RORY McILROY hoped both sides remembered the 'Miracle at Medinah' as Europe looked to pull off a similar comeback in the 41st Ryder Cup at a hostile Hazeltine.
Darren Clarke's side trailed by three points heading into Sunday's 12 singles matches, with McIlroy getting his wish to play the opening clash against in-form American Patrick Reed. Europe overcame a four-point deficit at Medinah in 2012, although they had the momentum from winning the last two Saturday fourballs on that occasion, as well as just one rookie in Nicolas Colsaerts, compared to six in 2016.
However, current US captain Davis Love was also in charge four-years-ago and McIlroy made a point of bringing that up in a interview before warming up on the range: "We don't have all the players that were in Medinah, but we have a lot of people that were involved, including the captain and vice-captains," the four-time major winner said.
"We know what we are capable of and I think, more importantly, Davis knows what we are capable of. Four-years-ago, they had a bigger lead. That is in our minds and, hopefully, it's in their minds as well."
Speaking about his match with Reed, McIlroy added: "It's a big responsibility to put a blue point on the board, especially in the position we find ourselves. It's one point of course and all points count the same, but it might mean a little more mentally for us."
Europe won the first five singles matches at Medinah and will likely need something similar at Hazeltine, with four rookies and off-form players filling the bottom half of the order: "We really like the look of at least those first five or six pairings and we think we can definitely level it up or even go ahead," McIlroy said.
"I put my hand up to go first. I want to lead this team and I want to be the one who goes out and sets an example to put a point on the board. I fully accept that responsibility. We've been a real unit. If you saw the scenes in our team room last night there was a party going on. We have the chance to do something no Ryder Cup team has done before by going 4-0 down in the first session and winning."
Justin Rose, who beat Phil Mickelson in match four at Medinah and halved with Hunter Mahan in the same position at Gleneagles, added: "I've had success at number four and whether it is superstition [or not], you don't mess with a good thing.
"We love the fact the front order is going to put blue on the board and shut this place up."
