Rory McIlroy becomes perfect Ryder Cup animal and turns anger into energy | Jonathan Liew

World No 2 calmed himself down with some philosophy after his Saturday night spat and then won his singles

Rory McIlroy went to bed on Saturday night in one hell of a strop. He'd lost his fourball match that afternoon, but that wasn't the real issue.

The Americans had celebrated by exuberantly waving their caps in solidarity with Patrick Cantlay, but that wasn't the problem either. What had really enraged him was the antics of Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava, getting in McIlroy's face and whipping up the crowd just as he was about to line up a matchsaving putt. McIlroy left that 18th green angrier than he had ever been on a golf course and he was still in a blind rage when he returned to his chauffeured transport a little while later.