A close arrival didn't slow McIlroy down

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MEDINAHThe car carrying Rory McIlroy screeched to a halt at 11:14 a.m., and the worlds No. 1 player hurried to make his 11:25 tee time.

Apparently, the late arrival wasnt detrimental to McIlroys golf game.

McIlroy beat Keegan Bradley, 2 and 1, as Team USA was weathering a Europe comeback at the Ryder Cup on Sunday afternoon. McIlroys victory brought Europe to within one, 10-9, at the time. For McIlroy, who never trailed Bradley in their Sunday singles match, the rushed trip occurred after he scanned his tee time on his phonewhich had them listed in Eastern Standard Time.

I was just casually walking out of my hotel room and I got a phone call saying youve got 25 minutes until you tee off. Ive never been so worried driving to the golf course before, said McIlroy immediately after his victory. Luckily there was a state trooper outside who kind of gave me the escort to here, and if it wasnt for him I wouldnt have gotten here in time. So I just ran into the clubhouse, got my shoes on and picked it up on the first tee.

McIlroy said he was pretty calm as soon as he got to Medinah. He added his warmups arent ever too lengthy, anyway -- it was probably a really good thing I didnt have to think about it too much.

And for the most part, McIlroy played like a relaxed guy on Sunday. Team USA held a solid 10-6 lead entering Sundays singles matches. But Team Europe won the first four matchesincluding McIlroysto tie it 10-10 with a handful of matches remaining.

Sundays loss was Bradleys first in this, his first Ryder Cup appearance. Bradley went 3-0 in the first two days of team competition, becoming the first Ryder rookie since Loren Roberts (1995) to do that in his first three team matches.

McIlroy said it was a little more special besting one of Team USAs finest this weekend.

When I got the matchup, I liked it, he said. I liked the idea of playing one of their strongest players, (and perhaps) go out there and put a point on the board early for the team. And I was able to do that.

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