Heckling fan has last laugh on European quartet

By Tony Jimenez

CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) – A fan who heckled European Ryder Cup duo Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan when they could not make a putt in practice on Thursday celebrated as if he had won $1 million after being invited to show what he could do.

McIlroy, Sullivan, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose pulled David Johnson out of the crowd at Hazeltine National and offered him $100 if he could do any better.

Johnson responded by rolling a 15-foot putt straight into the hole before launching into an extravagant series of fist-pumps and high fives.

A grinning Stenson pointed to the sky as the ball disappeared into the cup and then gave the fan a big bear hug.

McIlroy, Rose and Sullivan also embraced Johnson in delight before the beaming fan raised his $100 bill into the air with pride.

“I closed my eyes, hit the putt and it happened to go in,” he told reporters.

Holders Europe will be chasing a fourth successive victory over the United States when the biennial team event gets underway on Friday.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)