New Austraian Open champion Rory McIlroy left Sydney this afternoon (Mon) insisting his dramatic victory at Royal Sydney should silence any remaining critics following the wide controversy after his new season switch in golf clubs.
McIlroy became only the second European to lift the famed Stonehaven Trophy in birding the final hole to deny Masters champion Adam Scott a second Australian Open title and a first Australian ‘Triple Crown’.
It was also McIlroy’s first victory in over 12 months and the fifth occasion in 11 tournament victories the double Major winner has come from behind heading to a final round to claim success.
Rory McIlroy and his proud caddy, J P Fitzgerald,
But after a mostly frustrating season, and before leaving Sydney and bound for Los Angeles and this week’s Tiger Woods hosted World Challenge, McIlroy hoped his Royal Sydney win would dissolve all criticism following his reputed $US 25m switch to Nike.
“There was a lot of criticism at the start of the year when I switched to Nike, so my message now to those people who still want to criticise me is that this win should silence any further criticism,” he said.
“To have taken down someone of Adam Scott’s calibre, and who is the Masters champion and now one of the best players in the world, was a pretty nice feeling.
“I’ve said all along it’s about building back the confidence and I’ve been gradually achieving that”
And while McIlroy felt somewhat embarrassed to have deprived Scott the Australian ‘Triple Crown’ the 24-year old is already looking ahead to the first Major of 2014 and the likelihood of Scott fitting McIlroy with the Augusta National green jacket.
Rory McIIroy, winner of the 2013 Australian Open at Royal Sydney (Photo: Anthony Powter)
“I still have Tiger’s event to play next week but this win is a great springboard in 2014,” said McIlroy.
“I am already very excited after this win and just hoping this winning trend continues and Adam can fit me with the green jacket next April.”
It is understood McIlroy was paid $US 800,000 to compete in Sydney and already Golf Australian CEO, Stephen Pitt is working to get McIlroy back next year to defend his title.
“It’s been a landmark Australian Open with everything you could have asked for with great leaders, great crowds and great golf, and at the end of the day we got a great champion in Rory McIlroy,” said Pitt.
“He probably broke a lot of hearts out there as the Australian sporting public no doubt came out to see Adam’s ‘Triple Crown’ coronation but Rory is a very popular winner and we’d love to see him come back and defend next year.
“Rory is a class act and a wonderful guy, and you sometimes forget he is only 24 years old.
“And now that he’s won, and in terms of huge international players, Rory will now be our number one priority in looking to getting him back to Sydney to defend his title.”
McIlroy celebrated his victory filling the Stonehaven Trophy with beer and sharing the spoils of his success with manager Sean O’Flaherty, caddy J P Fitzgerald and close friend, Mitchell Tweedie.ooc
And the normally reserved O’Flaherty, who left McIlroy’s former management company Horizon Sport to work with Rory McIlroy Incorporated, was just as pleased for his star client.
“I’m delighted for Rory he’s won the Australian Open as it’s been a very transitional year for him but his patience and hard work is paying off,” said O’Flaherty.
“And those who will now say that Rory is back. Well he was never away!”
McIlroy will return to Australia in less than a month accompanying girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki who is contesting the Brisbane International as a warm-up for January’s Australian Tennis Open.
The duo will spend New Year’s Eve in the Queensland capital.
