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Spurred on by heckling from the US crowd, Rory McIlroy bared his teeth at the 2016 Ryder Cup and formed a one-two punch with Thomas Pieters before finally running out steam on Sunday.
World No 3 McIlroy had been the most determined European player all week at Hazeltine National, but an 18-hole singles battle against America’s top player Patrick Reed took every ounce of energy he had.
“I am running on fumes,” McIlroy said following Europe’s 17-11 loss to the US in the 41st Ryder Cup.
“I won three points. I wish I could have been better, but I did all I could.
“All the energy I expended this week, it caught up to me on the back nine today. I was trying to summon up the energy. I was trying to do everything I could. I was taking loads of fluids and trying to eat plenty.
“There is not much more I could have done.”
McIlroy lost to Reed by one hole in an epic showdown that lasted the distance and kicked off the singles matches on Sunday morning.
On Saturday, McIlroy had security eject a heckler that had made a crude comment to him as he walked towards a tee box.
“A couple of people out there crossed the line. We will take it on the chin,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy and Ryder Cup rookie Pieters formed a dynamic duo in the foursomes and four-ball sessions.
It is a partnership that McIlroy wants to take into the next Ryder Cup in two years in France and beyond.
Pieters continued his strong play on Sunday by beating another long hitter JB Holmes 3 and 2.
McIlroy said Pieters reminds him of another Belgian golfer, Nicolas Colsaerts, who had an impressive Ryder Cup debut in 2012 at Medinah the last time the event was held in the US.
“He (Pieters) was like Nicolas Colsaerts a few years ago. No offence to Nicolas, but Pieters is a lot better,” McIlroy said.
During Sunday’s news conference, McIlroy put his arm around Pieters and said, “I’ve got a partner beside me for the next 20 years. I am not letting anyone else have him.”
McIlroy was critical of the course set-up at Hazeltine this week saying that it rewarded players for poor shots.
“It was more beneficial to them,” he said. “It didn’t seem like bad tee shots were being punished as much as they should have.
“Any advantage you get when you are the home team, you take it.”
McIlroy said Europe are looking to build a team for the future and that is one of the reasons they decided to include six rookies this year.
“A few of our rookies didn’t have the greatest first time Ryder Cup, but they will be better in two years’ time.”
He is looking forward to the 2018 Ryder Cup in France and threw out a few names of people he would like to see become the next team captain.
“Looking towards Paris, there is Lee Westwood, (Padraig) Harrington or Thomas Bjorn. Any one of those guys could do it,” McIlroy said.
“Because of our team culture and they way we all get along, it could be any one of those guys.”
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