Ian Poulter lifts Rory McIlroy out of the shadows to brighten Europe hopes | Kevin Mitchell

The Northern Irishman did not look himself in a birdie-less fourballs defeat but, like his team, found his form in the afternoon to devastating effect on day one

It was not Rory McIlroy’s morning. But it most decidedly was his afternoon. And, after the first two matches of the 2018 Ryder Cup, it just about was his day as well. He is a hero risen from the unfamiliar depths of mediocrity to look again like the golfer who owns four majors, and he will surely play a pivotal role in building on Europe’s surprise 5-3 lead going into day two.

As Europe, down 3-1, struck back hard to blue-wash the Americans in the afternoon foursomes, McIlroy played the alternate-shot format with Ian Poulter for the first time, and the Englishman’s ever-bubbling personality seemed to lift the Irishman from the torpor that had gripped him in the morning.

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