Rory McIlroy
Encyclopedia
Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish
professional golfer
from Holywood
in County Down
. He has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking
for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009, and on the PGA Tour in 2010. He represented Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup
.
On 19 June 2011, he won the U.S. Open
, his first major. He finished with a record score of 16-under-par on his way to an eight-shot victory, as the youngest winner since Bobby Jones
in 1923. He has been cited as the most exciting young prospect in golf and having the potential to become one of the highest earners in sports in terms of endorsements. The victory lifted McIlroy's position in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career high of number four. In November, he finished tied for 4th at the WGC-HSBC Champions to move to a new career high of number 2.
, County Down, Northern Ireland. He is the only child of Gerry and Rosie (McDonald) McIlroy; he attended St. Patrick's primary school and then the Sullivan Upper School
.
He was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age by his father, who coached him from at least the age of 18 months. Gerry McIlroy is a fine golfer himself, who once played at a scratch handicap level. Young Rory gave early evidence of his golf potential by hitting a 40-yard drive at the age of two years. Rory was very keen for the sport from the start, and asked his father virtually every day to take him to the golf course. Family lore relates young Rory receiving a new golf club as a present, being shown the correct grip by his father, then taking the club to bed with him that night, with his hands holding the club properly. A video on golf technique produced by champion Nick Faldo
was his early favourite. Once Rory's golf talents started to show, Gerry McIlroy held down several jobs to earn additional income for his son's golf development, and his mother Rosie worked extra shifts at the local 3M
plant. His first significant international victory came in the World Championship for the 9–10 age group bracket at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa
in Miami, Florida.
McIlroy learned his early golf at the Holywood Golf Club, which he still retains as his home course. Rory became the youngest club member at age seven. Young Rory started his early training with Michael Bannon
, previously the Golf Professional of Holywood Golf Club, who is also his current coach and dedicated mentor
.
team; the event was held in Ohio
. In 2005 he became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. He retained the West of Ireland Championship in 2006 and followed that up with back-to-back wins at the Irish Close Championship. In August 2006, he won the European Amateur Championship
at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy with the score of 274.
In July 2005, at age 16, McIlroy shot a new competitive course record score of 61 on the Dunluce links of Royal Portrush Golf Club
. In October 2006, McIlroy represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy
, which is the Amateur World Team Championship. On 6 February 2007, he became the second man to top the World Amateur Golf Ranking
, though he lost the top spot after just one week.
In the fall of 2004, McIlroy signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University
, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.
McIlroy shot an opening round of 3-under-par 68 at the 2007 Open Championship
at Carnoustie
, his first major championship entry. He shot +5 overall and was the highest finishing amateur, winning the silver medal.
McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the 2007 Walker Cup
, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club
. On the first day of the event he was paired with Jonathan Caldwell for morning foursomes, and the match was halved. In the afternoon he faced Billy Horschel
in singles, but Horschel won 1 up. On the second day McIlroy and Caldwell lost in morning foursomes by the score of 2 & 1. In the afternoon he faced Horschel in singles again, and this time he won by the score of 1 up. McIlroy's overall record was (1–2–1) in Win-Loss-Tie format. The United States came out victorious by a score of 12½ to 11½.
McIlroy made his first appearance in a European Tour event a few days after turning 16, when he took part in the 2005 British Masters. He made the cut on the European Tour for the first time as a 17-year-old at the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic
, where he had to forego prize money of over €7,600 due to his amateur status.
. At the British Masters, McIlroy shot 290 (+2), which put him in a tie for 42nd place.
McIlroy finished in 3rd place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October. McIlroy became the youngest Affiliate Member in the history of The European Tour to earn a tour card. The next week, he secured his card for 2008 by finishing in a tie for 4th place at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano. On the 2007 European Tour season, he earned €277,255 and finished in 95th place on the Order of Merit list. He was the highest ranked associate member.
invited McIlroy to play in the 2007 Target World Challenge
, held in December. McIlroy declined the invitation, preferring to play the European Open
.
McIlroy started his 2008 European Tour
season at the UBS Hong Kong Open. He did not make the one-under cut. He finished in a tie for 15th at the MasterCard Masters in Australia.
McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Rankings
for the first time on 27 January 2008.
On 7 September 2008, McIlroy took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters
in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, but finished in a tie for first place with Frenchman Jean-François Lucquin
after a play-off.
McIlroy finished the 2008 season ranked 36th on the European Tour Order of Merit.
position of 50. He finished the 2008 calendar year at 39th in the world rankings after finishing joint 3rd in the South African Open. This earned him an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament
. His first professional win came at age 19 when he won the Dubai Desert Classic
on 1 February 2009, this win took him to 16th in the world rankings.
In the 2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
, McIlroy reached the quarterfinals. In the first round he defeated Louis Oosthuizen
2 & 1, in the second round he beat Hunter Mahan
1-up, and in the third round he beat Tim Clark 4 & 3. He lost to Geoff Ogilvy
, who won the tournament, in the quarterfinals 2 & 1. McIlroy continued to play on the PGA Tour
until May. He finished tied for 13th at the Honda Classic
, tied for 20th at the WGC-CA Championship
and tied for 19th at the Shell Houston Open
.
In April 2009, McIlroy appeared at The Masters in his first major tournament as a professional and his first Masters Tournament. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place, two shots under par for the tournament. Of the players to make the cut, McIlroy achieved the third highest average driving distance, beaten only by Dustin Johnson
and Andrés Romero
. McIlroy played in two more events on the PGA Tour after the Masters including his first appearance at The Players Championship
where he was cut.
