After he won the US Open, the world would go Rory McIlroy crazy. Almost overnight, he became an international sporting superstar. He would be in demand for talk shows, sponsorship events, fan events, Wimbledon, world boxing fights – even pop stars wanted to be seen with him – and he in turn would lap it all up. After the disappointment and misery brought on by his collapse in The Masters, you could hardly blame him for taking time out to celebrate such a sweet victory. He had come a long way from Augusta to Congressional, had worked so hard to sort out his game and his mental outlook – little wonder that he now unwound for two of the three weeks before the next big challenge: The Open at St George’s.
No one could deny that he had earned it.
Both the fans and the pundits were united in their belief that Rory’s win marked a turning point in golf – that it was a case of out with the old (Tiger) and in with the new. And that he had actually come to the rescue – as a saviour-like figure – at the very moment golf needed one.
In an editorial, Belfast’s Sunday Life magazine even argued that the boy had now earned the right to be known simply as ‘Rory’ – as, say, David Bowie was universally dubbed ‘Bowie’ – given his exploits at Congressional: ‘Everybody knows that Rory McIlroy brought back a lot more from America last week than what he left with. But, amidst all the drama, hysteria and sustained celebrations, there was one significant thing he forgot to pack. His surname.
‘Doesn’t need it any more, you see. From now on, Rory is well, just Rory.
‘Those four unrelentingly brilliant days at Congressional gained the 22-year-old membership of the golf world’s most exclusive body – the “one-name club”. Precious few occupy its hallowed premises; Arnold, Jack, Seve, Tiger. And membership will be officially confirmed at The Open in Sandwich next month when Peter Alliss announces: “there’s Rory on the 11th fairway…”’
Then there were those pundits who were out to show how Rory had made golfing ‘cool’ once again after the fallout over Tiger’s affairs – how he had indeed saved the day for the sport.
Writer Kolby Solinsky of Huffpost Canada perhaps best summarised the effect of Rory as ‘saviour’ when he commented: ‘In winning last weekend’s US Open, Rory McIlroy proved what golf enthusiasts, club pros and the occasionally overweight gentleman in a pair of chinos and a Tommy Bahama fedora have been pledging for decades: golf, for lack of a better word, is cool.
‘McIlroy is an undoubted light at the end of the Tiger tunnel, a tunnel that featured a stunning car crash and severe highway traffic. Tiger’s exodus – not from the game, but from that lofty throne in the clouds where Zeus and Hera live – left the game he helped build in an almost heart-stopping turmoil.
‘You could have tried the defibrillators, but it looked like golf was dead. I know that Rory’s great. I know he’s talented, and he’s charismatic and – here’s that word again – “cool”.
‘But, McIlroy is not here to replace Tiger’s records (or, future records). He’s not here to take his place on the tee. He’s not here to be Tiger. He’s here to show that golf is alive and well, and that it isn’t just surviving without Tiger winning every tournament – it’s better.’
It was an uplifting observation, as was the comment in the Daily Star that Rory’s Congressional win had been akin to a sporting miracle: ‘Rory McIlroy’s superhuman-like slaughter of the US Open course and field was a wonder to watch. Not only did Rory McIlroy rip up record books left, right and centre with his amazing 16-under-par score. He also annihilated a world-class field by finishing eight shots clear. It’s hard to put McIlroy’s masterclass into proper sporting perspective. But it’s akin to a tennis player winning the Wimbledon men’s singles final 6-0 6-0 6-0. Comparable to winning the men’s New York Marathon by 30 minutes. Or knocking out the world heavyweight champ in the first round. And what made it even more amazing is that the Ulsterman made a procession of Congressional after his last-day disasters at The Masters.
‘To come back so soon and so strongly after Augusta when he crashed and burned so horribly on the back nine is, perhaps, his greatest triumph.’
Meanwhile, Rory himself was more concerned at that particular time with savouring his US Open victory than worrying about how he would go down in the record books and how he might be viewed as a potential saviour of a sport that had lost a good deal of its gloss. Yes, the Northern Irish lad now celebrated with a vengeance – and no one begrudged him his moment of letting his (curly) hair down.
Indeed, for days after his momentous win the tributes continued to pour in from fellow golfers and fans alike. ‘Better than Tiger Woods at the same age,’ was former Open champion Mark O’Meara’s verdict. And 2006 US Open champion, the Australian Geoff Ogilvy, was just as generous in his praise – ‘Rory is by far the best young player I’ve ever played with’ – while US star Ernie Els summed up most people’s belief with the words: ‘The next No. 1.’
