Running late, Rory McIlroy chases Keegan Bradley out of Ryder Cup

Next time you’re running late for your tee time, think about calling the cops.

Rory McIlroy was milling about his hotel when he suddenly learned he had less than a half hour before his scheduled 11:25 a.m. (CT) tee time.

“I was just casually walking out of my hotel room and got a phone call saying, ‘you got 25 minutes until you tee off,’” McTardy told NBC after dispatching Bradley, 2 and 1. “I’ve never been so worried driving to the golf course before.”

Luckily for McIlroy, who faced disqualification had he been more than five minutes late for his tee time, a state trooper outside the hotel offered him a lift to Medinah Country Club.

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten here in time,” McIlroy said, “so I just ran into the clubhouse, got my shoes, and [hiked] it up on the first tee.”

NBC reported earlier that McIlroy gobbled an energy bar and made a few practice putts before making his way to the tee, where Bradley had been riling up the crowd for the past three days. With no time to warm up, McIlroy proceeded to take down one of the hottest U.S. golfers on the course, pooh-poohing the need for pre-tourney reps.

“I calmed as soon as I got here,” said the world No. 1, who put an abrupt end to Bradley’s undefeated roll (3-0 with Phil Mickelson in foursome and four-ball play) through his Ryder Cup debut. “If I warm up for 40 minutes, it’s a long time anyway....I warmed up for, like, 25 minutes before I won the PGA [Championship] this year.

“I’m pretty loose anyway,” said McIlroy, who reportedly was confused by the time zone in which the matches are taking place. “It was probably a good thing I didn’t have to think about it too much.”