McIlroy relishing perfect match

Rory McIlroy got the partner and the match-up he wanted as opposing captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson served up a fascinating opening session to the 2014 Ryder Cup this morning.

After a successful summer of four tournament victories, two of them majors, McIlroy’s dream season continued when he got his wish to partner Sergio Garcia in the final fourballs match of the morning’s play against unbeaten American duo Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.

World number one McIlroy, 25, and third-ranked Garcia, 34, both have scores to settle with their American rivals, having lost to them with different partners at Medinah two years ago. Europe may have had the last laugh with their miracle comeback in the Sunday singles but Mickelson and Bradley dispatched Garcia and Luke Donald 4&3 in the opening, alternate shot foursomes session and then took care of McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in the first afternoon’s fourballs, 2&1.