Ryder Cup viewers debate Rory McIlroy's hand gesture to US fan at Bethpage Black

Was Rory McIlroy waving to a United States fan or giving them the middle finger?

That was the question as footage surfaced of the reigning Masters champion departing the 11th green at Bethpage Black on Friday during afternoon fourballs match. 

On the opening day of the 45th Ryder Cup, McIlroy partnered with his close friend Shane Lowry for the fourth match of the second session

He faced Sam Burns and his former Ryder Cup rival Patrick Cantlay. The Irish duo were 2UP by the time they had left the 11th green.

As McIlroy marched towards the next tee box, he could be seen turning his head towards a person or group of spectators, apparently triggered by something that was said. 

He raised his left hand, but it was not immediately clear if he was flipping the bird.

Lowry and McIlroy ended up tying their match, with Europe establishing a 5½ - 2½ lead at the end of day one. 

McIlroy and his European teammates prepared for this week's event by using virtual reality headsets, replicating the abuse they were expected to receive. 

The gibes so far, one assumes, have not crossed the line. 

On the eve of the Ryder Cup, McIlroy was on the receiving end of a heckle that was so good the four-time major champion even cracked a smile. 

As he buttoned up his shirt, one US fan chimed: "You don't need a button to choke, Rory."

"That's a good one," he replied as his teammates chuckled.

McIlroy told reporters at the beginning of the week he believes he has struggled to find the right balance in terms of engaging with spectators. 

"I feel at times in the Ryder Cup, I have engaged too much with that, too much with the crowd," he said. 

"But then there's times where I haven't engaged enough. So it's really just trying to find the balance of using that energy from the crowd to fuel your performance.

"I felt like at Hazeltine, I probably engaged too much at times, and then Whistling Straits, I didn't engage enough and felt pretty flat because of it. It's just trying to find that balance."

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Perfect start for Rory McIlroy

In the immediate aftermath of Europe's five-point victory in Rome two years ago, McIlroy declared the blue and gold would do what no side has done since 2012 by winning on away soil. 

McIlroy did not double down on that claim in his news conference this week, but he expressed confidence that this represents Europe's best chance in a very long time to break the streak. 

He got off to the perfect start this week as Europe raced into a 3-1 lead. 

Once again, McIlroy partnered Tommy Fleetwood in the foursomes and the pair dismissed Harris English and Collin Morikawa 5&4. 

"I think when you've got a partner like Tommy you can play with so much freedom and so much trust in your game because you know you have someone that's going to back you up," McIlroy said. 

"That's the way I felt the two times we played in Rome."

He added: "Foursomes can be a tough format. You can play a little tentative with the way the format is but again, knowing I have this man beside me, to bail me out if I do hit a bad shot, that's very comforting to know."

McIlroy described Fleetwood as "one of the best players in the world". 

"And to know that I have him by my side, it frees me up. I can play with ultimate trust and ultimate freedom, and you know, you saw a little bit of that today."

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• Day two foursomes pairings