Phil Mickelson, who had won five Majors in his career, voiced the opinion that Rory was right up there now. The American, who played the first two rounds with Rory at Congressional, said: ‘Rory played some really terrific golf. He hit the ball well and rolled it well on the greens so it was inevitable he was going to make some birdies. It’s pretty cool. I could tell that Rory has had this type of talent in him for some time now and to see him putting it together is pretty neat to see.’
World No. 1 Luke Donald was just as complimentary. The Englishman joked that he ‘was thinking about moving to Northern Ireland’ and added, ‘This will have a huge influence on the game. As I’ve said before, Rory has probably the most talent I’ve ever seen in a golfer – it’s lovely to watch him play. He has such a fluid motion and he hits it far. He’s got a great attitude, on and off the golf course, and he has no fear. He’s not quite dominating the game yet but a win like this will do wonders for his self-esteem.’
Lee Westwood, meanwhile, admitted that he had been inspired by Rory’s win to himself go out and steal a Major. The 38-year-old had still not claimed one of the four Majors but he told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I know that if I play well enough, I’m capable of beating anybody. If anything, it’s a confidence boost to me. Rory has obviously looked at us [senior figures at ISM, including Darren Clarke and Ernie Els] and learned how to be professional, and I can look at him and see how it is to win a Major. He won it in style. It is in the back of your mind that if Rory can win like that then so can I – I need my good golf to be better.’
And Rory’s former playing partner Lloyd Saltman was another inspired by his success at Congressional. Just days after that win, Saltman, 25, shot a 6-under-par 66 in the BMW International at Munich to claim a share of 9th place beside fellow Scot Paul Lawrie on 137 – just three shots off the pace.
Saltman played in the 2007 Walker Cup team with Rory and the pair have become firm friends. He said: ‘It really inspires me seeing the guys from that Walker Cup squad doing well and watching Rory gave me a real lift coming here this week. He did something special in taking the US Open and it just puts into perspective how achievable winning tournaments really is. I sent Rory a text message to say well done and I was so pleased to watch the way he played the last round.
‘His win has given me a lot of belief as I now know people who were on the same Amateur team as me in 2007 can go on and win a Major. And Rory did not just win a Major – he blew the field away!’
Even Charl Schwartzel, who took advantage of Rory’s collapse at The Masters to win that tournament, expressed his delight that his friend on the circuit had now put things right in the US Open. He said: ‘It’s pretty spectacular what he’s done – it looked like he was playing a different course.’
Rory’s growing army of fans was equally impressed and also felt they had witnessed the changing of the guard at the top of the world golfing order. One, Dave D, said: ‘I recall when Bob Dylan wrote “The Times, They are a Changin’” – yep, Rory is only 22. Tiger is 35. Oops! I mean, “Tiger who”?’
And readers of the New York Times were not immune to the delights of the dawn of the McIlroy era either. In a letter to the sports editor, Barry Herman said: ‘The unquenchable thirst for sports heroes was never more evident than at the United States Open and the impressive victory of Rory McIlroy.
‘With his image shattered, Tiger Woods has been forever replaced by the young, likable McIlroy. Even the commentators and fellow golfers ignored Woods as inevitable comparisons were pronounced: the flawless swing of Snead, the masterful flair of Ballesteros and the bright future of Nicklaus.
‘No sports figure can ever really match an idealized persona. Let’s hope that McIlroy can come closer than Woods.’
Back in the UK, another fan – John Fitz – commented: ‘I was never really interested in golf until now. I thought it was a rich man’s game, a posh man’s hobby, but that has all changed now. Rory has shown that normal people can play it and enjoy it – and suddenly it seems much more hip and desirable. I am planning to buy some clubs and have a few lessons with the pro at our local golf club. Thanks for the tip, Rory!’ And another, James Edmonds, said: ‘I think it’s brilliant what Rory McIlroy has done with his win at the US Open. I am a long-time fan of golf but reckon Rory’s success will boost the sport and encourage many to take it up – a bit like Lewis Hamilton’s success back in 2007 gave F1 a real boost and led to many youngsters taking up karting. Rory, you are a hero and a legend! I salute you!’
That idea was reinforced after Rory’s win when youngsters near Liverpool took part in a nine-hole event at Aintree Golf Course as part of a nationally organised competition. The players – some aged only eight – were said to have been inspired by Rory and keen to emulate his success in the inaugural Junior Trailblazer Tour event. And then it was the turn of the North East to benefit from the buzz created by Rory as Hartlepool College of Further Education announced that it was to start a golfing academy in a bid to support the stars of the future. The new partnership between the Stockton Street College and Seaton Carew Golf Club was the first of its kind in the region.
