Rory McIlroy dropped from Ryder Cup team for first time in his career

Team Europe's Rory McIlroy putting on the tenth hole during the Afternoon Four-Ball session on day one of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin. Picture date: Friday September 24, 2021.
Team Europe's Rory McIlroy putting on the tenth hole during the Afternoon Four-Ball session on day one of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin. Picture date: Friday September 24, 2021.
Anthony Behar
Josh Kaplan

By Josh Kaplan


Published: 25/09/2021

- 05:53

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:28

He lost both of his matches on opening day

Rory McIlroy was left out of a Ryder Cup session for the first time in his career as Europe attempted to overturn a four-point deficit at Whistling Straits.

McIlroy had played 26 straight matches since making his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010, but lost both of his matches on the opening day without even reaching the 16th hole.


With Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia the only European pair to win a match, Padraig Harrington’s side headed into the second day 6-2 behind a buoyant American side and with a mountain to climb to retain the trophy.

Rahm and Garcia were unsurprisingly sent out again in Saturday’s first foursomes match against Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka, with Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton up against Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa.

Rookies Viktor Hovland and Bernd Wiesberger faced Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in match three, with Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick taking on Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in match four.

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