Rory McIlroy: Northern Ireland native making his own way amid Tiger Woods comparisons

June 17, 2009

Rory McIlrory

Like Canadian kids who learn to walk playing ice hockey and kids in Spain who do the same on soccer fields, Rory McIlroy grew up outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It’s where golf is not so much a recreation as it is a way of life. And just like Tiger Woods whose toddler days included television clips of a two-year-old making putts on a national television variety show, Rory McIlroy’s golf history has its moment of infant legend.

Most bios of McIlroy, who this week makes his debut at the U.S. Open at Bethpage in New York, include a reference to the now 20-year-old golfer hitting a 40-yard drive at age 2.

Comparisons, fair or not, have been made between the golfers many times since. McIlroy, like Woods, hits it hard and far and he had impressive amateur success. And also like Woods, McIlroy has opinions, like categorizing the Ryder Cup as an exhibition and not as important to him now as success on the European Tour.

McIlroy’s comments attracted some criticism, but it didn’t faze the golfer’s increasing popularity. Depending on his play and network television’s decision how often to follow the curly haired youngster with the boyish face, McIlroy is likely to become more popular.

McIlroy has been well-known in golf circles for several years, but the mainstream sports world is just absorbing the newcomer on the golf scene.
This year, while playing a purposely limited PGA Tour schedule, McIlroy has made the cut six of his seven tournaments.

“I don’t want to play 30 events a year and get burn-out,” McIlroy said. “I had not planned on having a PGA Tour card for two or three years, so it was an easy decision to make in that respect. I’m very happy in Europe. I’ll play the majors and the World Golf Championships and I think the way my schedule has worked out is perfect.”

Like many of his countrymen, McIlroy had early success in Europe. His amateur tenure included titles at the West of Ireland and Irish Close Championships. He represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup, and he was the world’s top-ranked amateur before turning pro in 2007. It didn’t long for McIlroy to find quick success as a pro, either

In 2008, McIlroy made the cut in his first professional event and finished third in his second professional event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

This year, McIlroy’s had his breakthrough with a wire-to-wire victory in the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. By winning in Dubai at age of 19 and 273 days, he became the sixth-youngest winner in European Tour history. Last April, McIlroy finished tied for 20th at The Masters.

This week, McIlroy is playing one of the most demanding public courses in the country. He’s never played the course, but remembers watching the 2002 U.S. Open on television when Bethpage Black hosted the event for the first time.

“From seeing it on TV at home I remember it being long and tough,” McIlroy said. “In particular, the 10th and the 12th had such a long carry to the fairways that the guys were having trouble making it, so that’s obviously something to look out for.”

Posted in PGA Tour, Player Profiles