Rory was obviously trailblazing a path that other kids were now eager to follow. American marketing executive Elisa Gaudet had noted the phenomenon while attending Congressional. Writing for the US website Cyberspace, she observed: ‘As I sat sipping espresso from my newly purchased 2011 US Open Congressional coffee mug I can’t help but think how it is the perfect symbol of what is currently going on in golf. A little bit of European mixed with a little bit of American and a whole lot of hope. After Rory McIlroy’s resounding US Open victory two weeks [ago], I felt a new sense for golf – hope. The US Open Congressional looked more like a Justin Bieber concert than a golf tournament because of the number of teenagers in attendance.’
Rory had become a flag bearer for the next generation, someone they could relate to and someone they wanted to follow – a truly international hero and his fans would prove loyal to the cause. Bob Blubaugh, of America’s Carroll County Times, noted how devoted those fans had been during the Congressional win: ‘Rory McIlroy hadn’t even reached the first tee Saturday when the infatuated cheering began. The first impromptu chant of “Let’s go, Rory!” began after his tee shot at the second. After an errant drive on No. 3, a male, twenty-something fan lamented that the ball hadn’t hit him in the chest: “Right on the nipple, I wouldn’t care.” Throughout the entire third round of the US Open at Congressional Country Club on Saturday, fans rained enthusiastic support upon the 22-year-old Irishman.
‘“It was incredible, just fantastic,” said McIlroy, who takes an eight-stroke lead into today’s final round. “It’s nice when you get a standing ovation nearly every green.”’
And if they were keen to show their ever-growing appreciation in the United States, the fans back home in Northern Ireland were an even more devoted bunch. Certainly, they turned out in force when the youngster returned after his triumph. They greeted him when he landed at George Best International airport and the banners were out in force as the local hero returned to his native Holywood. ‘Congratulations Rory, Major No. 1’ proclaimed one en route as he was driven into his hometown. ‘Holywood, proud to be the home of Rory McIlroy,’ said another. Then it was on to Holywood Golf Club, where dozens awaited the arrival of the young man who had put the town on the map.
His father Gerry was already on the premises to meet and greet, while the fans clapped and cheered when 22-year-old Rory emerged on the clubhouse balcony with the impressive silver trophy he had clinched at Congressional. ‘It’s great to be home – and even better to be here with this trophy!’ he told the faithful. ‘This is a great time for Irish, British and European golf.’ He did seem a little overawed by the mass of journalists and photographers who had gathered to take note of his return home, though. It was at this moment, I am told by a source close to Rory, that he finally realised the full impact of his win on his life and his community. ‘It was the moment he became an international superstar,’ said the source, ‘there would be no hiding place now – he was no longer the sole property of Holywood, Northern Ireland. No, he had become the hero and role model for thousands worldwide. His life would never be the same again – and he knew it.’
He did try to play down the adulation, however, saying: ‘I’m going to do my best to be the same Rory I was when I turned pro in 2007.’ His long-time girlfriend Holly Sweeney, who was studying sports technology at the University of Ulster, certainly intended to make sure he kept his feet on the ground. When he had arrived home as a hero she had hugged and kissed him, then told him to get his dirty clothes out of his suitcase as she was about to put on a wash! He might be the big star away from home but back home, he was just her Rory.
At the time, Rory made it clear that he owed a big debt of gratitude to Holly for her unflinching support as he marched towards the big time. He said: ‘Holly and I have been together since I had just turned 16 and she was 14. She knows me better than basically anyone else in this world does, apart from my parents. And to have someone like that with you is very grounding.’
He revealed that they had met on a golf course when they were teenagers and separated briefly at the start of 2011, but got back together soon afterwards as they had missed each other too much. ‘I thought I wanted to focus on my game and take a break or whatever, but I realised pretty quickly I’d made a mistake. And I had to do quite a lot of begging and grovelling to get her back!’ he admitted.
In an interview aired on the BBC after the US Open win, Holly, 20, revealed the time apart made them realise they had made a mistake in splitting. She said: ‘It was always going to be tough to take a break from each other. We both decided to do our own thing. I needed to step it up with uni and he needed to do his own thing with golf. We just needed to take a bit of time and realise what he needed to do.’
Rory said at the time that Holly was his soulmate as well as his lover: ‘She’s obviously my girlfriend, but she’s also become my best friend over the past few years. I can say things to her that I wouldn’t be able to say to anyone else.’ He also conceded that being with Holly is also the main reason why he did not join the PGA Tour: he won his first PGA title at Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in 2010 but did not want to spend too much time in America away from his girl. Of course if he changed his mind, he would be able to join the Tour whenever he wished. His US Open win meant he earned a five-year exemption to do so.
