three of the afternoon fourballs and end the day just 5-3 behind.

McIlroy formed an excellent partnership with rookie Thomas Pieters to beat US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar, the world No 3 sealing a 3&2 win with a stunning eagle on the par-five 16th.

“On behalf of the European team as a whole, we’re absolutely delighted to go into tomorrow with not quite the deficit that we were facing going into this afternoon’s fourballs,” McIlroy said.

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