McIlroy then returned to Europe and recorded two top 25 finishes leading up to his first U.S. Open
. He finished fifth at the BMW PGA Championship and 12th at the European Open
. McIlroy played in his second major as a professional at the 2009 U.S. Open. His final round of 68 (−2) helped him finish in a tie for 10th, his first top ten finish in a major. The following week, McIlroy finished in 15th at the BMW International Open
. McIlroy played in his first Open Championship as a professional in July and finished T-47. He finished T-3 at the 2009 PGA Championship
.
McIlroy finished the 2009 season ranked second on the Race to Dubai, behind Lee Westwood
, and in November he entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time. McIlroy finished 2009 ranked 9th in the world. In November 2009, McIlroy announced that he would join the American-based PGA Tour for the 2010 season.
McIlroy accepted an invitation from Gary Player
to participate in the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge
at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, South Africa
in December, but withdrew after feeling unwell.
. McIlroy failed to defend his title at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic
after shooting a round of final-round 73 to finish in a tie for fifth place.
In the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
, McIlroy beat Kevin Na
1-up in the first round and then lost on a playoff hole to Oliver Wilson
. After the Accenture Match Play Championship, McIlroy took time off from golf due to a sore back. After a two-week break McIlroy returned in the 2010 Honda Classic and finished in a tie for 40th.
On 2 May, McIlroy recorded his first PGA Tour win after shooting 62 in the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship. The round set a new course record, and concluded with six consecutive scores of three. He became the first player since Tiger Woods
to win a PGA Tour event prior to his 21st birthday. The win earned him a two-year Tour exemption. On 2 June, McIlroy played at the Memorial Skins Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. McIlroy finished T10 at the Memorial Tournament.
On 15 July 2010, McIlroy confirmed his status as a favourite for the Open title on the Old Course at St Andrews
by shooting a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day, the lowest-ever first round score in the 150-year history of the Open Championship, and tying the course record. He missed a putt on the 17th, "The Road Hole", that would have given him the outright record. His tied third finish in the 2010 Open Championship sent him to a career high world ranking of seventh.
McIlroy missed out on a chance to win the 2010 PGA Championship
when he three-putted the 15th green to fall out of a tie for the lead. His final-hole birdie putt narrowly missed the hole to leave him a shot out of the playoff between Bubba Watson
and eventual winner Martin Kaymer
. McIlroy finished tied for third.
On 4 October 2010, McIlroy won a crucial half-point to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup
. Following the Ryder Cup, he announced in November that he would return to play full-time on the European Tour, although he also stated that he would continue to play 11 or 12 tournaments in the U.S. per year. He attributed the decision to having closer friends on the European Tour, his part in the Ryder Cup victory, and wanting to be nearer his girlfriend and family.
in Augusta, Georgia
to take the lead after the first day of the four-day competition. He is the youngest player to ever lead the Masters at the close of the first day. On Friday, he shot 69 to lead by two strokes over Jason Day with a 10-under-par score. On Saturday, he shot 70 to finish at 12-under-par, four strokes ahead of four other challengers. However, on the fourth and final day, he shot the worst round in history by any professional golfer leading after the third round of the Masters. McIlroy scored one-over-par 37 on the first nine, and still had the lead, but shot a round of 80, finishing T15 at 4-under for the tournament.
McIlroy failed to make the cut in his title defence at Quail Hollow in early May, was well off the pace at the BMW PGA Championship. He held the 18 hole lead at the Memorial Tournament
but finished in 5th place.
held at Congressional
in Bethesda, Maryland
on 19 June winning by eight shots over Jason Day. McIlroy set several records in his victory, most notably, his 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (16-under) was a new U.S. Open record. The 268 aggregate beat the previous record of 272 held by Jack Nicklaus
(Baltusrol
, 1980), Lee Janzen
(Baltusrol, 1993), Tiger Woods (Pebble Beach
, 2000), and Jim Furyk
(Olympia Fields
, 2003). The 16-under in relation to par beat Tiger Woods' 12 under at Pebble Beach Golf Links
in 2000.
In preparation for the US Open, McIlroy practiced at Pine Valley Golf Club
in New Jersey
, rather than at Congressional, but did play two practice rounds at Congressional about a week before the start of the Open, after returning from a two-day trip to Haiti
as an ambassador for UNICEF.
On 17 June during the second round, McIlroy became the first player in the history of the tournament to amass a score of 13-under-par at any point in the tournament. He achieved the feat by making a birdie at the 17th hole in the second round. Despite a double bogey on the final hole, his two-day total of 131 (65–66, 11-under par) set a record as the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history. The score was one better than Ricky Barnes
' 132 in 2009. He was also the fastest golfer to reach double digits under par in the U.S. Open, reaching 10 under par in 26 holes.
On 18 June, during the U.S. Open's third round, he became the first player to reach 14-under par at the tournament by making a birdie at the 15th hole, on his way to a 54-hole U.S. Open record of 199. In doing so, he also built an eight-shot lead going into the final round. A final round of 69 allowed him to claim his first major championship setting the 72-hole record.
he struggled in tough weather over a difficult layout at Royal St George's Golf Club
, failing to contend with the conditions. He was again a non-factor at the PGA Championship
at Atlanta Athletic Club
after injuring his wrist on the 3rd hole of the first round after attempting to hit a ball behind a tree root. McIlroy then went on to win the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters in a playoff against Anthony Kim, the richest event in golf with a first prize of two million dollars.
, the dominant star golfer of McIlroy's youthful years. Previous great champions who have used this grip included Jack Nicklaus
, Tom Kite
, John Daly
, Gene Sarazen
, Francis Ouimet
, and Willie Anderson
.
