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Rory’s McIlroy’s Open win puts him close to joining golf’s aristocracy Rory’s McIlroy’s Open win puts him close to joining golf’s aristocracy
(30 days later)
Two days before the Open, there was a momentary worry surrounding the prospects of Rory McIlroy. He had walked from the course at Hoylake after only eight practice holes. Fears over injury, or other element of the chaos that has occasionally engulfed him, arose. We should have known better.Two days before the Open, there was a momentary worry surrounding the prospects of Rory McIlroy. He had walked from the course at Hoylake after only eight practice holes. Fears over injury, or other element of the chaos that has occasionally engulfed him, arose. We should have known better.
An explanation quickly appeared from the McIlroy camp; a brief Tuesday walk on the links was always the plan. The 25-year-old had done his Royal Liverpool homework – and some, as it was to transpire – when visiting two weekends earlier. By Sunday night, the Claret Jug was being filled with Jägermeister at McIlroy’s victory party.An explanation quickly appeared from the McIlroy camp; a brief Tuesday walk on the links was always the plan. The 25-year-old had done his Royal Liverpool homework – and some, as it was to transpire – when visiting two weekends earlier. By Sunday night, the Claret Jug was being filled with Jägermeister at McIlroy’s victory party.
Twelve months after the lowest point in his professional career, when he missed the Open cut at Muirfield, McIlroy is on the verge of greatness. He left East Lothian with an empty feeling and simple motivation: “Never let this happen again.” It was the first time McIlroy had failed to survive for an Open weekend.Twelve months after the lowest point in his professional career, when he missed the Open cut at Muirfield, McIlroy is on the verge of greatness. He left East Lothian with an empty feeling and simple motivation: “Never let this happen again.” It was the first time McIlroy had failed to survive for an Open weekend.
Now, a grand slam of majors is within view. Whisper it but there is even a legitimate argument that McIlroy is better equipped to chase Jack Nicklaus’s record haul of 18 than Tiger Woods. For all Woods continues to display flashes of brilliance and, at 38, is hardly on the verge of retirement, his invincibility on the big stage has disappeared. Now, a grand slam of majors is within view. Whisper it but there is even a legitimate argument that McIlroy is better equipped to chase Jack Nicklaus’s record haul of 18 than Tiger Woods. For all Woods continues to display flashes of brilliance and, at 38, is hardly on the verge of retirement, his invincibility on the big stage has disappeared.
Nicklaus led the post-Open tributes for McIlroy. “I like his swagger,” said the 74-year-old. “I like the way he handles himself. I like his desire to be great. I like his desire to do the things he needs to do. I like that in a young guy. He’s cocky in a nice way.”Nicklaus led the post-Open tributes for McIlroy. “I like his swagger,” said the 74-year-old. “I like the way he handles himself. I like his desire to be great. I like his desire to do the things he needs to do. I like that in a young guy. He’s cocky in a nice way.”
Praise indeed. Nicklaus was impressed by the way McIlroy closed out victory, with a 71 which left Rickie Fowler and Sergio García trailing by two. He had earlier carded two 66s and a 68. This marks only the 10th time in history that a player has produced a wire-to-wire Open success.Praise indeed. Nicklaus was impressed by the way McIlroy closed out victory, with a 71 which left Rickie Fowler and Sergio García trailing by two. He had earlier carded two 66s and a 68. This marks only the 10th time in history that a player has produced a wire-to-wire Open success.
“The other guys put the pressure on him with what they did,” Nicklaus said. “Rory then did what he had to do. That is the measure of what you are doing. It is not to go out and shoot another 66. It’s shooting what you have to shoot to win the tournament.”“The other guys put the pressure on him with what they did,” Nicklaus said. “Rory then did what he had to do. That is the measure of what you are doing. It is not to go out and shoot another 66. It’s shooting what you have to shoot to win the tournament.”
When asked whether he would like to complete the major set next April at the Masters, McIlroy did nothing to hide his enthusiasm. “I’d love to,” he said. “Going to Augusta now with three legs of the grand slam under my belt, with just the Green Jacket to win; I will be going with a lot of motivation. I will be doing everything I can to prepare the best way I can.When asked whether he would like to complete the major set next April at the Masters, McIlroy did nothing to hide his enthusiasm. “I’d love to,” he said. “Going to Augusta now with three legs of the grand slam under my belt, with just the Green Jacket to win; I will be going with a lot of motivation. I will be doing everything I can to prepare the best way I can.
“It will be a great chance for me to put that little milestone to bed and go forward. Before that, there is still the US PGA Championship to play at Valhalla and I want to play well there, but going to Augusta next April is going to be a lot of fun.”“It will be a great chance for me to put that little milestone to bed and go forward. Before that, there is still the US PGA Championship to play at Valhalla and I want to play well there, but going to Augusta next April is going to be a lot of fun.”
If the Nicklaus magic number is some distance away for now, other targets are not. Nick Faldo, Europe’s most prolific major winner, claimed six. McIlroy has two more major victories to go before matching Seve Ballesteros. When, and it surely is when, McIlroy adds a fourth major to his roll of honour, he will be Irish golf’s record holder.If the Nicklaus magic number is some distance away for now, other targets are not. Nick Faldo, Europe’s most prolific major winner, claimed six. McIlroy has two more major victories to go before matching Seve Ballesteros. When, and it surely is when, McIlroy adds a fourth major to his roll of honour, he will be Irish golf’s record holder.
