Rory McIlroy champagne moment: Ryder Cup hero suffers huge embarrassment as he pops the cork... before Europe had won

McIlroy appeared horrified that the cork had unexpectedly shot out of the bottle he was holding, but luckily his colleagues saw the funny side of it

Jack de Menezes

Monday 29 September 2014 11:06

Rory McIlroy sprays the champagne after Europe's Ryder Cup win

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Rory McIlroy could do no wrong. The best golfer on the planet had crushed Rickie Fowler in the Ryder Cup singles, with the Americans so-called young gun bowing out with a whimper as he lost their singles encounter 5&4.

He was the first one home on Ryder Cup Sunday despite heading out in the third match of the day, and he was quick to head over to the 17th where he watched his compatriot Graeme McDowell shoot down Jordan Spieth 2&1 to celebrate a Northern Irish double. So much for the litigators.

Henrik Stenson followed, and soon enough Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn, Justin Rose and Stephen Gallacher had joined them the 17th. Kaymer had dispatched Bubba Watson comprehensively, and while Rose maintained his unbeaten record by salvaging half-a-point at the 18th against Hunter Mahan, both Stenson and Bjorn suffered defeat.

It was left to Ryder Cup rookie Jamie Donaldson to bring the cup home for Europe, and as his team-mates looked on from the fringe of the green, silence dropped over the penultimate hole at Gleneagles.

Only for McIlroy to suffer the embarrassment of all embarrassments.

Watch the video below...

The World No 1 was ready and waiting with a magnum of champagne when it decided the time was right to start celebrating, albeit prematurely, and McIlroy’s uncontrollable and schoolboy-like grin soon turned to horror as he realised he’d popped the cork too soon, turning away to try and hide from the cameras.

Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best?

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1/24Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best?

Playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2002, the Dane claimed just half a point from two fourball matches with US Open champion Martin Kaymer, despite opening up an early lead on each occasion. Also lost to Matt Kuchar in the singles. 5

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Won the Czech Masters to secure his debut and carried that form to Gleneagles, winning two foursomes matches alongside Lee Westwood and securing the winning point with victory over Keegan Bradley on Sunday. 9

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Given special attention by European captain Paul McGinley and took everything in his stride as he claimed two foursomes wins with Graeme McDowell before being sent out last in the singles, with the outcome decided well before his half with Zach Johnson. 8

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Deserved his wild card selection after his strong form in qualifying but his partnership with Ian Poulter did not come off and Gallacher was left out after their 5&4 defeat on the opening morning. Lost to Phil Mickelson in the singles to finish without a point. 5

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The Spaniard admitted he was not at his best as he claimed one and a half points from three matches alongside world number one Rory McIlroy, but put everything into his singles win over Jim Furyk with a brilliant finish. 7

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Not in the sort of form which saw him win the US Open and Players Championship this year, but claimed vital half in Saturday afternoon foursomes alongside Justin Rose and then powered to victory over Bubba Watson in the singles. 7

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Disappointed not to play more than two team sessions but accepted that his job to partner Dubuisson was part of European captain Paul McGinley's masterplan, as was going out first in the singles. Came back from three down with nine to play to beat Jordan Spieth. 10

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Struggled to gain two points from four matches before making a blistering start to his singles match with Rickie Fowler, racing five up after six holes and easing to a vital 5&4 win to ease early nerves. 8

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Few would have thought 'Mr Ryder Cup' would play just twice before the singles and claim only half a point, but his chip-in late in the Saturday fourballs helped stem a US fightback. Birdied the 18th to halve his match with Webb Simpson. 6

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Was unduly modest about his part in the three wins with Rose, especially as he had a sore back which meant he sat out the Saturday afternoon session. Will be upset to miss a short putt on the 18th to lose his singles to a fired-up Patrick Reed. 8

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Felt he needed to justify being selected as a wild card and did so by leading rookie Donaldson to two foursomes wins. Also chosen to speak to the team on Saturday evening to remind them of what went wrong at Brookline in 1999. 8

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Extended his record alongside Phil Mickelson to 4-0 on the opening morning but lost in the afternoon foursomes and the pair were then left out all day Saturday. Was never ahead in what proved to be decisive singles match with Donaldson. 5

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Halved his first three matches alongside Jimmy Walker but looked fatigued in a 5&4 foursomes loss on Saturday afternoon and was thrashed by McIlroy on Sunday. 7

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Won one point from three games before renewing his singles rivalry with Sergio Garcia, Furyk having won at Brookline in 1999 and Garcia getting his revenge at Medinah in 2012. Garcia again came out on top in a hard-fought contest. 6

Won twice in foursomes at Medinah but suffered two defeats in the same format at Gleneagles. Battled to the end of his dead rubber singles, making a birdie on the last to claim a half with Dubuisson. 6

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One of four American players not to register a point before the singles, crucially duffing a pitch to the 18th in a Friday foursomes defeat to Donaldson and Westwood. At least got on the scoreboard with a 4&3 over Thomas Bjorn. 6

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One of US captain Tom Watson's wild card's, Mahan won one point from three matches but played well in defeat to Garcia and McIlroy on Saturday and was five under after seven holes against Rose before an inspired fightback from the Englishman. 7

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Left out for an entire day for the first time ever on Saturday, despite pleading with Watson to play at least once. Had something to prove in the singles against Gallacher and duly won, but a disappointing return. 6

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Won two fourballs alongside fellow rookie Jordan Spieth but missed a crucial par putt from two feet on the 16th as Kaymer and Rose escaped with a half in the Saturday foursomes. Was fired up for his singles with Henrik Stenson and won on the 18th. 8

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Was picked to renew his partnership with Bubba Watson but after losing 5&4 in the first match on Friday, did not play again until the singles, where he at least claimed a half with Poulter. 5

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The 21-year-old played superbly with Reed and was then entrusted with the opening singles match against Graeme McDowell, racing three up after just five holes. Made a few crucial mistakes on the back nine as McDowell fought back to win, but tough to criticise the youngest player on either side. 8

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Played all four sessions alongside Fowler and claimed three half points before fatigue set in and contributed to a heavy defeat in the second foursomes. Was an approximate eight under par in beating Westwood in the singles. 8

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Lost both fourball matches, although he and Kuchar did very little wrong and were nine under par in losing 3&2 to Stenson and Rose. Was easily beaten by Kaymer in the singles. 5

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Of course, given the extensive Sky Sports coverage, a camera was placed right in front of him to capture his moment to forget, not that McDowell attempted to hide the hilarity of the moment as he erupted into a fit of laughter.

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