Rory McIlroy improved to 3-1-0 at the 2016 Ryder Cup on Saturday with two wins alongside partner Thomas Pieters.
McIlroy continued his incredible play of late that started with a comeback to win the Tour Championship a week ago and has continued at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
Normally a fan favorite, McIlroy has embraced the role of villain in hostile territory this week with the pro-American crowd surrounding him on the course.
On Friday evening, he bowed to the crowd after a match clinching eagle putt on No. 16. On Saturday, he was very emotional after made putts by both he and Pieters, leading him to bark at the crowd several times when the hecklers got on to him. At one point, McIlroy even got a spectator thrown out.
On one tee box, American fans sang "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond at McIlroy in reference to his one-time relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. Instead of ignoring it, McIlroy embraced the hecklers and sang the lyrics right back at them.
Fans serenade Rory with the chorus from "Sweet Caroline."
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) October 1, 2016
He yells back: "GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD!"
Crowd serenading Rory with "Sweet Caroline bomp, bomp, bomp ..." he turned around and screamed the rest of the verse to them. Lit.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) October 1, 2016
McIlroy not only gave the American fans some ribbing, but he flat out torched the United States on Saturday by going 2-0 and notching the lone European win in the afternoon session.
After the match, McIlroy said he hopes the hecklers keep trying him on Sunday.
"It fueled me a lot," said McIlroy. "The more they shouted, the better we played, so I hope they shout at us all day [Sunday]."
Might be time for the crowd to try a different approach with McIlroy, because they're only giving him juice and fire at this point.