The idea that Rory would stay grounded was reinforced the very night after the reception at Holywood Golf Club. There was no slap-up champagne bash at a smart restaurant – no, Rory, Holly and the rest of the family tucked into a Chinese takeaway while watching the TV, with Rory plumping for his usual favourite: a chilli chicken with honey stir-fry. ‘All the family were determined that life should continue, as far as was possible, to be as normal as possible,’ a source explained. ‘No one expected success to go to Rory’s head, and it won’t. He’s simply not interested in being the big star or having the flashiest material things – he is happy with a nice comfortable life, being with his family, and playing his golf. That’s it.’
Maybe so, but it didn’t stop Rory veering slightly off that straight and narrow path over the next few days. He even partied with JLS. The boy-band had been impressed by his Bethesda win and sent him a message of congratulations which, in turn, led Rory to invite them to his house.
So it was that the band – Aston, Marvin, JB and Oritise – visited Rory at home and made plans to hit the town. ‘The JLS lads have become big golf fans and Rory is their hero,’ a source said. ‘They had a laugh at Rory’s house on Friday and on Saturday, got together for a tear-up in Belfast. They also set Rory up in a box for their gig at the Odyssey. The Saturdays and Alexandra Burke were also in the city, so they all ended up out together after the gig.’
It was then revealed that Rory had even become the subject of a new song – not by the likes of multi-million selling artists such as JLS, mind you. No, he had been honoured by Irish band The Corrigan Brothers, who had a big hit on YouTube with ‘There’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama’.
Their new number, ‘Rory McIlroy: US Open Champion Song’ – was in homage to their hero. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the heartfelt admiration.
Rory is, as we have noted, a big Manchester United fan but he also loves boxing, tennis, indeed many sports. After his return home, he headed off to Wimbledon to cheer on Andy Murray from the Royal Box and then took a flight to Hamburg in Germany to witness the David Haye-Wladimir Klitschko world heavyweight fight.
Rory arrived at Wimbledon on Tuesday, 28 June and was given a hero’s welcome as he entered the Royal Box for the Ladies’ Quarter-finals. He also met up with Andy Murray and another of his favourite tennis idols over the years, John McEnroe.
Murray would pay tribute to Rory’s Congressional achievement but contended that it would be hard to compare their relative feats: ‘It’s just different. They’re very different sports in many ways, tennis and golf, because you’re always sort of in control, I think, in golf. In tennis, like [against Gimeno-Traver], the first set and a half, I wasn’t in control of what was going on out there so they’re very different. But the way that he came back from what happened, of having a chance of winning his first Major, was great.
‘The way he dealt with everything was fantastic. The way he responded from the lead that he had earlier in the year was excellent. He’s going to probably go on to be one of the best golfers that we’ve seen, I think.’
Those were generous comments – especially when you consider that Murray’s nemesis, Rafa Nadal, the world’s No. 1 tennis star, is a very good friend of Rory’s. In turn, Rory repaid the compliments – saying he believed Murray, who had lost in three Grand Slam finals, could take heart from his own endeavours in transforming his fortunes and win Wimbledon: ‘I would love to see Andy win his first Grand Slam. I can relate to him on how much pressure there must be on him from everyone. He’s come close before, too – winning three times. So it would be great to see him do it. Once you get that first one out of the way, you’ll think things will start happening for you. To win his first one would be great for British tennis and British sport in general.’
He added: ‘It would be great if Rafa won, but I would really like Andy to get his first slam at Wimbledon this year. Nadal was one of the first people to get in touch after I won the US Open. He texted me a “well done” – his text messages make me laugh because they are just like the way he speaks. They are in broken English, which is quite funny. He said: “You’re the champion, you’re the best all week” and he added that he was very happy for me.
‘But I think, with Andy, that winning your first one definitely makes it easier to win more. It is a big hurdle to get over. Once Andy can win his first one, he’ll be off and running. I think that clearly he can do this. I am a big follower of tennis and he can hit some shots and cover the court like other players can’t.’
Of course, if Murray did win Wimbledon he would also likely lift the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award – at Rory’s expense. Not that this worried the boy wonder. When told of the possible outcome, Rory merely shrugged his shoulders. ‘He is not a boy who envies others or wants to prosper at their expense,’ I was told. ‘If Murray did win that award, he would be really happy for him. He just accepts things and moves on – always has and always will. That is his make-up, he is a genuinely nice, easy-going guy.’
Murray, on the other hand, accepted that he would need to win Wimbledon if he were to beat Rory to the title. He said: ‘I have not been to Sports Personality for a few years now as I have been training over in Miami, but a few people have said to me that because of what Rory has done, unless I win this week, I have got no chance! I think it’s great the way he dealt with everything after he’d obviously got nervous earlier in the year at The Masters.’