Darren Clarke
, the veteran Northern Irish Ryder Cup player and winner of pro events around the world, met McIlroy when he was 12 years old, and has been a mentor to him since that time. Nick Faldo
, six-time major winner, welcomed young McIlroy into his youth golf tournament series from his early teen years. Graeme McDowell
, the Northern Irish Ryder Cup player and 2010 U.S. Open champion who is ten years older, has helped and mentored McIlroy from his early professional years. McDowell frequently plays practice rounds at Tour events with McIlroy, and has seen his talents develop quickly. The two are close friends. McIlroy has recently obtained putting assistance and instruction from Dave Stockton
, a retired PGA Tour star who won two major championships. Stockton is a renowned expert on putting who coaches several Tour players, and has written a well-received book on his techniques. Retired superstar Jack Nicklaus
met young McIlroy when he was starting to play the U.S. Tour in 2009, and extended his friendship along with an early invitation to his Memorial Tournament
, one of the Tour's most prestigious events. Nicklaus and McIlroy get together for lunch whenever possible, and Nicklaus reached out to McIlroy after his collapse in the 2011 Masters with some friendly advice on how to close out tournaments. Nicklaus has praised McIlroy and stated that he believes McIlroy has a very bright future in golf.
McIlroy was managed by Englishman
Andrew "Chubby" Chandler
, a former European Tour player who founded International Sports Management
. The pair split in October 2011, with McIlroy joining Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.
When in Northern Ireland, he lives in a £2.2 million home near the town of Moneyreagh
in County Down, about 20 minutes from Belfast. The land around his house also includes a custom-made practice facility, as well as a scaled-down football pitch.
He is an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland
and made his first visit to Haiti
with UNICEF in June 2011.
His great uncle Joe McIlroy was killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force at his east Belfast home in November 1972.
He is currently in a relationship with the Danish
tennis player Caroline Wozniacki
.
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.
Professional
http://rorymcilroy.com/in-the-bag.html May 2009 Bag Shots and WITB with Donal Hughes
, Irish Examiner with thanks to Titleist, Fairhaven, Massachusetts
j
People of Northern Ireland
Northern Irish people or people of Northern Ireland are "all persons born in Northern Ireland and having, at the time of their birth, at least one parent who is a British citizen, an Irish citizen or is otherwise entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
from Holywood
Holywood
Holywood is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.-Name:...
in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. He has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking
World Amateur Golf Ranking
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by the R&A, the governing body of amateur golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 750 amateur tournaments and is updated weekly. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in...
for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009, and on the PGA Tour in 2010. He represented Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
.
On 19 June 2011, he won the U.S. Open
2011 U.S. Open (golf)
The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under...
, his first major. He finished with a record score of 16-under-par on his way to an eight-shot victory, as the youngest winner since Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
in 1923. He has been cited as the most exciting young prospect in golf and having the potential to become one of the highest earners in sports in terms of endorsements. The victory lifted McIlroy's position in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career high of number four. In November, he finished tied for 4th at the WGC-HSBC Champions to move to a new career high of number 2.
Early life, family, and early golf development
McIlroy was born in HolywoodHolywood
Holywood is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.-Name:...
, County Down, Northern Ireland. He is the only child of Gerry and Rosie (McDonald) McIlroy; he attended St. Patrick's primary school and then the Sullivan Upper School
Sullivan Upper School
Sullivan Upper AddressBelfast RoadHolywoodBT18 9EP Phone 9042 8780 from abroadFax 9042 7644HeadteacherMr C J W Peel, M.A., B.Sc., Dip.A.S.Ed.Vice Principals*Mr. I. Ballantine, B.Sc., M.Ed., P.G.C.E....
.
He was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age by his father, who coached him from at least the age of 18 months. Gerry McIlroy is a fine golfer himself, who once played at a scratch handicap level. Young Rory gave early evidence of his golf potential by hitting a 40-yard drive at the age of two years. Rory was very keen for the sport from the start, and asked his father virtually every day to take him to the golf course. Family lore relates young Rory receiving a new golf club as a present, being shown the correct grip by his father, then taking the club to bed with him that night, with his hands holding the club properly. A video on golf technique produced by champion Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
was his early favourite. Once Rory's golf talents started to show, Gerry McIlroy held down several jobs to earn additional income for his son's golf development, and his mother Rosie worked extra shifts at the local 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
plant. His first significant international victory came in the World Championship for the 9–10 age group bracket at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
The Doral Golf Resort & Spa is a golf resort located in Doral, Florida, USA. The resort was founded by real estate pioneer Alfred Kaskel in 1962, with the name "Doral" coming from an amalgamation of the first names of Kaskel and his wife, Dorris....
in Miami, Florida.
McIlroy learned his early golf at the Holywood Golf Club, which he still retains as his home course. Rory became the youngest club member at age seven. Young Rory started his early training with Michael Bannon
Michael Bannon
Michael Bannon is a golf coach from Northern Ireland. He is the current coach of U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, and worked with him from a young age. Bannon is the golf professional at Bangor Golf Club, and previously at Holywood Golf Club, where he worked with McIlroy. As a golfer, Bannon...
, previously the Golf Professional of Holywood Golf Club, who is also his current coach and dedicated mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
.
Amateur career
McIlroy at age 15 was a member of Europe's winning 2004 Junior Ryder CupJunior Ryder Cup
The Junior Ryder Cup is a team golf competition between Europe and the United States. It is based on the men's Ryder Cup and is run by the same organisations, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Ltd . The teams consist of six boys and six girls...
team; the event was held in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In 2005 he became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. He retained the West of Ireland Championship in 2006 and followed that up with back-to-back wins at the Irish Close Championship. In August 2006, he won the European Amateur Championship
European Amateur
The European Amateur Championship is an annual amateur golf tournament. It is played at various locations throughout Europe. It is organized by the European Golf Association and was first played in 1986. The winner receives an invitation to The Open Championship.-Winners:-External links:***...
at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy with the score of 274.