“I wanted to be an established tour player by the age of 25 and maybe win a major or have chances to win majors and tour events,” McIlroy said. “To be going to Augusta next year as a 25-year-old and have the chance to win the career grand slam – even I didn’t think it was possible.”“I wanted to be an established tour player by the age of 25 and maybe win a major or have chances to win majors and tour events,” McIlroy said. “To be going to Augusta next year as a 25-year-old and have the chance to win the career grand slam – even I didn’t think it was possible.”
Bill Clinton was among those to pass on congratulations. McIlroy will fulfil commitments with sponsors this week before re-appearing competitively at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational from a week on Thursday.Bill Clinton was among those to pass on congratulations. McIlroy will fulfil commitments with sponsors this week before re-appearing competitively at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational from a week on Thursday.
McIlroy wins in streaks and has done so since his amateur days. To borrow the sentiment of Padraig Harrington in relation to McIlroy, consistency may be overrated anyway. McIlroy also tends to succeed when there is an opportunity to laugh in the face of detractors. The second-round curse, which had afflicted the man from Holywood in Northern Ireland in recent times, was comprehensively removed on the Wirral, for example.McIlroy wins in streaks and has done so since his amateur days. To borrow the sentiment of Padraig Harrington in relation to McIlroy, consistency may be overrated anyway. McIlroy also tends to succeed when there is an opportunity to laugh in the face of detractors. The second-round curse, which had afflicted the man from Holywood in Northern Ireland in recent times, was comprehensively removed on the Wirral, for example.
“I think every major win is different,” McIlroy said. “Congressional [at the 2011 US Open] was maybe silencing the doubters and battling some of the demons I had in my own head. Kiawah Island [the 2012 US PGA Championship] was coming off a bit of a slump in form but still having a good year. I felt like in 2012 the only thing my year needed was a major.“I think every major win is different,” McIlroy said. “Congressional [at the 2011 US Open] was maybe silencing the doubters and battling some of the demons I had in my own head. Kiawah Island [the 2012 US PGA Championship] was coming off a bit of a slump in form but still having a good year. I felt like in 2012 the only thing my year needed was a major.
“It has been a difficult 18 months, at times, since the start of 2013. Winning the Claret Jug makes it all worthwhile. This is maybe like Congressional because I had to silence a few doubters about how I could play links golf, how I could handle a lead, how I would play on a Friday.“It has been a difficult 18 months, at times, since the start of 2013. Winning the Claret Jug makes it all worthwhile. This is maybe like Congressional because I had to silence a few doubters about how I could play links golf, how I could handle a lead, how I would play on a Friday.
“Did I think that I could do it this year? I did. My game was in good shape, I had won earlier in the year at Wentworth. I felt like I was just coming into form and just needed something to click. Everything clicked.”“Did I think that I could do it this year? I did. My game was in good shape, I had won earlier in the year at Wentworth. I felt like I was just coming into form and just needed something to click. Everything clicked.”
The depth of competition in the big tournaments will make it tough for McIlroy to become a prolific winner. Yet that is his aim. “Golf is looking to someone to put their hand up. And I want to be that person.”The depth of competition in the big tournaments will make it tough for McIlroy to become a prolific winner. Yet that is his aim. “Golf is looking to someone to put their hand up. And I want to be that person.”
McIlroy’s ravenous appetite for success is just one element which separates him from his contemporaries; Faldo and Nicklaus were the same. How England’s supposedly golden golfing generation would love McIlroy’s prize list.McIlroy’s ravenous appetite for success is just one element which separates him from his contemporaries; Faldo and Nicklaus were the same. How England’s supposedly golden golfing generation would love McIlroy’s prize list.
There is also a willingness to learn from tough times. McIlroy famously followed up a 63 at the Open of four years ago with an 80. In 2011, he led the Masters by four with one round to play but collapsed spectacularly over the closing stretch.There is also a willingness to learn from tough times. McIlroy famously followed up a 63 at the Open of four years ago with an 80. In 2011, he led the Masters by four with one round to play but collapsed spectacularly over the closing stretch.
“You need experience like 2010, having the first-round lead and losing it,” he insists. “OK, I came back and finished third there but you need experiences like that to learn from.“You need experience like 2010, having the first-round lead and losing it,” he insists. “OK, I came back and finished third there but you need experiences like that to learn from.
“I definitely learned a lot from that day, just as I learned a lot from my day at Augusta in 2011. You need all these little experiences.”“I definitely learned a lot from that day, just as I learned a lot from my day at Augusta in 2011. You need all these little experiences.”
McIlroy has plenty to look forward to over the rest of his year. The season’s final major, the US PGA Championship, is little over a fortnight away. He will also be a key player for Europe when the United States come calling to Gleneagles in late September.McIlroy has plenty to look forward to over the rest of his year. The season’s final major, the US PGA Championship, is little over a fortnight away. He will also be a key player for Europe when the United States come calling to Gleneagles in late September.
In both events, and all others from now on, McIlroy will have a fresh status bestowed on him. At 25, he undoubtedly has scope to establish himself as a member of the golfing aristocracy.In both events, and all others from now on, McIlroy will have a fresh status bestowed on him. At 25, he undoubtedly has scope to establish himself as a member of the golfing aristocracy.