Shooting star with world at his feet

He has had a golf club in his hand since he was 18 months old, and he conquered all before him in the amateur game. Philip Reidreports

NO LONGER a boy, Rory McIlroy – just 19 years of age – has the world at his feet. But, then, it has seemed that way for a long time. Yesterday’s maiden professional win in the Dubai Desert Classic simply provided affirmation of just how good he is, and how great he might be.

We can all be sages; in the case of McIlroy, however, it was easy to be wise. Anyone who saw him as a lean amateur, whether it was at Rosses Point, where he became the youngest winner of the West of Ireland, or at the European Club, where he became the first player since Joe Carr to retain the Irish Close, or at Royal Portrush, when he conquered the great links with a round of 61, could predict he was more than a little special.

Of course, McIlroy’s ability had been obvious to his parents, Gerry and Rosie, earlier than anyone: when he was two, he could hit 40-yard drives; and, as a nine-year-old, he won the World Junior Championship at Doral in Florida.

As a result of that victory, McIlroy was invited on to the Gerry Kelly Show on UTV, where he demonstrated his short-game brilliance by chipping nine out of 10 balls into a washing machine.

As an amateur, he dominated Irish and European golf. By the time he turned professional in September, 2007 – signing with Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management company, who include Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley in their stable – McIlroy was a plus-six handicap and had been number one in the world amateur rankings.

“I just want to keep improving,” remarked McIlroy of his ambitions on moving to the professional ranks. “Golf is a bit like an exam paper. I like the fact that each day asks different questions of you even though you can be playing the same course.”

McIlroy put the lessons he had learned as an amateur – which included winning the silver medal as top amateur at the 2007 British Open in Carnoustie, as well as claiming the European amateur title – to good use on turning professional. He became the youngest and quickest player to claim a full PGA European Tour card by affiliate membership, finishing third in the 2007 Dunhill Links (just his second tournament as a professional).

But, then, McIlroy has always been destined to succeed. His dad, a scratch player, noticed his son’s ability from a very young age – “I knew there was something there” – and took on three jobs so he could finance the young McIlroy’s trips around the world.

And McIlroy’s long-time coach, Michael Bannon, once remarked, “Rory’s big advantage is that he has had a golf club in his hands since he was 18 months old . . . for him, swinging a club is like using a knife and fork.”

The expectations that accompanied McIlroy on his move to the professional ranks were matched by a continually upward graph as the player took to the challenge.

Although he had a number of close calls in tournaments last year – losing play-offs in the European Masters (to Jean Francois Lucquin in September) and the Hong Kong Open (to Wen-tang Lin in November) – he became the youngest player to break into the world’s top-50 and, in so doing, earned an invitation to the US Masters in April.

McIlroy’s win in Dubai – which will see him move to 14th in the world rankings – has brought his prize money in the 16 months since he turned professional to €1.5 million and earns him a place in the field for the European Tour’s HSBC Champions event, which traditionally opens the season.

He has moved to second place, behind Sergio Garcia, on the Order of Merit with earnings this season of €609,410.

The two-year-old who raised eyebrows when he hit drives of over 40 yards is now averaging 301.9 yards on tour and, according to the statistics, hits 80 per cent of greens in regulation.

In short, he has game.

And the Ulsterman’s maiden tour win offers him a springboard for the rest of the season which will see him compete in all four majors – the Masters, US Open, British Open and US PGA.

More immediately, his rise in the rankings will see him compete in the Accenture World Matchplay in Arizona later this month, and at next month’s WGC-CA Championship, which will bring him back to Doral, where a decade ago he was crowned World Junior champion.

Much has happened to McIlroy since then; and, yet, there is a sense that the best has yet to come. He just keeps ticking all the right boxes, and has also managed to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

A wise head on young shoulders.

2007

Silver medal as leading

amateur at British Open,

Sherry Cup (world number

one)

2006

European Amateur Championship, Mullingar Scratch Cup, English Under-21 Strokeplay Championship, Irish Close Championship, West of Ireland Championship

2005

West of Ireland Championship, Irish Close Championship

2004

Tom Montgomery Award (best Under-18 in Ireland), Irish Youth Championship, Irish Boys Championship, Ulster Boys Championship (under-18)

2003

Ulster Boys Championship

2002

Ulster Boys (under-15)