In July 2005, at age 16, McIlroy shot a new competitive course record score of 61 on the Dunluce links of Royal Portrush Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club is a private golf club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is the only golf club outside of the UK Mainland which has hosted The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships. The club has two links courses, the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links.The...
. In October 2006, McIlroy represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
, which is the Amateur World Team Championship. On 6 February 2007, he became the second man to top the World Amateur Golf Ranking
World Amateur Golf Ranking
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by the R&A, the governing body of amateur golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 750 amateur tournaments and is updated weekly. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in...
, though he lost the top spot after just one week.
In the fall of 2004, McIlroy signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.
McIlroy shot an opening round of 3-under-par 68 at the 2007 Open Championship
2007 Open Championship
The 2007 Open Championship was the 136th Open Championship, played 19-22 July at Carnoustie Golf Links. Pádraig Harrington of Ireland defeated Sergio García of Spain in a playoff to take the title and his first major championship...
at Carnoustie
Carnoustie Golf Links
The Carnoustie Golf Links are in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. Its historic championship golf course is one of the venues in the Open Championship rotation.-History:...
, his first major championship entry. He shot +5 overall and was the highest finishing amateur, winning the silver medal.
McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the 2007 Walker Cup
2007 Walker Cup
The 41st Walker Cup Match was held between September 8 and September 9, 2007 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Team United States won 12½ to 11½. The United States won by the same score in 2005.-Format:...
, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club
Royal County Down Golf Club
Royal County Down Golf Club is a golf club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Dating from 1889, it is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland...
. On the first day of the event he was paired with Jonathan Caldwell for morning foursomes, and the match was halved. In the afternoon he faced Billy Horschel
Billy Horschel
William John Horschel is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Horschel was born in Grant, Florida. He won the individual medalist honors at the 2006 U.S. Amateur, shooting a two day score of 138 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota...
in singles, but Horschel won 1 up. On the second day McIlroy and Caldwell lost in morning foursomes by the score of 2 & 1. In the afternoon he faced Horschel in singles again, and this time he won by the score of 1 up. McIlroy's overall record was (1–2–1) in Win-Loss-Tie format. The United States came out victorious by a score of 12½ to 11½.
McIlroy made his first appearance in a European Tour event a few days after turning 16, when he took part in the 2005 British Masters. He made the cut on the European Tour for the first time as a 17-year-old at the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic
Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East...
, where he had to forego prize money of over €7,600 due to his amateur status.
2007
McIlroy turned professional on 19 September, which was the day before the Quinn Direct British Masters, at age 17. He signed with International Sports ManagementInternational Sports Management
International Sports Management Limited is a sports management agency based in Cheshire, England that represents leading figures from the sports of golf and cricket. It was founded in 1989 by former European Tour golfer Andrew "Chubby" Chandler...
. At the British Masters, McIlroy shot 290 (+2), which put him in a tie for 42nd place.
McIlroy finished in 3rd place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October. McIlroy became the youngest Affiliate Member in the history of The European Tour to earn a tour card. The next week, he secured his card for 2008 by finishing in a tie for 4th place at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano. On the 2007 European Tour season, he earned €277,255 and finished in 95th place on the Order of Merit list. He was the highest ranked associate member.
2008
Before his season started, Tiger WoodsTiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
invited McIlroy to play in the 2007 Target World Challenge
Target World Challenge
The Chevron World Challenge is an offseason golf tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, which takes place each December at Sherwood Country Club, a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, in Thousand Oaks, California...
, held in December. McIlroy declined the invitation, preferring to play the European Open
European Open (golf)
The European Open was a European Tour golf tournament. Founded in 1978, up to 1994 it was played at various courses in England, including Sunningdale and Walton Heath, except for the 1979 event, which was held at Turnberry in Scotland...
.
McIlroy started his 2008 European Tour
2008 European Tour
The 2008 European Tour was the 37th golf season since the European Tour officially began in 1972. The 2008 season consisted of 50 official money events, a drop of two from the previous year. This included seven major championships and World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the PGA...
season at the UBS Hong Kong Open. He did not make the one-under cut. He finished in a tie for 15th at the MasterCard Masters in Australia.
McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
for the first time on 27 January 2008.
On 7 September 2008, McIlroy took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters
Omega European Masters
The Omega European Masters is the Swiss stop on professional men's golf's European Tour, and in 2009 will become the first event in Europe to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour....
in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, but finished in a tie for first place with Frenchman Jean-François Lucquin
Jean-François Lucquin
Jean-François Lucquin is a French professional golfer.Having played on the Challenge Tour for four seasons, Lucquin finally gained his place on the European Tour for 2003 by finishing second in the 2002 Challenge Tour rankings, winning the Panalpina Banque Commerciale du Maroc Classic along the...
after a play-off.
McIlroy finished the 2008 season ranked 36th on the European Tour Order of Merit.
2009
After finishing second in the UBS Hong Kong Open in November 2008, McIlroy attained his highest world rankingOfficial World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
position of 50. He finished the 2008 calendar year at 39th in the world rankings after finishing joint 3rd in the South African Open. This earned him an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament
2009 Masters Tournament
The 2009 Masters Tournament was the 73rd Masters Tournament held at Augusta National Golf Club and was played from April 9-12. This was the first major championship of the 2009 season.-Field:...
. His first professional win came at age 19 when he won the Dubai Desert Classic
Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East...
on 1 February 2009, this win took him to 16th in the world rankings.
