Q. Mat, Rory, incredible performance, relief, elation, what does this mean for you personally and for Europe?
MATT FITZPATRICK: For me, it's very, very special, and to play with this man, and to get out to the start that we did, yeah, just phenomenal.
Q. A hot start, Rory, as far as Ryder Cup Matches, where does that rank for you, and near the top, I'm sure?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, absolutely amazing. You know, for the first nine holes I was trying to hang on to this man's coattails. I said to him walking up 10, "At least I contributed twice."
And then the boys made a few birdies, you know, on the back nine there and we had to just sort of hang in and hit some good, solid shots down the stretch.
But yeah, I mean, just a great day in front of some amazing home fans, and I said to Fitzy there, you know, for his first point for Europe, I'm happy that I was the one o get it with him. Proud of how him how I played, and we just have to go out and regroup for tomorrow.
Q. Going out in four-balls this afternoon gave you some freedom, didn't it?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, absolutely, my first four-balls match. I was laughing to Rory, what do we do here. I'm just so excited to be out here, and it's very different playing a home Ryder Cup than away to. Have the fans cheering you on makes a hell of a difference.
Q. First point in Ryder Cup competition, you got off to a hot start, what was working so well for you early on?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Six one-putts in a row is normally a big help. Yeah, felt really good with the putter on the front nine and just got off to a really hot start.
Q. Why did this pairing work so well for you today?
RORY McILROY: Matt and I have known each other for a long time now. We have played, yeah, this is our third Ryder Cup Team together, and yeah, it's a really comfortable pairing. I've been so lucky with the two partners that I've had with Tommy in the morning and this man, the start that he got off to, I was trying to hang on to his coattails. I contributed a couple of times there around the turn and thankfully we did enough to get it done.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports