Rory McIlroy was brought to Medinah in a police car – as Europe stole the Ryder Cup from under American noses!
The world number one almost missed his tee-time after failing to grasp the time difference in Chicago on Sunday.
McIlroy had to get a police escort to the course and arrived with 10 minutes to spare ahead of his 12.25 start against Bradley Keegan.
He came perilously close to being disqualified from the tournament and costing Europe victory but that drama was nothing next to the scenes that followed on Sunday evening.
The 23-year-old McIlroy recovered from his late arrival to beat Irish American Keegan Bradley on a dramatic day.
By close of play they were calling it the Miracle at Medinah after Germany’s Martin Kaymer landed the putt that retained the Cup for Europe before Francesco Molinari beat Tiger Woods to ensure an unexpected European win.
McIlroy then revealed that he had misunderstood the difference between America’s Eastern and Central time zones.
Television coverage listed his start time at 12:25pm but that referred to Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is 11:25am Central Time (CT).
He said: “I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes.
“I have never been so worried driving to the course. Luckily there was a State Trooper outside who gave me the escort, if not I would not have made it on time.”
Officials confirmed that if McIlroy was two minutes late he would have forfeited the opening hole while five minutes late, he faced disqualification.
McIlroy blamed his phone for the error. He added: “I read the tee times on my phone, and they are obviously on Eastern time and it’s Central time here.
“At least I wasn’t in the back of the police car. We got here as fast as we could.
“I did a quick warm-up as soon as I got here. If I warm up for 40 minutes it’s a long time anyway. I warmed up for 25 minutes before I won the US PGA this year. It was nearly a good thing because I did not have to think about it too much.
“It’s my own fault. If I let down these 11 other boys and vice captains and captains this week, I would never forgive myself. I’m just obviously happy to get the point and help the cause out a little bit today.”
Europe’s victorious captain Jose Maria Olazabal was worried by McIlroy’s late show. He said: “I didn’t have this in mind. We suddenly realised Rory was not here. He arrived by police escort with about 10 minutes to spare.”
As news broke on live television of McIlroy’s dilemma, former European captain Colin Montgomerie said: “That is absolutely ridiculous at this level. It’s quite unbelievable for the world number one golfer. How this happened I do not know.
“Where is the captain? Where are the vice-captains? Where is his caddie?”
27 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Happyhippo | Oct 03, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT
@Ulster Man, if people were confused before, they are even more confused now after your comment.
IrelandNorth | Oct 03, 2012, 08:34 AM EDT
Ruadhrí/said/he/felt/more/British/than/Irish/So/why/is/he/sporting/an/Ulsterised/Saint/Georges/Cross/the/national/flag/of/England/The/flag/of/the/involuntarily/United/Kingdom/of/Great/Britain/and/Northern/Ireand/is/the/Union/Jack/comprising/the/St/Georges/Cross/of/England/The/Saint/Andrews/Cross/of/Scotland/And/the/Saint/Patrick's/Cross/of/Ireland/even/though/the/whole/of/Ireland/has/not/been/a/member/of/the/UK/since/1922/No/Saint/George's/Dragon/for/Wales/or/Crowned/Hand/for/NI/Hmmm!
Brolaur | Oct 02, 2012, 03:21 PM EDT
Just because you're good at golf doesn't mean you're intelligent LET'S HOPE HE PLAYS the game as a Brit. How stupid can you get?
barneyjo | Oct 02, 2012, 09:00 AM EDT
@Citizen69 - just goes to show you that Nay sayers and begrudgers come in all classes and colours both green and orange :)!!
Tom Mo | Oct 01, 2012, 11:29 PM EDT
Golf has nothing to do with fighting for the Realm. It is a match among gentlemen. A game with no back ups, no referees, no pinch hitters, no special teams, no blockers. Just watch the Movie "The Greatest Game" or "Bagger Vance" for an introduction to Golf.
Tom Mo | Oct 01, 2012, 11:04 PM EDT
I.m delighted that Rory won his match even after his bit of a screw up. Had he lost, and had Europe lost, the talking heads would have blamed Rory. That aside, I believe that Furik and Woods let our side down. These guys don't have the heart, the determination, the belief, that the Europeans have. I am proud to be an American, born in Ireland. I love to see the Irish lads win their matches, but I'd like to see America win the tournament. My dilemma every Ryder Cup
danielco | Oct 01, 2012, 08:11 PM EDT
Dear Ulsterman, By your rationale, there are no Scottish or Welsh people either. I bet they would have something to say about that....I suppose there is no scotch either - it just British whisky !
danielco | Oct 01, 2012, 08:09 PM EDT
Dear Ulsterman: Facts: The Kingdom of Great Britain resulted from the political union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland with the Acts of Union 1707 on 1 May 1707 under Queen Anne. In 1801, under a new Act of Union, this kingdom merged with the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. After the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) most of Ireland seceded from the Union, which then became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
seanomelb | Oct 01, 2012, 07:19 PM EDT
McIllroy represented Ireland and registered by the Irish golf union as did the other Irish golfers and as the poster below states (correctly)ulster is not part of Britain as first stated in the act of union and then the N.I. act 1921 which has since been rescinded by the British government as part of the GFA.
cillowen | Oct 01, 2012, 07:14 PM EDT
another piece of shiite picture to make us pUKe
cillowen | Oct 01, 2012, 07:06 PM EDT
such a quisling who'll benefit whomever he chooses - crud wills out.