In the 2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
-Ben Hogan bracket:-Gary Player bracket:-Sam Snead bracket:-Final Four:-Prize money and FedEx Cup points breakdown:* Sources: -External links:*...
, McIlroy reached the quarterfinals. In the first round he defeated Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen
Lodewicus Theodorus "Louis" Oosthuizen is a South African professional golfer, who won the 2010 Open Championship.-Early life and career:...
2 & 1, in the second round he beat Hunter Mahan
Hunter Mahan
Hunter Myles Mahan is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Mahan was born in Orange, California. He had a successful amateur career, winning the 1999 5A Texas State High School Golf Championship while attending McKinney High School and the 1999 U.S. Junior...
1-up, and in the third round he beat Tim Clark 4 & 3. He lost to Geoff Ogilvy
Geoff Ogilvy
Geoff Charles Ogilvy is an Australian professional golfer. He won the 2006 U.S. Open and has also won three World Golf Championships.-Professional career:...
, who won the tournament, in the quarterfinals 2 & 1. McIlroy continued to play on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
until May. He finished tied for 13th at the Honda Classic
Honda Classic
The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each March in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic. In 1981, American Motors backed the tournament. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Co., Inc...
, tied for 20th at the WGC-CA Championship
2009 WGC-CA Championship
The 2009 WGC-CA Championship was a golf tournament that was contested from March 12–15 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Doral, Florida. It was the tenth WGC-CA Championship tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events staged in 2009....
and tied for 19th at the Shell Houston Open
Shell Houston Open
The Shell Houston Open is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is currently played in April at Redstone Golf Club in the Houston suburb of Humble, Texas. Shell and the Houston Golf Association are the main sponsors of the tournament...
.
In April 2009, McIlroy appeared at The Masters in his first major tournament as a professional and his first Masters Tournament. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place, two shots under par for the tournament. Of the players to make the cut, McIlroy achieved the third highest average driving distance, beaten only by Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Hunter Johnson is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years between 2009-2011....
and Andrés Romero
Andres Romero
For the Chilean footballer with the same name see Andrés Romero Andrés Fabián Romero is an Argentine professional golfer who plays on both the PGA Tour and European Tour....
. McIlroy played in two more events on the PGA Tour after the Masters including his first appearance at The Players Championship
The Players Championship
The Players Championship is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary...
where he was cut.
McIlroy then returned to Europe and recorded two top 25 finishes leading up to his first U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. He finished fifth at the BMW PGA Championship and 12th at the European Open
European Open (golf)
The European Open was a European Tour golf tournament. Founded in 1978, up to 1994 it was played at various courses in England, including Sunningdale and Walton Heath, except for the 1979 event, which was held at Turnberry in Scotland...
. McIlroy played in his second major as a professional at the 2009 U.S. Open. His final round of 68 (−2) helped him finish in a tie for 10th, his first top ten finish in a major. The following week, McIlroy finished in 15th at the BMW International Open
BMW International Open
The BMW International Open is an annual men's professional golf tournament on the European Tour. Founded in 1989, it has always been held in and around BMW's home city of Munich, Germany, and since 1997 has been played at the Golfclub München Eichenried....
. McIlroy played in his first Open Championship as a professional in July and finished T-47. He finished T-3 at the 2009 PGA Championship
2009 PGA Championship
The 2009 PGA Championship was the 91st PGA Championship and was played from August 13–16 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Prior to 2009 the last major played at Hazeltine was the 2002 PGA Championship, won by Rich Beem. The 2009 course is notable for having a greater length...
.
McIlroy finished the 2009 season ranked second on the Race to Dubai, behind Lee Westwood
Lee Westwood
Lee John Westwood OBE is an English professional golfer. Noted for his consistency, Westwood is one of the few golfers who has won tournaments on every major continent, including victories on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He was named player of the year for the 1998, 2000, and 2009 seasons...
, and in November he entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time. McIlroy finished 2009 ranked 9th in the world. In November 2009, McIlroy announced that he would join the American-based PGA Tour for the 2010 season.
McIlroy accepted an invitation from Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
to participate in the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge
Nedbank Golf Challenge
The Nedbank Golf Challenge is an annual men's professional golf tournament played at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, North West province, South Africa. It is not an official money event for any of the major tours, and like many high profile unofficial tournaments in professional golf it...
at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, South Africa
Sun City, North West
Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :...
in December, but withdrew after feeling unwell.
2010
McIlroy finished 3rd at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Golf ChampionshipAbu Dhabi Golf Championship
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is a European Tour golf tournament that was staged for the first time in January 2006. It is played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates....
. McIlroy failed to defend his title at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic
Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East...
after shooting a round of final-round 73 to finish in a tie for fifth place.
In the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is one of the annual World Golf Championships. It is a knockout event and is staged in January or February each year...
, McIlroy beat Kevin Na
Kevin Na
Kevin Sangwook Na is a Korean American professional golfer currently playing on the PGA Tour.-Personal life:Na was born in Seoul, South Korea. His family immigrated to the United States when he was eight years old. He turned professional at age 17 in 2001. He later naturalized as an American citizen...
1-up in the first round and then lost on a playoff hole to Oliver Wilson
Oliver Wilson
Oliver John Wilson is an English professional golfer.Wilson was born in Mansfield, England, where his golfing career began at Coxmoor Golf Club....
. After the Accenture Match Play Championship, McIlroy took time off from golf due to a sore back. After a two-week break McIlroy returned in the 2010 Honda Classic and finished in a tie for 40th.
