Alarm bells ringing for late arrival McIlroy

Whatever you think about Rory McIlroy’s time-keeping, the failure of Team Europe to rouse their leading man made his late arrival at Medinah Country Club yesterday a collective problem.

As news spread through the vast galleries at the first tee box that McIlroy was being whisked along a suburban Chicago freeway to his Ryder Cup singles match with Keegan Bradley, the world No 1’s untroubled bag stood to attention on the practice putting green and the American fans were chanting: “Rory, Rory, where are you? Your tee time is right now,” to the tune of ‘Glory, Glory Hallelujah’.

McIlroy arrived eventually, 10 minutes before his tee time, swiftly going through some warm-up exercises and hitting a couple of practice putts before striding over the bridge to the tee box with three minutes to spare, sporting a sheepish smile as his entrance was greeted by cheers of support and derision in equal measures.