The Ryder Cup fired up U.S. fans, but Rory McIlroy stayed cool, turning a heckle into a classy, crowd-winning moment. It all went down as McIlroy was fiddling with the top button of his shirt on the tee box during a practice round at Bethpage, clearly having a moment. That’s when a voice from the crowd rang out — “You don’t need a button to choke, Rory!” witty, but that’s almost beyond a playful dig. But maybe not for McIlroy.

Instead of losing his temper or taking offence to the attack, he burst into laughter, pointing into the crowd with a grin that almost said something along the lines of ‘it was a good one.’ It was quick, it was cheeky, and it was the kind of reaction that deflates tension and shifts energy. A little moment, sure, but a big win in the battle of vibes for Team Europe.

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