The Scotsman, who says he is a 15-handicap, added: ‘I do play from time to time, but haven’t for about a year now because it’s quite a strain on the back. I have not lost a game of golf for five years, though I’m not great. If you think I get frustrated on the tennis court, you should see me on a golf course! I’m sure I’ll give it more of a go when I’m older – everyone does – but I’ll stick to the tennis for now.’
As July loomed, it was announced that Rory would appear on the CNN chat show, Piers Morgan Tonight – a sure a sign as any that he was now a worldwide name. The presenter himself was more excited than Rory that the boy was to be on his show, announcing on Twitter: ‘BIG NEWS: I just landed 1st excl interview with @McIlroyRory + he’s going to give me a golf lesson and we’ll drink Guinness. #BackOfTheHole.’
And there was still more excitement when it was then announced that after The Open in Kent, Rory would be heading back across the Irish Sea to be the headline act at the Irish Open at the end of July. European Tour chief executive George O’Grady took the hype surrounding the youngster to a completely new level when he told the Belfast Telegraph that Rory was the ‘Elvis Presley’ of professional golf! O’Grady outlined a series of extra security measures that would be put in operation for the Irish Open – precisely because of the ever-growing clamour surrounding the youngster. He said there would be Ryder Cup-style crowd safety measures to cope with a crowd at the Killen Course expected to surpass the 80,000-plus who had attended the previous year’s event, adding that it was all because of Rory’s personality – that people wanted to come and greet the ‘People’s Champion’.
O’Grady said: ‘Wherever he goes in Ireland, Rory is everyone’s pal. So we’ll have to introduce crowd control, a bit more like the Ryder Cup with wider walkways because you are dealing with something like the Tiger Woods’ effect. If it’s all too tight, everybody will want to shake Rory’s hand and he probably would shake everybody’s hand but he’s also got a championship to play.
‘We’ll also have to look at autograph policies and other measures to ensure Rory’s comfort and safety as he plays and that of the spectators. This kid is a superstar – it’s because of the way he conducts himself, how he responded to what happened in Augusta and how he treats people in general.
‘For example, Rory must have been knackered after a day’s filming with one of his sponsors at Wentworth on Monday, but still stuck his head around the door at the Tour offices. He said hello to the staff and signed autographs, chatted with the girls and happily posed for photos. This is Elvis Presley sort of stuff!’
Yes, Rory was becoming a worldwide superstar – the bandwagon was rolling at a mighty pace and there was no stopping it now. His down-to-earth personality and sporting genius was bringing golf back into fashion after its eclipse coinciding with the fall of Tiger. But the beauty of Rory was that for all the acclaim, adulation and fame, he remained the same lovely guy from Holywood, NI: he refused to be swayed by the bullshit and false gods of celebrity. He knew where his roots lay and that his prime responsibilities remained with his family and his God-given talent to hit a golf ball.
And that was why, after the excess of showbiz events culminating with the Morgan chat show, he stepped out of the limelight. Time to go back to work. Now he concerned himself solely with preparations for The Open at Royal St George’s. It was rumoured that he would arrive at Sandwich in Kent on the Tuesday afternoon and, as in Bethesda, would complete two long practice rounds on his own. The plan would be for nine holes on the Tuesday and another nine on the Wednesday, with the idea of ‘there being no point in fiddling with a winning formula’.
Rory also admitted that he would love for The Open to be staged in his native Northern Ireland at Royal Portush Golf Club in Portrush, Co. Antrim. The last time the tournament was held in Ireland was in 1951 at Portrush, when Englishman Max Faulkner triumphed. However, Arlene Foster, the Tourism Minister for Northern Ireland, told the Daily Mirror that she ‘believes the course could be ready to stage a major event as early as 2016.’
Indeed, Rory was all for it being held at Portrush: ‘to have an Open Championship in Northern Ireland would be incredible. It has been a long time since it’s been here – I think the course is definitely good enough.’
And there was another fillip for Rory as he counted down the days to St George’s: after his win in the US Open, he was elevated to No. 3 in the world rankings. It was cause for further celebration in the McIlroy household and in UK golf generally as for the first time in the 25-year history of the rankings, Brits held the top three spots.
Rory had started the year at No. 10 in the rankings and gradually moved up to No. 4 yet the week after Congressional, he overtook PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer, even though the German played in a further tournament and he didn’t! Kaymer dropped to No. 4 after a poor display at the BMW International Open, which meant Luke Donald was ranked No. 1, with Lee Westwood at 2 and Rory at 3.
