EVEN THOSE with only a remote interest in sport, and golf in particular, must have been impressed by Rory McIlroy’s imperious display in winning the US Open on Sunday night at the famous Congressional course in Washington. A game that is often seen as the preserve of the elite has been lit up by the brilliance and style of the golfer who at 22 years of age became the youngest winner of the championship since the legendary Bobby Jones in 1923.
His start to finish win was a thrilling display of shot-making and fearless play that broke record after record in the illustrious 111-year history of the great tournament. As well as establishing McIlroy as the new superstar of the game, his victory will go some way towards restoring the reputation of a sport that has been struggling with its image since the tawdry exploits of Tiger Woods became public.
That McIlroy should follow in the footsteps of his Northern Ireland colleague and friend Graeme McDowell in winning one of the most coveted prizes in golf speaks volumes for his character in recovering from a harrowing collapse in the final round of the US Masters just over two months ago.
Rather than instilling doubts about his ability to close out major tournaments, McIlroy turned the Augusta experience to his advantage by talking openly about his meltdown in the last round of the tournament when he was within touching distance of being fitted for the famous green jacket. That brutal honesty was refreshing. It was unusual and endeared him to a new audience which might have been only vaguely familiar with golf but fully aware of the psychological damage that can be inflicted when a person wilts in front of the world on television. His demeanour in the final round showed that lessons had been learned and bodes well for the future. His success will no doubt bring new pressures but he appears to be a young man with his feet on the ground.
Professional sport at the highest levels is unforgiving but McIlroy has won both the admiration of his peers and some of its legendary players in the short time he has been on tour as a professional. The warm tributes paid by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman yesterday illustrate not just how highly they rate him as a golfer but as an ambassador for the sport off the course. His jaunty gait, happy demeanour and youthful enthusiasm are in marked contrast to the surliness very often displayed by some of his fellow professionals.
In today’s sporting world, those attributes are every bit as valuable to a champion as raw talent. They attract the sponsorship deals that will earn McIlroy millions and millions in years to come. They also give the sport a youthful, exuberant look that will draw a new generation of players and followers. McIlroy – along with Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell – has always acknowledged the contribution of the Golfing Union of Ireland to developing his ability through his formative amateur career.
The scale of McIlroy’s achievement is a confidence boost to Ireland.