Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy revealed just how close his long-time manager Sean O’Flaherty came to last week’s horrific Paris Attacks.
The recently engaged O’Flaherty caught the EuroStar to the French capital arriving at his hotel shortly after the first attacks, and travelling to Paris for a U2 concert on Saturday night.
However the concert was cancelled and with O’Flaherty returning home first thing Saturday morning.
Rory McIlroy and his manager Sean O’Flaherty in happier times and with McIlroy holding the Stonehaven Trophy after winning the 2013 Australian Open in Sydney.
“The hotel I stayed in on Friday night was only three kilometres from the attacks,” said O’Flaherty.
“I’ve never been so horrified in my life and I just couldn’t get out of Paris quick enough.”
And McIlroy, like so many other players in their own way, drew an ‘Eiffel Tower’ tribute on his Nike cap as a sign of ‘solidarity’ to France, and with officials also flying just the French flag beside the UAE flag on the main 18th hole grandstand.
Rory McIlroy adds a tribute to the Paris Attacks on his Nike cap. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s my first time I’ve been in the public eye since it happened and I just wanted to pay tribute and show a little bit of solidarity with France,” said McIlroy.
“It was horrendous. Sean was there when it happened, and it was the first thing I saw when I got off the plane, so I texted him to just make sure that he was okay.
“But then some things are obviously much bigger than golf, and the drawing I drew on my cap reminds me of that this week.”
