DREAM TEAM: Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson celebrate following their defeat of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in the afternoon four-ball matches yesterday at the Ryder Cup. (
)
MEDINAH, Ill. — You just knew.
You knew the Ryder Cup and Keegan Bradley were perfect together. You knew Bradley was wired for this emotion-drenched team event the way Tiger Woods was always wired to win majors.
You knew, even as a Ryder Cup virgin, Bradley was poised to be a catalyst for the Americans in these 39th matches at Medinah Country Club.
Rookie jitters be damned. Look Bradley in those crazy eyes of his and you see a guy craving to take someone down.
That’s exactly what he did in yesterday’s opening matches — a day when the U.S. took a 5-3 lead over Europe. Bradley played a pivotal role in taking down four of the most important players on the European side.
Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia were all sucked into the undertow of the sizeable wake Bradley and his veteran partner Phil Mickelson left.
Put simply, Bradley looks like a player who was born to play Ryder Cup.
“There’s really a simple reason why Keegan is perfect for the Ryder Cup,’’ Mickelson said. “It’s because the more pressure the situation the better he plays. There is no higher pressure situation than the Ryder Cup. That’s when he’s at his best.’’
Mickelson said the Americans would “relish’’ their performance last night and quickly turn their focus to today’s matches, saying, “There is a lot of golf left, but we know [today] is a big day. We know the Europeans are going to come out hungry.’’
Based on his demeanor after the matches, European captain Jose Maria Olazabal indicated his plan was to try to fire his players up, saying, “I’m going to make it clear to the boys that they need to step it up.’’
“We faced players that were more inspired than us and played better golf than us,’’ Olazabal said.
Never was that more apparent than when Bradley and Mickelson stunned Donald and Garcia, 4&3, ending a reign of dominance by the two Europeans in the unique alternate-shot format.
In their respective Ryder Cup careers, Donald and Garcia entered the match with a combined 14-0-1 record, with Garcia 8-0-1 and Donald 6-0. Paired together, Donald and Garcia were 4-0 in foursome matches.
Bradley and Mickelson, still energized from their morning magic, then dominated the afternoon with a rousing 2&1 four-ball victory over McIlroy and McDowell, the Europeans’ top tandem.
When Bradley and Mickelson, who won his opening two matches for the first time in his nine Ryder Cups, defeated McIlroy and McDowell, Bradley offered this breathless greenside declaration: “Oh baby, I wish I could go 36 more.’’
He will today with Mickelson. In both matches. Bank on it.
“This could be the best day of my life,’’ Bradley said.
“He played some of the best golf and to be his partner was an awesome experience,’’ Mickelson said. “I love — love — playing with this man. He’s just so fun, loves the game, plays with so much excitement and, man can he roll the rock.’’
Mickelson closed their afternoon match out when he stuffed a 7-iron to two feet on the par-3 17th hole. When he saw where the ball landed, Mickelson and Bradley nearly tackled each other they were so excited, prancing down to the green with their arms wrapped around each other.
“That last shot just showed why Phil is a Hall of Famer,’’ Bradley said. “That was the best shot I’ve ever seen in my entire life.’’
Bradley wasn’t the only American rookie revelation. Overall, the U.S. rookies were 4-1, with Jason Dufner and Webb Simpson winning matches.
Today, U.S. captain Davis Love III will try to duplicate yesterday’s feat, but he will do it with a different morning lineup that will not include Tiger Woods, who went 0-2 with partner Steve Stricker, but will include all four of his rookies.
“We don’t want guys to be worn out,’’ Love said. “I think Tiger needs a rest and Steve needs a rest.’’
Based on their performance and the stick-with-the-hot-hand strategy, expect Love to ride, not rest, Bradley and Mickelson — the new American rock star and his established mentor.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com