Ulster man | Oct 01, 2012, 06:53 PM EDT
If your from northern Ireland your northern Irish not British what rubish am from ni and there is no such thing as northern Irish your british or Irish but not northern Irish Rory says hes British that's y he has a British passport northern Ireland is a British country but people in NI can get a Irish passport if they want but they don't want to live in the south because they love the queens money British tv British sports all the handouts etc
Ulster man | Oct 01, 2012, 06:36 PM EDT
Fact if your from England Wales and Scotland your from GB and British, if your from northern Ireland those 4 countries make up uk your British the queen is the head of those 4 countries fact, The island of Ireland is made up off 2 countries roi which is Irish and NI which is British fact, in golf it comes under Ireland north and south u have no choice to play 4 ni so Rory a unionist plays 4 the island of Ireland once every 2 years, fact ulster flag is the northern Ireland flag which people call it the ulster flag it's not the ulster province flag, the flag Rory allways uses is the ni flag 6 county ulster flag Catholics c it as a British flag which it is Rory sees himself as an ulsteran and British
Gearoid4 | Oct 01, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT
Is that an Ulster flag that Rory is bearing around his shoulders? Perhaps he is celebrating the fact that he is an Ulsterman from the northern part of the country of Ireland
Scrivner | Oct 01, 2012, 04:25 PM EDT
WoundedKnee, there you go messing up a perfectly good excuse with facts! Perhaps there was a bit too much partying going on the night before...I know that the German-American Dank Haus was having a joint beer fest at the Irish-American Heritage Center Friday night.
danielco | Oct 01, 2012, 04:23 PM EDT
@WoundedKnee get a pencil and paper and work it out !! @Allan07 Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales - if you are from there you are British. UK is GB and Northern Ireland ....therefore if you are from NI you are N. Irish not British. OK - now continue with the bigoted bullshit (both sides make me feel ill - why can't we all just get along)
Happyhippo | Oct 01, 2012, 03:55 PM EDT
Don't forget, tomorrow is bigotry free day on this site.
WoundedKnee | Oct 01, 2012, 03:43 PM EDT
This doesn't add up. If he is Chicago he's an hour BEHIND EST. Therefore he should have extra time, not the opposite. In other words, if he thought it was 12:30 it was actually 11:30, thus giving him lots of time. So what was the rush?
citizen69 | Oct 01, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT
Well done to all the golfers, USA & EU for providing a thrilling few days of golf! A special congratulations to the local lads, McIlroy, McDowell & vice captain Clarke in their efforts to secure a historic European win. As for those trying to score political points, catch yerselves on lads, this is sport.
allan07 | Oct 01, 2012, 02:37 PM EDT
Well done the British golfers, Ian Poulter especially having won all his 4 games. So well done to all the British Golfers Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Paul Lawrie, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Justin Rose. I am glad OWC did our part to win the ryder cup. Good to see Rory embrace the Flag of Northern Ireland. Great news.
Sparklet | Oct 01, 2012, 02:19 PM EDT
Jeez, give the politics a break sometimes.
Towngate | Oct 01, 2012, 01:51 PM EDT
When he has returned to Ireland from whuppin' y'all golfers in the US, I hear he is planning a Cattle Raid at Cooley! Please note: One third of Ulster is in the Republic Of Ireland.
Searlit | Oct 01, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT
The ancient champions of Ulster would be proud of the young champion Rory!
jerrydonovan | Oct 01, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
Johnnymac12,Ihate to disillusion you but I believe that as McIlroy gets a little older he will identify more with his Irishness and his historic family background.Ibelieve that when the smoke clears that if, given the opportunity,both he and McDowell will elect to represent Ireland on the world stage.Just like they have done in the past.
Kinsale lad | Oct 01, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
You would NEVER see Padraig Harrington putting the Leinster flag around his shoulders in a Ryder cup.
Tooreenagrena | Oct 01, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT
Another dumb unionist comment. You can have Rory as he is a unionist as you say. But fot your info Ulster is an ancient entity that was there long before your pirate forebears stole its land from the Irish.
johnnymac12 | Oct 01, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
If the truth be known he was late because he was probably watching the Ulster Centenary Celebrations against Home Rule taking place in his home country of Northern Ireland. In victory it was great to see the young lad resplendent with the ULSTER flag around his shoulders. I think That gesture was to send a strong message to the Irish/American lobby who are trying to get him to play for the bankrupt banana republic. Long live Rory...Long live ULSTER.