Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy went off first in the singles matche on Sunday at the 2016 Ryder Cup and the two respective emotional leaders for the United States and Europe exceeded the impossibly high expectations for their match.

Reed and McIlroy traded incredible shots and huge celebrations on the front nine as both went out in 4-under 32s, including a stretch of four holes (Nos. 5-8) that the two played in 9 under The two thrived on the roars and jeers of the crowd with McIlroy willingly taking on the villain role by shushing the crowd -- mocking Reed's move from 2014 -- and Reed welcoming his status as American hero, calling for noise after every made putt regardless of the length or difficulty.

After the two played some of the most incredible golf ever seen in a Ryder Cup match through the first eight holes, they cooled off on the back nine. Reed edged in front of McIlroy on the 12th with a par and then moved 2 Up with a conceded birdie on the 16th after a phenomenal bunker shot.

McIlroy was able to win the 17th to extend the match to the final hole, where he and Reed returned to front nine form. Both split the fairway with drives and both stiffed their approaches to six feet. Reed was just outside of McIlroy and was given the first crack at birdie, knowing a make sealed the deal.

The putt never left the cup and the celebration was on.

The win moved Reed to 6-1-2 in his Ryder Cup career, cementing his alpha status on the United States team. There are other Americans ranked higher in the world and others with more distinguished PGA Tour resumes, but Reed lives for the Ryder Cup.

Reed bleeds red, white and blue, and when he gets to don the USA uniform, he transforms into a nearly unstoppable force. On Sunday, he conquered Europe's best in McIlroy. Rory had tortured the Americans in the final three sessions of the team competition and played phenomenal golf on the front nine, but Reed had just a little more juice on Sunday.

Reed slayed the dragon and gave the United States a huge full point to kick Sunday off.

Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson might be the stars in the other 103 weeks every two years, but this week is Reed's time to be the best this country has to offer.