‘We’ve fed off each other’s success,’ a beaming Rory told Sky Sports. ‘We saw Lee get to No. 1 in the world and Luke has been very consistent for the last two years. We’re working hard to beat one another and strive to be better than everyone else.’
But lifelong golfing fan Mark Paul was in no doubt that Rory was the real No. 1. He said: ‘I have been a huge McIlroy fan for a while now. With Phil Mickelson ageing and Tiger Woods unable to find his health or his stroke, McIlroy looked like a young golfer with star power ready to go. He had performed strong at recent Majors, but fell short. But his US Open performance marked his official arrival. It was only going to be a matter of time before he claimed the top spot in the rankings. Only the maths is in the way of McIlroy earning that spot. I have nothing against Donald and Westwood, but I can’t imagine anyone thinking that one of the two is the best golfer in the world – that title belongs to McIlroy, even if the rankings don’t show it.’
Rory had made it clear that he would not compete in another event until The Open, but Donald and Westwood were preparing to take part in the Scottish Open while Kaymer was heading for the French. After the top four came three Americans: No. 5 Steve Stricker, No. 6 Phil Mickelson and No. 7 Matt Kuchar. Completing the Top 10 were Rory’s fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and Aussie Jason Day.
Rory’s 2011 was shaping up to be an amazing year – he was rising in the rankings, he had earned more than £1.5 million in winnings and was ready to dazzle at The Open. At the same time, he was honest enough to admit that he still feared Tiger Woods, should the legend ever return to the form that once terrorised his rivals. It would be some match-up, should that happen. In the meantime, Rory also admitted he planned to make hay while Woods battled to recover from a leg injury.
Rory said: ‘It’s a good time for me to win things when he’s not playing his best. The first thing for Tiger is to get healthy and see what happens from there. I don’t know if anyone can answer if he’ll get back to where he was 10 years ago, but a lot of people would like to see him back on the course.
‘To have these 10 days off [after the US Open] is very nice – now I can try to win The Open. A lot of things go into winning a tournament. Obviously there’s preparation and needing to play well – and you need a bit of luck. But I feel as if I’m playing well and have a really good chance of winning, and that’s all you can ask for.’
He might have turned his attention towards preparing for The Open but the cash carousel that his US Open win had set into motion was speeding up, with an ever-growing band of individuals eager to seize their piece of the action. One enterprising company had even come up with the idea of combining Rory’s attempt to win The Open in Kent with a luxury day trip on the Orient Express – for a fee of £360 for one of the rounds! The organisers set about enticing punters with a breathless promise of unbridled luxury in their blurb: ‘Rory McIlroy became the youngest US Open champion since 1923 last week, breaking a host of scoring records in the process. Golf fans have the chance to watch him in action first-hand in less than a month as he sets his sights on the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George’s.
‘McIlroy shot to the forefront of everyone’s minds recently after his eight-stroke record win at the US Open on Sunday 19th June. He is now tipped as favourite to win the British Open Golf Championship over Tiger Woods. The 22-year-old sports star has also risen in the odds to win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in December.
‘Golfing fans who want to watch McIlroy in action can combine the British Open Championships on 14th–17th July 2011 with a luxury journey on the Orient Express. The oldest and arguably the most prestigious of golf’s four Majors, the Championship is being held at the Royal St George’s in Kent for the first time since 2003. Packages on the Orient Express from London Victoria to this remote location cost from only £299 per person (plus VAT) and are available on both Friday 15th and Sunday 17th July. Guests will enjoy a three-course Bellini brunch, a three-course dinner with wine, coffee, transfers, admission tickets, an individual course guide and VIP hostess assistance.’
Probably not a bad outing, if you add the spare cash – Rory à la VIP!
His success was also proving a real shot in the arm for his homeland’s economy. Northern Ireland’s Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said there was an ‘international interest’ in the Province as a result of his US Open win.
Speaking at the launch of the PGA EuroPro Open tournament at the end of June, the Minister announced: ‘The recent success of current US Open Champion Rory McIlroy, and of Graeme McDowell before him, has generated a global interest in Northern Ireland and on our golf offering here.
‘The PGA EuroPro Open tournament represents a unique opportunity to gain further widespread exposure. As well as highlights screened in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the tour will be broadcast in over 50 countries, including Germany, Asia and America. Holding high-profile golf events such as this will be crucial in further strengthening Northern Ireland’s position as a world-class golf tourism destination.’
The 2011 event was to be held at Galgorm Castle Golf Course and Ms Foster added: ‘The visitors that come to watch these events and the financial benefit they bring are of vital importance in stimulating growth and delivering economic value to many sectors of the local economy.