On 2 May, McIlroy recorded his first PGA Tour win after shooting 62 in the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship. The round set a new course record, and concluded with six consecutive scores of three. He became the first player since Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
to win a PGA Tour event prior to his 21st birthday. The win earned him a two-year Tour exemption. On 2 June, McIlroy played at the Memorial Skins Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. McIlroy finished T10 at the Memorial Tournament.
On 15 July 2010, McIlroy confirmed his status as a favourite for the Open title on the Old Course at St Andrews
Old Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
by shooting a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day, the lowest-ever first round score in the 150-year history of the Open Championship, and tying the course record. He missed a putt on the 17th, "The Road Hole", that would have given him the outright record. His tied third finish in the 2010 Open Championship sent him to a career high world ranking of seventh.
McIlroy missed out on a chance to win the 2010 PGA Championship
2010 PGA Championship
The 2010 PGA Championship was the 92nd PGA Championship. Martin Kaymer from Germany won for his first major championship, in a three-hole playoff over Bubba Watson. The tournament began on Thursday, August 12, 2010, and concluded on Sunday, August 15. It was played at the Straits Course of the...
when he three-putted the 15th green to fall out of a tie for the lead. His final-hole birdie putt narrowly missed the hole to leave him a shot out of the playoff between Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson
Gerry "Bubba" Watson is an American professional golfer. Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on tour and is known for his tremendous length. The longest driver on the PGA Tour, in 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards and is capable of generating a ball speed of 194 mph, being...
and eventual winner Martin Kaymer
Martin Kaymer
Martin Kaymer is a German professional golfer. He became the No. 1 ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings on 27 February 2011 after his runner-up finish in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship....
. McIlroy finished tied for third.
On 4 October 2010, McIlroy won a crucial half-point to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
. Following the Ryder Cup, he announced in November that he would return to play full-time on the European Tour, although he also stated that he would continue to play 11 or 12 tournaments in the U.S. per year. He attributed the decision to having closer friends on the European Tour, his part in the Ryder Cup victory, and wanting to be nearer his girlfriend and family.
2011
Masters
On 7 April, McIlroy shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 in the first round of the Masters Tournament2011 Masters Tournament
The 2011 Masters Tournament was the 75th Masters Tournament and was played from April 7–10 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the first major championship of the 2011 season. South African Charl Schwartzel won the 2011 event by two strokes over Adam Scott and Jason Day.Eight players held a share...
in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
to take the lead after the first day of the four-day competition. He is the youngest player to ever lead the Masters at the close of the first day. On Friday, he shot 69 to lead by two strokes over Jason Day with a 10-under-par score. On Saturday, he shot 70 to finish at 12-under-par, four strokes ahead of four other challengers. However, on the fourth and final day, he shot the worst round in history by any professional golfer leading after the third round of the Masters. McIlroy scored one-over-par 37 on the first nine, and still had the lead, but shot a round of 80, finishing T15 at 4-under for the tournament.
McIlroy failed to make the cut in his title defence at Quail Hollow in early May, was well off the pace at the BMW PGA Championship. He held the 18 hole lead at the Memorial Tournament
Memorial Tournament
The Memorial Tournament is a PGA Tour golf tournament founded by Jack Nicklaus. It is played on a Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Nicklaus' home town of Columbus. The golf course passes through a large neighborhood called Muirfield Village...
but finished in 5th place.
2011 U.S. Open win
McIlroy won the U.S. Open2011 U.S. Open (golf)
The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under...
held at Congressional
Congressional Country Club
The Congressional Country Club is a country club and golf course in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Congressional opened in 1924 and has hosted three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship, and is an annual stop on the PGA Tour, with the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. The tournament was first...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
on 19 June winning by eight shots over Jason Day. McIlroy set several records in his victory, most notably, his 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (16-under) was a new U.S. Open record. The 268 aggregate beat the previous record of 272 held by Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
(Baltusrol
Baltusrol Golf Club
The Baltusrol Golf Club is a private 36-hole golf club located in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. Among the many prestigious tournaments it has hosted, Baltusrol was most recently the site of the 2005 PGA Championship. The course architect is A. W...
, 1980), Lee Janzen
Lee Janzen
Lee McLeod Janzen is an American golfer who is best known for twice winning the U.S. Open, in 1993 and 1998.-Early years and amateur career:...
(Baltusrol, 1993), Tiger Woods (Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links is a golf course located in Pebble Beach, California, on the west coast of the United States.Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of Carmel Bay, opening to the Pacific Ocean,...
, 2000), and Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk
James Michael Furyk is an American professional golfer, 2010 FedEx Cup champion, and 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year. He has won one major championship, the 2003 U.S. Open. Furyk is known for consistently playing at the top level and for a visibly unconventional, looping golf swing...
(Olympia Fields
Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields Country Club is a golf club in Olympia Fields, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago, about 25 miles south of The Loop. It is a private club with two eighteen-hole courses, the North and the South. The North Course is considered one of the top three courses in the Chicago area, and...
, 2003). The 16-under in relation to par beat Tiger Woods' 12 under at Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links is a golf course located in Pebble Beach, California, on the west coast of the United States.Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of Carmel Bay, opening to the Pacific Ocean,...
in 2000.
In preparation for the US Open, McIlroy practiced at Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club is a golf course in Pine Valley, Camden County, in southern New Jersey. It was ranked the number one course in Golf Magazines 100 Top Courses in the U.S. and the World in 2009.-History:...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, rather than at Congressional, but did play two practice rounds at Congressional about a week before the start of the Open, after returning from a two-day trip to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as an ambassador for UNICEF.
