McIlroy and Cink share spoils
Rory McIlroy halved his singles match with Stewart Cink to move Europe within 3½ points of regaining the Ryder Cup.
Last Updated: 05/10/10 8:44pm
Rory McIlroy holed a five-foot putt at the 18th to halve his singles match with Stewart Cink and move Europe within 3½ points of regaining the Ryder Cup.
With the contest all-square heading down the last, McIlroy found the greenside bunker after going for the 575-yard, par five in two.
Cink opted to lay up and safely pitched onto the heart of the putting surface, 25 feet away from the flag, with his third.
Disaster then appeared to have struck for Europe when McIlroy's first attempt to exit the bunker hit the lip and rolled back into the sand.
The Northern Ireland rookie splashed out at the second attempt, meaning Cink had a long birdie putt for the win.
The American's effort never threatened to go in but finished close enough to be conceded and left all the pressure on McIlroy's shoulders.
The 21-year-old was equal to the task, finding the cup to elicit a huge roar from the packed grandstands.
The result of the second singles match on the line-up - and third to finish - extended Europe's lead to 11-9 - with 14½ needed for victory.
It proved a crucial half in the end as Europe eventually prevailed 14½-13½ when Graeme McDowell completed a 3&1 win over Hunter Mahan in the final match.
Fast start
McIlroy got off to a fast start, winning the first with a birdie and second with a par before Cink hit back.
The former Open champion went from two down to one up in the space of three holes - birdies at the third and fourth followed by a par at the fifth proving enough.
He was never behind thereafter, McIlroy securing the sixth with a birdie but Cink responding in kind at the eighth to move back in front.
It was all-square after McIlroy birdied the 12th but an eagle at the par-five 13th restored Cink's one up advantage - before McIlroy levelled things up once again with a birdie at the par-four 15th, his opponent having three putted after driving the green.
The final three holes were all halved in pars, although Cink missed from six feet at the 17th to go dormie one and then McIlroy rescued an unpromising situation at the last.
McIlroy finished his Ryder Cup debut with two points out of four, while Cink -0 who also met McIlroy in the opening fourballs and foursomes - was unbeaten over the four days with two wins and two halfs.
