McIlroy spreads his fame abroad

European Amateur Open: Only time will tell what the future holds for Rory McIlroy but, at 17 years of age, he repeatedly provides proof his is a wonderful talent.

On Saturday, at Biella Golf Club in Italy, he became the third Irishman in a decade to lift the European amateur title and earned an invitation to play in next year's British Open at Carnoustie.

"I didn't put a foot wrong all day," remarked McIlroy of a closing-round 68 that left him on 274, 18 under, for one of the most prestigious titles in amateur golf.

Already this season the Holywood youngster retained his Irish Close and West of Ireland titles, but this latest win is an even more significant milestone in his budding career.

At the start of the year, McIlroy had set himself several targets, among them retaining his Irish Close title and contending in the British Amateur and the European stroke play.

Unfortunately for McIlroy, he was unwell in the British Amateur at Sandwich, and so he put an increased focus on the European individual in Italy.

"When I arrived at the course and played a number of practice rounds, I felt very confident," said McIlroy, who followed in the footsteps of Paddy Gribben in 1998 and Stephen Browne in 2001 in annexing the title.

"I've been playing well the past number of weeks, and my expectations were quite high to be honest."

Indeed, McIlroy's performance in the championship backed up that positive mood. Through the 72 holes he ran up only five bogeys and, having birdied three of the last four holes in his final round, ended with a three-stroke cushion on runner-up Stephen Lewton of England in claiming his biggest title yet.

"Obviously, I'm delighted to win," he said. "All of my big championship wins so far had come in Ireland, and I felt it was important for me to win elsewhere. I wanted to put myself into contention in the British and the European, but I wasn't well at the British so it was nice to go out and play so well here. I'm looking forward to playing Carnoustie next year, and it should also do me some favours for the Walker Cup."

McIlroy has had a number of approaches to turn professional but has said he will make no decision to move into the paid ranks until after next year's Walker Cup match, when Britain and Ireland face the United States, the defending champions, at Royal Co Down.