On 17 June during the second round, McIlroy became the first player in the history of the tournament to amass a score of 13-under-par at any point in the tournament. He achieved the feat by making a birdie at the 17th hole in the second round. Despite a double bogey on the final hole, his two-day total of 131 (65–66, 11-under par) set a record as the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history. The score was one better than Ricky Barnes
Ricky Barnes
Richard Kyle Barnes is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Barnes was born in Stockton, California. He played college golf at the University of Arizona...
' 132 in 2009. He was also the fastest golfer to reach double digits under par in the U.S. Open, reaching 10 under par in 26 holes.
On 18 June, during the U.S. Open's third round, he became the first player to reach 14-under par at the tournament by making a birdie at the 15th hole, on his way to a 54-hole U.S. Open record of 199. In doing so, he also built an eight-shot lead going into the final round. A final round of 69 allowed him to claim his first major championship setting the 72-hole record.
Rest of 2011
McIlroy took a month off from competitive golf. At The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
he struggled in tough weather over a difficult layout at Royal St George's Golf Club
Royal St George's Golf Club
The Royal St George's Golf Club is one of the premier golf clubs in the United Kingdom, and one of the courses on The Open Championship rotation. It has hosted 13 Open championships since 1894, when it became the first club outside Scotland to host the championship...
, failing to contend with the conditions. He was again a non-factor at the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
at Atlanta Athletic Club
Atlanta Athletic Club
The Atlanta Athletic Club , founded in 1898, is a world-renowned private athletic club in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb 23 miles north of Atlanta. The original home of the club was a 10-story building located on Carnegie Way, and in 1904 a golf course was built on Atlanta's East Lake property...
after injuring his wrist on the 3rd hole of the first round after attempting to hit a ball behind a tree root. McIlroy then went on to win the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters in a playoff against Anthony Kim, the richest event in golf with a first prize of two million dollars.
Technique, additional mentors and coaches
McIlroy employs the interlocking grip on full shots; this same somewhat rare method is used by Tiger WoodsTiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, the dominant star golfer of McIlroy's youthful years. Previous great champions who have used this grip included Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
, John Daly
John Daly (golfer)
John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.Daly is known primarily for his driving distance off the tee , his non-country club appearance and attitude, and his rough-and-tumble personal life. Daly remains one of the most popular and intriguing figures on the PGA Tour...
, Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
, Francis Ouimet
Francis Ouimet
Francis DeSales Ouimet was an American golfer, who is frequently referred to as the "father of amateur golf" in the United States. He won the 1913 U.S. Open, and was the first American elected Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews...
, and Willie Anderson
Willie Anderson (golfer)
William Law Anderson was a Scottish immigrant to the United States who became the first golfer to win four U.S. Opens, with victories in 1901, 1903, 1904, and 1905. He is still the only man to win three consecutive titles, and only Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus have equalled his total...
.
Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke
Darren Christopher Clarke is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the European Tour and has previously played on the PGA Tour. He has won 22 tournaments worldwide on a number of golf's main tours including the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the...
, the veteran Northern Irish Ryder Cup player and winner of pro events around the world, met McIlroy when he was 12 years old, and has been a mentor to him since that time. Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
, six-time major winner, welcomed young McIlroy into his youth golf tournament series from his early teen years. Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell MBE is a Northern Irish professional golfer.McDowell has won seven events on the European Tour, including the 2010 U.S. Open which was also his first win on the PGA Tour...
, the Northern Irish Ryder Cup player and 2010 U.S. Open champion who is ten years older, has helped and mentored McIlroy from his early professional years. McDowell frequently plays practice rounds at Tour events with McIlroy, and has seen his talents develop quickly. The two are close friends. McIlroy has recently obtained putting assistance and instruction from Dave Stockton
Dave Stockton
David Knapp Stockton is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
, a retired PGA Tour star who won two major championships. Stockton is a renowned expert on putting who coaches several Tour players, and has written a well-received book on his techniques. Retired superstar Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
met young McIlroy when he was starting to play the U.S. Tour in 2009, and extended his friendship along with an early invitation to his Memorial Tournament
Memorial Tournament
The Memorial Tournament is a PGA Tour golf tournament founded by Jack Nicklaus. It is played on a Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Nicklaus' home town of Columbus. The golf course passes through a large neighborhood called Muirfield Village...
, one of the Tour's most prestigious events. Nicklaus and McIlroy get together for lunch whenever possible, and Nicklaus reached out to McIlroy after his collapse in the 2011 Masters with some friendly advice on how to close out tournaments. Nicklaus has praised McIlroy and stated that he believes McIlroy has a very bright future in golf.
McIlroy was managed by Englishman
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
Andrew "Chubby" Chandler
Andrew Chandler (golfer)
Andrew "Chubby" Chandler is a retired English professional golfer and current Managing Director of Cheshire-based sports management firm ISM .-Golf career:...
, a former European Tour player who founded International Sports Management
International Sports Management
International Sports Management Limited is a sports management agency based in Cheshire, England that represents leading figures from the sports of golf and cricket. It was founded in 1989 by former European Tour golfer Andrew "Chubby" Chandler...
. The pair split in October 2011, with McIlroy joining Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.
Personal life
McIlroy self-identifies as both British and Irish, and carries a British passport.When in Northern Ireland, he lives in a £2.2 million home near the town of Moneyreagh
Moneyreagh
Moneyreagh or Moneyrea is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is just off the main road between Belfast and Ballygowan....
in County Down, about 20 minutes from Belfast. The land around his house also includes a custom-made practice facility, as well as a scaled-down football pitch.
He is an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland
UNICEF Ireland
UNICEF Ireland, also known as the Irish National Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF National Committees based in industrialised countries.The National Committees raise funds for the organisation's worldwide emergency and development work....
and made his first visit to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
with UNICEF in June 2011.
