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Ryder Cup: Patrick Reed vs. Rory McIlroy was epic

The hyperbole started Saturday, when every golf fan in the world clamored for what would surely be the greatest mano a mano match in Ryder Cup history: American Patrick Reed vs. Europe’s Rory McIlroy.

That it happened is more than a coincidence; surely U.S. captain Davis Love III and his European counterpart Darren Clarke got together on this one.

And we’re glad they did, because this match may have been … wait for it … the greatest head-to-head battle golf has ever seen.

Seriously. Patrick Reed went 5-under on the front nine and … so did Rory.

For every Rory finger wag, Reed had an answer. The climax came on the par-3 eighth. McIlroy faced an impossible birdie putt of more than 50 feet and drained it. As the ball disappeared in the cup, McIlroy turned to the delirious crowd and yelled, “Come on!” then putt his hands to his ears and yelled, “I can’t hear you!”

Patrick Reed wags his finger at Rory McIlroy after draining a birdie on the eighth. (Getty Images)
Patrick Reed wags his finger at Rory McIlroy after draining a birdie on the eighth. (Getty Images)

The momentum swung straight to the European side … for all of a minute, as Reed drained his own 30-footer, turned to McIlroy and wagged his finger.

McIlroy, looking on, could only chuckle.

The two came together, exchanged fist bumps and pats on the back as they walked to the ninth.

And that’s when the momentum shifted, dramatically.

To that point, McIlroy had been a ball of energy, egging on the crowd whenever possible. But the Reed putt drained him. McIlroy would win just one hole from that point, the 17th, but couldn’t catch Reed, who drained yet another birdie on 18 to clinch the victory for the U.S. side.