‘Promoting our golf offering to an international audience and capitalising on the current global interest in Northern Ireland golf will help grow tourism here to a £1bn industry by the end of the decade.’
Back in Holywood, Rory’s home was becoming a sightseeing target for groups of Americans eager to lap up McIlroy fever, according to Daily Mirror writer Oliver Holt: ‘American tourists have started arriving, the girls in the local coffee shop are wearing golf gear and Holywood Golf Club has lowered its charge for a round to £16 in honour of Rory finishing on 16-under at Congressional. Nice touch.’
And the manager of one hotel and golf resort was similarly overjoyed by the business spin-offs his US Open win could generate. Rory is the touring professional at County Fermanagh’s luxurious Lough Erne resort and its general manager, Jonathan Stapleton, revealed how business had dramatically picked up after an unwelcome quiet period – that there was ‘huge interest’ from guests who hoped to meet Rory there during their holidays.
‘The immediate reaction has been extremely positive,’ he told the Irish Independent. ‘Rory is a very special young man and what he has done is quite incredible and is a huge boost for tourism in Northern Ireland. It was amazing to see it [the resort’s logo] feature on the front page of most papers in the world. We are all very happy for him and his family. He is Northern Ireland’s greatest ambassador.’
Rory was said to own a house at the resort and Mr Stapleton revealed that his parents, too often visit. He added that Rory was ‘a very nice young man’ who was ‘only too happy to sign autographs.’
Northern Ireland’s senior politicians at the country’s Assembly were just as keen to get in on the act – pledging to hold a special reception for Rory to pat him on the back for his success in Bethesda. Business at the legislature was even suspended to allow all parties to praise him.
The Democratic Unionist Party’s Peter Weir, who represents the North Down constituency where the family live, said the win marked Rory out as a ‘true sports superstar.’ Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy observed: ‘I think it’s a great tribute to him, as a very humble, a very grounded young man. It’s a tribute to his parents and the people who have supported him, particularly in Holywood and the golf club there.’
And Ulster Unionist Leslie Cree added, ‘This is, apart from a personal triumph, a great victory for tourism in Northern Ireland. He is going to be a great ambassador for sport and a great ambassador for tourism.’
Meanwhile, the SDLP’s Karen McKevitt said: ‘Well, we have got our own Tiger [Woods]. Our Celtic Tiger! He sold the brand of Northern Ireland so well – it was the way he did it. Yes, it was brilliant golf, but in a very modest way. He was spectacular, yet calm.’
Then a tale emerged that put into sharp focus just what a nice guy Rory was – how he could indeed lay claim to being ‘the People’s Champion’. After winning at Congressional, he had gone off to make a charity appearance at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, Massachusetts. But instead of playing the big star by riding in a limo with his father Gerry and the US Open trophy, Rory travelled as a passenger with the local cop, who originated from Ireland and had been designated to give him a police escort on the 90-minute journey to Logan airport for his flight back home.
‘He was absolutely a normal guy,’ Barney Murphy, travelling with his Dutch Shepherd police dog Jaxx, told the Boston Globe’s Brian McGrory, ‘He asked if he could ride in the cruiser – he said he really liked dogs. You know he’s not going to become anything but a normal guy because he’s so down-to-earth.
‘He said he’d never been in a police car before and wondered if it would be OK. The whole country was screaming and shouting the day before, and there he is, sitting with me in the car. He was humble and courteous, not one bit of arrogance…’
Rory was already proving himself to be an extremely likeable, approachable champion, but soon he would have to focus on more serious ‘business matters’ as The Open loomed. On Wednesday, 29 June, he finally ended speculation about his build-up for the tournament in outlining a plan of attack. He revealed how he did indeed plan to be the last man of the 156-strong field out at St George’s, saying: ‘I will spend two days at Sandwich on the Thursday and Friday of next week. I’ll then stay away until the Tuesday afternoon when I have a press conference but I won’t play until the Wednesday. It’s good to arrive there fresh because there’s so much going on at a Major.’
It was suggested to him at a press conference that he had perhaps been taking things too lightly by having a three-week competitive break before St George’s – and getting involved in a long list of celebrity events. He laughed it off, replying, ‘I’ve been on the range and am spending Thursday and Friday with my coach, Michael Bannon. I’ll ensure I’ve prepared properly.’
He also said that he would continue to take note of Nicklaus’s comments that he needed to harden up, mentally and emotionally. The former champion’s words of advice had worked wonders at Congressional after that collapse at The Masters – and Rory was determined that he would build on the emotional structure, even if this led to some people accusing him of ‘turning nasty’. At an earlier promotional event for his clothing sponsor Oakley, he had said: ‘There definitely is that sense when you win a Major, people are going to see you and come at you a little different. And honestly, there is also a difference in the way you approach it yourself. You do have that kind of superiority complex in a way and I don’t think that is a bad thing at all. It takes a while to figure it out and understand things and get perspective, but yes, a superiority complex can be a positive. You have to get yourself into this mentality where you think you are going to go out there and beat everybody else.’
