Rory McIlroy hoping for another late dash at Medinah… to scoop mega £12.5m prize
RORY McILROY is hoping to make another late dash for glory at Medinah this week.
The Northern Irishman famously needed a police escort to make his tee time on the final day of the 2012 Ryder Cup at the Illinois club.
He got there with a few minutes to spare, beat Keegan Bradley in the singles to help Europe seal an amazing comeback win AND met now-wife Erica Stoll.
She was his driver that fateful morning while working on transportation for the event.
McIlroy, who is in third place in the FedExCup rankings behind Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, is looking for another fairytale in the BMW Championship, starting today.
If he wins the event, he could go into next week’s Tour Championship in pole position for the £12.5million FedExCup bonus prize.
On his first competitive return to Medinah, McIlroy said: “It was an incredible Ryder Cup with everything that happened there.
“Unbeknown to us at the time, but it was where I met my wife for the first time.
“It’s still cool to look around and think about that week and obviously everything that’s happened since.”
'GREAT SHAPE'
McIlroy, 30, joked about his late, late show seven years ago, adding: “You know, they did offer a police escort to me this week. So whether I take them up on it or not, I’m not sure!”
Dubbed the Miracle at Medinah, Europe came from 10-6 down on the final day in 2012 to win 14½-13½.
World No 3 McIlroy added: “I played a few holes out there Tuesday and the course is in great shape.
“It’s a little different than the set-up at the Ryder Cup. There’s a lot more rough, the fairways are probably a little narrower.
“But overall, yeah, it’s good to be back and hopefully some of those good vibes that I have here can stay with me and I can produce some good golf.”
Justin Rose, along with Ian Poulter, is also keen to draw on the memories of 2012 and become the first man to defend the FedExCup.
He said: “I had dinner here on Monday night and came in the side of 18 there — it definitely brought back those good memories.”