No Ryder Cup captain has ever resisted the temptation to select Rory McIlroy for any session, morning or afternoon, since his debut in 2010. It will be interesting to see if that survives this weekend at Whistling Straits.
Matchplay golf is all about momentum, we are often told. On Friday, it went against Europe and, rather specifically, McIlroy. Twice he suffered losing streaks leading to significant losses.
In the morning foursomes, he and Ian Poulter were five down after the first five holes, a setback that was always going to prove impossible to reverse. Then, paired with Shane Lowry in the afternoon, the Irish pair lost control of what had been a tight game, losing holes eight, nine and ten and again surrendering all hope of victory. It was the first time McIlroy had lost twice on the same day in a Ryder Cup.
Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy never recovered from a bad start during the opening session
Things didn't improve for McIlroy in the afternoon session alongside Shane Lowry
It was the first time that McIlroy had lost twice on the same day at the Ryder Cup
This was, in many ways, like watching one of those Thursday's at a major tournament when McIlroy puts himself out of contention, before spending the next three days showing the world what might have been.
It could be like that here, too, of course. McIlroy has the game to make the positive impact that was missing on Friday. Yet is it already too late? This was a fabulous day for America. The first time since 2010 that they won both the opening foursome and fourball sessions.
America did not win that year, it can be argued. Yet, back then, the gap between the teams after eight games stood at two points. This was different. This was more substantial.
A 6-2 deficit is the worst opening day performance since the European team began. Significant damage was done to European pride and some important European egos.
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay shake hands after beating Europe's dream team
McIlroy and Poulter faced the dreaded possibility of a 10&8 following a poor start
Poulter, the postman, did not deliver. Lowry, so keen to make an impression as a captain's pick for his friend Padraig Harrington was trounced. And McIlroy, considered such an important player, suffered two of the heaviest reverses: 5&3 in the morning, 4&3 in the afternoon. He hasn't made it past the 15th hole yet. It was a thoroughly miserable day.
And, of course, it wasn't just about Europe's failings. McIlroy ran into two very good American pairings, too. In the morning, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay were already five under par playing alternate shots, when the match was curtailed with three holes to play.
In the afternoon, Tony Finau's putter suddenly caught fire in a way it singularly fails to do at major tournaments and neither McIlroy nor Lowry had an answer. Finau took single putts to close out three consecutive holes - nine, ten and 11 - and almost nothing within 15 feet of the hole was staying up as America's lead increased down the back nine. When Finau finally missed a putt of that distance on 14, it was for the match.
The inevitable briefly delayed, McIlroy reached the 15th tee in exactly the same position as in the morning, with the Americans dormie four. McIlroy's body language by this stage was familiar to those who have followed, with mounting sadness and frustration, his recent showings at major tournaments.
Lowry and McIlroy collapsed between the eighth and tenth hole to throw the match away
Shoulders sagging, cheeks puffed out as another putt went awry. The crowd wasn't ugly, or greatly hostile, but
