RORY McILROY THE MAKING OF A CHAMPION: Although it was always likely that Rory McIlroy would attain greatness the GUI's structures greatly aided him in his quest, writes PAUL GALLAGHER
IN HIS post US Open press conference Rory McIlroy became the latest Major champion to praise the work carried out by the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI). With a seeming conveyor belt of talent coming through the amateur ranks, the GUI’s national coach will tell you it’s not rocket science yet Ireland’s current success rate is one of great envy.
As a governing body representing the entire island of Ireland, the GUI’s ability to reach into every corner and identify talent through their provincial coaching structures should not be underestimated. Aided by a “naturally competitive” and proactive club scene, structures are in place to help unearth and nurture the next Rory McIlroy.
On the flip side there’s a strong argument to suggest the likes of Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and McIlroy were always going to shine anyway. In any case a young McIlroy was already under the tutelage of Michael Bannon before the GUI got involved. But for every one superstar, countless others follow and benefit from the GUI programmes and financial assistance from bodies like the Irish Sports Council (ISC).
This week Rory spoke of how he was afforded the opportunity to travel to other countries to “compete at the highest level and experience new cultures” in his time with the GUI. Harrington and McDowell have echoed similar sentiments and the trio, plus others like Paul McGinley or Darren Clarke, have championed the GUI cause long after they left the amateur ranks.
“If there is a secret it’s probably not on the coaching side but more to do with the competitive programmes we run, right through to the high level of club competition we enjoy across Ireland,” explains Neil Manchip, GUI national coach.
“Northern Ireland in particular has such a strong inter-club competition scene. Granted that wasn’t so relevant to Rory for he was so far ahead of the curve but it demonstrates the natural competitiveness within amateur golf in this country.”
Manchip first met McIlroy on a GUI training week in Villa Sol, Portugal in March 2005, the same week Harrington won the Honda Classic. Having worked closely with Niall Kearney in his time at Royal Dublin, Manchip had already heard great things about Holywood’s boy wonder.
“He just flushed every ball on the range. Right away you could tell he was something special,” recalls Manchip. “We had a 72-hole tournament amongst the Irish senior team that week and Rory as a 15-year-old won by seven shots.”
Last week the Scot bumped into McIlroy again at Congressional; they stayed in the same official US Open hotel with Manchip there as Shane Lowry’s coach.
“Rory is still the same brilliant golfer I first met but has quickly gone through the levels to the very top. He was always a fast learner and nothing has changed,” adds Manchip, who witnessed a composed individual, both on and off the course.
“Rather than shy away in his room, Rory was clearly at ease, signing autographs and giving of his time. He had put the Masters disappointment behind him.”
Manchip affords us a rare insight to McIlroy, an individual constantly striving for more. “He was always a good team player for Ireland yet always keen to move to the next level. He set an example, particularly for his younger team-mates.”
“He’s the kind of guy who loves the limelight and all the attention, loves being number one, in the nicest sense. It’s never arrogance, it’s because he enjoys doing it, like any performer.”
Manchip works closely with his 22 provincial coaches to devise teaching, nutrition and fitness programmes for their elite panels through the year. At the other end of the scale they also run assessment days and invite golf clubs to send their brightest young prospects, generally from the age of 11 onwards. Junior Golf Ireland plays a big part at this grassroots level too.
“Individuals with potential might get through the provincial system and eventually get onto one of our national squads. By then they are on a really good programme,” says Manchip referring to the facilities at the GUI Academy in Carton House plus the extensive travel and competitive itineraries for elite panels.
“One of the biggest things is the support from the Irish Sports Council. Without their financial assistance we wouldn’t be able to send as many teams away to Europe and beyond to compete – that’s what Rory was alluding to this week. Flights and hotel costs for a panel cost thousands but the benefits are there to see.”
Naturally there is a reluctance to identify who the next Rory McIlroy might be for fear of added pressure, but Manchip makes specific reference to a certain trio. He believes Paul Cutler is maturing well and will win a Walker Cup place later this year before a likely move into the paid ranks.
Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy has been shooting sensational scores and has a “refreshing no nonsense attitude to the game, not dissimilar to Shane Lowry,” says the Edinburgh native. Manchip also highlighted Jack Hume, who last year won all four provincial Boys championships. “A really significant achievement.”
Returning to McIlroy’s progression, Manchip is humble enough to know the real credit of his success lies elsewhere.
“You don’t have to look further than his parents, his coach and the environment Rory grew up in. The fact Holywood Golf Club had the foresight to allow this prodigious talent to become a member at seven years old was forward thinking. The attitude was to just let him play,” says Manchip.
“It was around this time his dad Gerry handed the coaching duties over to Bannon. His parents were always supportive without ever being pushy. Like I said, he always had a great capacity for learning; that combined with his love of the game and obvious talent made for a potent force. A pure golfing machine.”
“By the time Rory came to us he already had a great coach in Michael, I certainly wouldn’t take any credit for his development. The biggest thing we could do for him was provide an environment where he could compete and flourish. He already had great technical advice, we just filled in the blanks.”
McIlroy became the third Irish major champion in modern times, the country’s fifth major in four years.
And though hype and comparisons to Tiger Woods may be a little premature, the Irish strike rate in the big ones must be the envy of other home nations.
Compare this to England. Luke Donald and Lee Westwood may be number one and two in the world rankings, but they along with the likes of Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose still can’t get over the line in Majors.
McIlroy also enjoys a life away from the fairways and the draw to home remains strong. He’s good mates with many of the Ulster Rugby set and is often seen at Ravenhill, while Manchester United floats his boat in the Premier League. He and McDowell went to the Champions League final at Wembley. We know all these things for the 22-year-old is also an avid user of Twitter and social networking.
