Rory McIlroy almost missed the tee-off time of his Ryder Cup singles match because he was too busy watching telly. The world number one was left sprinting to the first hole after getting a police escort to the course because he got his time zones mixed up.
The Northern Irishman got his Eastern time and Central time confused at the Medinah County Club and arrived no more than ten minutes before he was due off. Rory only had time to roll in a couple of putts before he had to send his first drive down the first fairway.
European captain Jose Maria Olazabal told the Golf Channel his heart was racing when he discovered McIlroy’s absence.
‘We did not have that in mind,’ said the Spaniard. ‘All of a sudden we realised Rory was not here and started to look for him. Finally we got hold of him and he came in with a police escort with 10 or 11 minutes to go.’
Paul Hayward, the chief sports writer at the Daily Telegraph reported on some of the entertaining scenes that followed at the Medinah County Club.
Fans chanting “central time zone” at McIlroy, who spreads his arms.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) September 30, 2012
The European team started the day 10-6 behind and if they are to win the Ryder Cup it will be one of the best comebacks in the history of the competition.
