European Tour CEO, George O’Grady has described Rory McIlroy as the new Seve Ballesteros.
And while McIlroy will continue to dazzle those attending this week’s KLM Open with his brilllance, the 22-year old is following Seve’s ways and also getting confident in off-course business dealings.
Prior to leaving Switzerland, and the scene of one of Seve’s greatest-ever shots, O’Grady presented McIlroy with his second straight ‘Shot of the Month’ trophy and this for a Seve-like shot during the recent Irish Open.
George O'Grady with the 'New Seve' - Rory McIlroy. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The presentation took place just metres away from where Seve had played one of the most memorable shots in the history of the European Tour in hitting a wedge over a wall, trees and the corner of a swimming pool for birdie on the final day of the 1993 European Masters.
And with last week’s event honouring Seve with the cementing of a brass plaque at the entrance of the Cran-sur-Sierre course, O’Grady spoke of the Tour’s ‘New Seve’.
“Rory is very much like the new Seve, and while I wouldn’t say Rory is as swashbuckling as Seve, there’s a brilliancy about him,” said O’Grady.
“He’s got a superb swing, and he’s got every shot in the book.
“Rory also has maturity way beyond his 22 years and wherever he goes he is a complete breath of fresh air.
“And very much like Seve, he’s bringing masses of youngsters into the game as we saw in Switzerland, so we as a Tour are privileged to have him and we’ll help in his career wherever the right path is.
“But the great aspect about Rory is that his refreshingly honest in the way he speaks, and in certain places he may have spoken a bit too quickly but everybody should understand he is speaking honestly or he becomes a clone who just says nothing.
“It’s all straight from the heart and that’s what we all admire about Rory.”
And no sooner had the photo shoot ended and McIlroy remarked to O’Grady: “Hey George? I think I’ve been able to get Omega to again become main sponsors of the Hong Kong Open.”
McIlroy had spent the Pro-Am playing alongside Omega President, Stephen Urqhardt, Tournament Director, Yves Mittaz and Italian Antonio Bulgheroni, owner of Lindt chocolates, President of one of Italy’s largest banks and also President of Varese Golf Club in northern Italy.
Along with the European Masters, the Hong Kong Open is one of McIlroy’s favourite events and he’s entered this year’s tournament.
Omega sponsored the Hong Kong Open from 2002 to 2005 before UBS took over, and with their sponsorship up at the end of this year, Omega’s return as main sponsor would compliment their present sponsorship of the World Cup being staged the week prior the Hong Kong Open.
“Rory and I talked about Omega and our involvement again in the Hong Kong Open but I won’t say any more about that,” said Urqhardt.
“But I can say that I have played many, many Pro-Am’s in my life but Rory was just so laid back, and such a nice person and such a fabulous golfer.”
And with McIlroy returning to play full time on the PGA Tour next year, Urqhardt remains hopeful McIlroy may return to Switzerland to compete.
“I know that with Rory in the field this year our tournament sales were double compared to last year and I think that’s down to what happened to him at the Masters and then the way he came back and won the U.S. Open,” said Urqhardt.
“And I spoke to him about coming back next year to Switzerland and he said to me there are four tournaments that he never misses.
“He said: ‘I never miss the four Majors and if they were on the moon I will go’. He also told me he also loves playing in Hong Kong, Dubai and Crans.
“But I joked with him that you are playing next year in the States so how can you play Crans.
“Look, if he doesn’t come back next year to Crans we will understand.”
