'Unlucky' Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy remain defiant despite big Ryder Cup deficit

Team Europe's Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Picture: Anthony Behar/PA 

Rory McIlroy sounded a defiantly confident tone for Team Europe on Friday night despite slumping to another heavy defeat on the opening day of the 43rd Ryder Cup matches.

McIlroy and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry came up against the red-hot American putter of Tony Finau as the European pair were beaten with three holes still to play at Whistling Straits.