Armed robbers broke into Rory McIlroy’s beloved Holywood Golf Club but fortunately got away with none of McIlroy’s prized possessions.

Irish newspapers report the masked gang, one of whom was thought to be carrying a handgun, entered the premises shortly after 10pm last Sunday night and while McIlroy was on route to a last round 65 in the WGC – Cadillac Championship.

They demanded money and threatened two members of staff before fleeing empty-handed.

A photograph of young Rory McIlroy and his father that is on display at the Holywood Golf Club.

Two staff, a man and a woman, were not harmed but were left badly shaken.

A spokesman for Holywood Golf Club declined to comment on the raid but North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne, whose constituency offices are in Holywood, said he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.

“There is no place for this type of activity and I know there is widespread shock locally following this attack,” he said.

“The golf club is situated in a very quiet residential area of Holywood and I know this type of attack is totally out of character for the local area.

“It is vital that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice and I would appeal to anybody who seen anything suspicious in and around the time of the attack to contact the local police urgently.”

The attempted robbery came as McIlroy celebrated a return to form, shooting a round of 65.

Holywood Golf Club is renowned across the world due to its link with the popular 23-year-old sportsman.

The upstairs area of the club is a shrine to McIlroy with pictures taken from an early age up to the present.  There is a variety of trophies, including a replica of the US Open trophy he won in 2011 along with his European Ryder Cup bag from 2010.

Police have naturally appealed for anyone with information to contact them.