He told Yahoo! Sports that he had been more arrogant when he was younger, but had made a decision to change because he didn’t like what he had become. The only problem then was that he became ‘too nice’! ‘The thing with me is that I was very cocky as a kid. When I was growing up, I was winning all these junior tournaments. Then, when I got older, I realised that is not a nice way to be and not the way I wanted to come across. So, I toned it down a lot and I went a bit too far the other way. I think I got to the point where I was almost being a bit too nice.
‘You have to force yourself to be a bit arrogant in a way, and that is not something that comes totally naturally to me, but it is something that can be of benefit. I was a bit too conscious of how I was coming across. Inside I have that bit of swagger and belief in my game and I need that on the course. Now I have found a good balance.
‘When I was winning as a kid, it made me feel like I was better than everyone else. When you love golf so much and it is so important to you, doing well at it gives you this sense of self-importance. The way I view things now is very different. I may be better than you or most people at golf, and I can say that and feel that and it doesn’t matter because I am. Facts show that.
‘But there are a million and one things that other people are much, much better than me at, and those things are just as important. So, that keeps it in perspective a bit. I feel now that I should have perhaps won more considering some of the golf I have played. Winning is what it is all about.’
Indeed it is. And while Woods was rapidly beginning to look like yesterday’s man, Rory continued to notch up the volume with each new success. Ten days after the US Open win, however, Tiger finally broke cover to comment on his new rival – and to warn that he was not finished yet. Speaking to the media back home in America, he admitted to being mightily impressed by Rory’s showing at Congressional. Tiger said: ‘That was pretty good, wasn’t it? That was some seriously good playing. It was cool to see that he had softer conditions and he was able to go low, but also was able to continue pushing it. And that’s what’s fun when you have a lead, is to keep building on it and keep pushing. Those conditions weren’t such where pars were going to build leads and an occasional birdie.
‘You had to go out there and be aggressive, and go get the birdies because everyone else was; everyone else was making three, four, five, six birdies a day, and he just didn’t make any bogeys. That was very impressive playing. To do that at a US Open, to be that aggressive the entire time, that was cool to watch.’
Tiger even conceded that Rory was a better player than he had been at 22 – a comparison originally made by Woods’ good friend Mark O’Meara: ‘I totally agree with what Mark said. In comparison to, well, in ’97 when I was, what, 21, granted, I had some success but I didn’t like my golf swing. That’s why I changed it. I felt like at the same age, yeah, his swing is definitely better than mine was at the same age.
‘But in ’99, my swing came together and I had a pretty good next two years. That’s kind of where we’re at the same age comparatively, yeah, his swing is better. He needs to obviously continue working on it and continue getting better.’
But it was then that the Tiger roared, dismissing those who claimed he was about to be usurped by his new young rival. ‘I’m 35, I’m not 65,’ he declared. ‘I’ve still got some years ahead of me! Golf is unlike any other sport. I mean, Watson was, what, 59 years old when he almost won? We can play for a very long time. And given that we have the health to do it, guys have succeeded for a very long time.
‘That’s what I would like to do is play this game for as long as I want to. I feel like my best years are still ahead of me.’
Those words sounded ominous but one voice firmly behind the belief that Rory would soon usurp Woods was American amateur Scott Pinckney, who had played a practice round with him the day before the real action started at Congressional. After his feats in the tournament itself, Pinckney told Reuters that Rory’s form was ‘ridiculous’, adding, ‘He hit it great in practice, as you can tell from what he’s done in this tournament. And then he got to 13-under (par) during the second round. It’s awesome.’
Pinckney was in no doubt that Rory would now go on to take the No. 1 spot, eclipsing Woods in the process. The American said: ‘He definitely can – he’s got the talent and he’s got the mindset. There’s nothing but up for him and soon he will reach the top.’
Indeed, the unpalatable fact of the matter for those who still believed Woods would make a comeback worthy of Lazarus was this: Tiger hadn’t won a title for almost two years as Rory tuned up for his assault on St George’s (the Australian Masters in November 2009). And as the Irish youngster zoomed up to No. 3, Woods languished at No. 17, his lowest ranking since 1997. If Rory could now go on to win The Open, if he could sort out his mindset and physical fitness, the statement of intent to his hero and biggest rival would be crystal-clear: You’ve had your time, this is mine.