Ryder Cup 2014: Rory McIlroy dominates Rickie Fowler

By Cameron La Fontaine | Sep 28, 2014

Sep 26, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; USA golfer Rickie Fowler shakes hands with European golfer Rory McIlroy after halving the match on the 18th hole during day one of the 2014 Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel-PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

In perhaps the most anticipated Ryder Cup singles match on Sunday at Gleneagles Resort in Scotland, Rory McIlroy was playing Rickie Fowler. Rory had an amazing PGA Tour season highlighted by two major victories at the British Open and PGA Championship. Fowler finished just behind Fowler in both of those, and finished in the top five in each PGA Tour major in 2014.

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Rory showed why he is still the master and Rickie is still the padawon, even though they’re the same age. The two squared off in Ryder Cup match play, Europe needing just four points on Sunday, and Rory delivered one of those points, dominating Fowler in a 5 and 4 win.

Rory went birdie-eagle-birdie on his first three holes and won all three taking a quick 3-up lead. Rory went on to win holes five and six, taking a 5-up lead. Rickie got one back on hole seven, but he had no chance as Rory won hole 13 and closed out the match.

The point for Team Europe gives them their first of four points needed to win and the way things are going, it looks good for them.

The United States leads the all-time series 25-12-2, but Europe has won five of the past six matches and seven of the past nine. The Americans last won in 2008 at Valhalla in Kentucky. The U.S. is winless in Europe since 1993 at The Belfry, the last time Watson was captain. Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup, and the U.S. needs 14 ½ to win. The U.S. went into Sunday’s singles matches with just six points to Europe’s 10.

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