Captain Thomas Bjorn never doubted him. And Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter did not need to lift him.
Instead, after a horrible morning where he was the only player to fail to make a birdie, Rory McIlroy told Justin Rose to lead from the front and he would follow.
And in one of the craziest days in Ryder Cup history, Europe then swept the afternoon foursomes for the first time with the Ulsterman personifying the abrupt change of mood and fortunes.
After his final-round flop at the Tour Championship, rookie Thorbjorn Olesen could not carry McIlroy all the way. And the four-time Major winner was bad enough to risk being dropped.
But despite a rocky start with Poulter, the pair then recreated their Medinah chemistry as Europe charged into an unlikely first-day lead. Just as Bjorn planned.
Sort of.
And McIlroy will now lead off Europe in Saturday’s morning session.
“I never have any doubt in Rory McIlroy, because if I start doubting him, I probably shouldn’t be doing this job,” said the Great Dane. “I believe in him, and it was great to see his response. I was never in doubt I wanted to have him on the course this afternoon.
“Great players, when they don’t perform to the standards they want to, they have an ability to put it right, and he did that.”
In 20mph afternoon winds on the tricky Le Golf National, Europe were a stunning 11-under par as a team while the USA were four-over.
Bjorn called the opening day a “rollercoaster”, and Rose knew what he meant.
After never trailing in the opening fourball match, the Americans stole the point on the final green – and the world No.2 had 30 minutes before going out again.
“I was understandably down, it was a tough loss this morning,” said Rose. “I had a quick chat with Rory. He gave us the task of putting some blue on the board for him to follow. He said, ‘Give me and Poulter something to chase.’”
Rose and Henrik Stenson responded and are now 5-2 together in the Ryder Cup.
Postman Poulter, who still delivered his point after sending his opening drive into the water, added: “I didn’t need to say anything to Rory McIlroy. He didn’t need any geeing up at all. He needed slowing down, if anything.”
After winning four consecutive holes from the sixth to go two up, Poulter’s tee shot on the 13th settled on the bank of a water hazard. McIlroy conjured a ridiculous shot onto the green and Poulter drained the long birdie putt. Europe three up. Game over.
“Rory hit it on the cliffs of the water and Poulter made it – that’s a big momentum swing,” admitted beaten Bubba Watson.
It wasn’t always so pretty from McIlroy, who is still struggling with his swing, but he got the job done.
“A big thing for us this week is resilience, but also persistence,” he said. “You just have to persist until it turns around for you.”
After day one’s action, who will win this Ryder Cup?
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