The dust hasn’t properly settled but McIlroy’s US Open feat has already transcended beyond the sport. This week a judge made reference to the world number four as a model citizen when sentencing a young offender.
On his homecoming the US Open champion said “we deserve to live in peace” in reference to the untimely riots in Belfast. What a 48 hours it was for Northern Ireland; the highs of another major champion juxtaposed to the province’s dark underbelly and the idiotic rioting in Belfast just a matter of miles from Holywood.
However, what McIlroy’s achievement will do, especially on the back of his mate G-Mac’s triumph from 12 months ago, is place the province, and Ireland as a whole, back in the global shop window. All week local radio phone-ins suggested it’s time for the British Open to be brought to the province. They have a point, though 2015 is the earliest possible date.
All told, McIlroy is the archetypal local boy done good. He was already a role model to so many. It’s just that his following has now gone global.
“He just flushed every ball on the range. Right away you could tell he was something special. We had a 72-hole tournament amongst the Irish senior team that week and Rory as a 15-year-old won by seven shots
TEAM MCILROY: THE KEY PLAYERS
JP FITZGERALD
(Caddie)
Perhaps unfairly JP came in for much criticism after McIlroy's Masters meltdown but confounded his critics by keeping his employer in cheery and composed mood down the stretch at Congressional – not to mention issuing the right numbers and lines all week. The affable and jovial Dubliner has been around the block and previously caddied for Ernie Els, Darren Clarke and long-time friend Paul McGinley and was on the latter's bag when he holed the winning putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup. JP was an accomplished single handicap golfer and beat Clarke in semi-final of the 1987 Irish Close before losing the final to Eddie Power. He also won the Leinster Boys at Laytown in 1986.
ANDREW "CHUBBY" CHANDLER
(Founder/MD International Sports Management ISM)
Journeyman pro who competed on the European Tour for 15 years but was more effective as a "Del Boy" type negotiating sponsorship deals for fellow professionals like Carl Mason. Ditched the clubs and founded International Sports Management (ISM) in 1989. A year later he got the heads up on a promising Irish amateur and Darren Clarke became one his breakthrough clients. Through Clarke came the link to McIlroy, whose signing with ISM when he turned professional in 2007 was the worst kept secret in golf. The 57-year-old, larger than life character, has more than 30 golfers in his stable, including two current South African Major champions, Louis Oosthuizen (British Open) and Charl Schwartzel (US Masters).
STUART CAGE
(Rory's Manager at ISM)
"Cagey" is a former European Tour player who now has the primary responsibility of looking after and managing the day-to-day affairs of the hottest name in golf. In his amateur days, the now 37-year-old won the Lytham Trophy in 1992. A year later he played on the same Walker Cup team as Pádraig Harrington and Raymond Burns at Interlachen CC in Minnesota. He won once on the EuroPro Tour (2006) and Challenge Tour (1994) plus the 1997 Cannes Open on the main European Tour. Lost the 1995 Irish Open in a play-off to Sam Torrance.
MICHAEL BANNON
(Coach)
Current head pro at Bangor Golf Club (1999-present) who started coaching an eight-year-old Rory when head pro at Holywood Golf Club (1984-99). Down to earth character who still thrives on life as club pro despite responsibility for the most desirable swing in golf. Lifelong friend of the McIlroys who went to Gerry and Rosie's wedding and his daughter went to school with Rory. As an amateur played out of Kirkistown and Belvoir Park and got to final of Irish Close at RCD in 1980 and lost to Ronan Rafferty. Has won many times on Irish PGA circuit and lost 1997 Irish Professionals Championship in play-off to Pádraig Harrington.
DAVE STOCKTON
(Putting guru)
The 69-year-old has become a respected force on the art of putting after a playing career which brought him over 25 wins, including two US PGA Championships in 1970 and 1976 – the latter coincidentally coming at Congressional. He was also the controversial US Ryder Cup captain at Kiawah Island in 1991. McIlroy met Stockton in Carolina shortly after his Masters disappointment and has worked a couple of sessions with him since, including at Wentworth. He supposedly made a slight alteration to the hands position and eye-line focus to the hole when lining up putts plus reminded Rory to slow down the pre-shot routine.
GERRY McILROY
(Dad and all-round influence)
The sacrifices he and Rory's mum Rosie made to afford their only son the best possible chance are well documented. In the early days Rory would shadow his dad to the course at Holywood Golf Club. Gerry is an engaging character, who wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid to call a spade a spade. He's an accomplished single handicap golfer who has played at Senior Cup level and on last hearing still plays off two. A passionate family man and along with Rory's uncles – one of whom, Mickey McDonald, starred in the Armagh forward line from 1982 to 1987 – has plenty of banter. A hugely supportive dad and mentor but also like Rory's best mate at the same time.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
Driver: Titleist 910D2, 8.5 deg loft, ROMBAX 7VO5 Shaft, X-Flex.
Fairway Woods: 3-Wood: Titleist 909 F2, 13.5 deg loft, Project X 76 gram, X-Flex
5-Wood: Titleist 906 F2, 18 deg loft, Fujikura Fit-on! 11 Pro 95, X-Flex.
(Note: Choice made between the two-iron and the five wood, depending on the course/conditions)
Irons: 3-9 iron Titleist 710 MBs, Project X Shafts, 6.5 Rifle.
Wedges: PW: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled, 46 deg loft, Project X Shaft, 6.5 flex
Mid Wedge: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 54 deg loft, Project X Shaft, 6.5 flex
Lob wedge: Titleist Vokey, Spin Milled, 60 deg loft, Project X Shaft, 6.5 flex
Putter: Scotty Cameron Fastback Prototype 33 in length
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
