The Ryder Cup is one of men's golf's most prestigious events. Contested every two years between the United States and Europe – this year the US beat Europe 17-11 – it occupies a pride of place on the golfing calendar so there was no surprise that there were raw emotions on display as United States' Patrick Reed and Europe's Rory Mcllroy faced each other in the Sunday final singles at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
For all the talk that golf is a boring sport, it was an edge-of-the-seat contest. Both Mcllroy and Reed were on top of their game and they made their points through pronounced celebrations. The partisan American crowd supporting Reed were delighted at his birdie, but Mcllroy soon got a birdie as well, and made his feelings known, turning towards the crowd and putting a finger on his lips.
But then Mcllroy took it a notch higher. On the eighth hole, the Northern Irish golfer putted a ridiculously long birdie and, obviously elated with the effort, wheeled towards the crowd, put his hand to his ears and screamed, "I can't hear you!"
It was Reed, however, who had the last laugh with an approach and putt on the 18th hole. He celebrated in kind, but in a great moment, the two competitors shared a warm hug after the match, putting aside any bitter feelings that might have arisen after the full-blown celebrations.