His great uncle Joe McIlroy was killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force at his east Belfast home in November 1972.
He is currently in a relationship with the Danish
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
tennis player Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
.
Amateur wins (5)
- 2005 West of Ireland Championship, Irish Close Championship
- 2006 West of Ireland Championship, Irish Close Championship, European Amateur ChampionshipEuropean AmateurThe European Amateur Championship is an annual amateur golf tournament. It is played at various locations throughout Europe. It is organized by the European Golf Association and was first played in 1986. The winner receives an invitation to The Open Championship.-Winners:-External links:***...
PGA Tour wins (2)
EWLINE
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 May 2010 2010 PGA Tour The 2010 PGA Tour season ran from January 7 to November 14. The season consisted of 46 official money events. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour.-Schedule:... |
Quail Hollow Championship | -15 | 4 strokes |  Phil MickelsonPhil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
|
| 2 | 19 June 2011 2011 PGA Tour The 2011 PGA Tour, the 44th season since the Tour became independent from the PGA of America, will consist of a total of 49 sanctioned events running from early January to late November... |
U.S. Open 2011 U.S. Open (golf) The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under... |
-16 | 8 strokes |  Jason Day |
European Tour wins (2)
EWLINE
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Feb 2009 2009 European Tour The 2009 European Tour was the 38th series of golf tournaments since the European Tour officially began in 1972. There were major changes for the 2009 season as the tour entered a partnership agreement with Dubai based Leisurecorp... |
Dubai Desert Classic Dubai Desert Classic The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East... |
-19 | 1 stroke |  Justin RoseJustin Rose Justin Peter Rose is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour while keeping his membership on the European Tour... |
|
| 2 | 19 June 2011 2011 European Tour The 2011 European Tour will be the third edition of the Race to Dubai and the 40th season of golf tournaments since the European Tour officially began in 1972.-Schedule:... |
U.S. Open 2011 U.S. Open (golf) The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under... |
-16 | 8 strokes | Jason Day |
European Tour professional career summary
| Season | Starts | Cuts Made | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top 10 | Top 25 | Earnings (€) | Money list rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 277,255 | 95 |
| 2008 | 27 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 696,335 | 36 |
| 2009 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 18 | 3,610,020 | 2 |
| 2010 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 1,821,050 | 13 |
| 2011* | 17 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 2,724,882 | 3 |
| Career* | 89 | 75 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 42 | 56 | 9,129,542 | 28 |
- As of 6 November 2011.
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 U.S. Open (golf) The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under... |
U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
8 shot lead | −16 (65–66–68–69=268) | 8 strokes | Australia Jason Day |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | T20 | CUT | T15 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | T10 | CUT | 1 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T42 LA | DNP | T47 | T3 | T25 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | T3 | T3 | T64 |
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Summary
- Tournaments played: 13
- Wins: 1
- 2nd: 0
- 3rd: 3
- Top 10s: 5
- Top 25s: 8
- Missed cuts: 2
- Most consecutive cuts made: 6
Results in World Golf Championship events
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture Match Play Championship WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is one of the annual World Golf Championships. It is a knockout event and is staged in January or February each year... |
QF | R32 | R32 |
| Cadillac Championship | T20 | T65 | T10 |
| Bridgestone Invitational WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the PGA European Tour... |
T68 | T9 | T6 |
| HSBC Champions | 4 | 5 | T4 |
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.
Team appearances
Amateur- Junior Ryder CupJunior Ryder CupThe Junior Ryder Cup is a team golf competition between Europe and the United States. It is based on the men's Ryder Cup and is run by the same organisations, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Ltd . The teams consist of six boys and six girls...
(representing Europe): 2004 (winners) - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2006 - European Amateur Team Championship (representing Ireland): 2007 (winners)
- Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 20072007 Walker CupThe 41st Walker Cup Match was held between September 8 and September 9, 2007 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Team United States won 12½ to 11½. The United States won by the same score in 2005.-Format:...
Professional
- Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
(representing Europe): 20102010 Ryder CupThe 38th Ryder Cup matches were held 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, Wales. It was the first time the competition was staged in Wales. With the USA as the defending Cup holder the event was played on the newly-constructed Twenty 10 course, specifically designed for the...
(winners) - Seve TrophySeve TrophyThe Seve Trophy is a biennial golf tournament between teams of professional male golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It is named after five times major winner Seve Ballesteros, the most successful golfer ever from Continental Europe who was one of the key...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 20092009 Vivendi Trophy with Seve BallesterosThe 2009 Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, formally known as the Seve Trophy, was played 24-27 September at Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche in France. The team captain for Great Britain and Ireland was Paul McGinley, with the captain for Continental Europe being Thomas Bjørn...
(winners) - World Cup (representing Ireland): 20092009 Omega Mission Hills World CupThe 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place from November 26 to November 29 at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. It was the 55th World Cup. 28 countries competed as two player teams...
, 2011
Equipment
- Driver: Titleist 910 D2, Shaft: Rombax 7V05 Loft: 8.5
- Fairway Woods: Titleist 909 F2 13.5°, 906 F2 18°
- Irons: Titleist 712 MB Forged, 3–9
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Wedges 46, 54, 60
- Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Select Fastback (Prototype) for Titleist
- Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
http://rorymcilroy.com/in-the-bag.html May 2009 Bag Shots and WITB with Donal Hughes
Donal Hughes
Dr. Donal Hughes is a well known Irish golf columnist. Although known in industry circles as leading food safety consultant and cleaning chemical manufacturer, Hughes turned a hobby as a humorous golf writer into a successful alternative career as the “SpinDoctor” with The Irish...
, Irish Examiner with thanks to Titleist, Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located on the south coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzzards Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean...
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