McIlroy: From The Back Of The 18th Green At Andrews In 2007 To Grand Slam Glory At Augusta National

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It was 7th of October, 2007 when I stood beside a young freck-faced, curly-haired golfer named Rory McIlroy at the back of the 18th green on the Old Course at St. Andews.

We stood there watching the third last pairing of Open Champions Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington completing their rounds in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Lawrie was standing over a birdie putt that if he holed it would tie him with McIlroy in then third place on 15-under-par.

As we looked on, McIlroy commented:  “If Lawrie misses this putt, that’s my Tour card”.

The Scottish event was only McIlroy’s second in the now named DP World Tour since the fanfare in turning pro two week’s earlier at the Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry.

Lawrie missed his birdie and McIlroy’s third place behind winner Nick Dougherty and runner-up Justin Rose earned McIlroy Euro 211,000 and good enough to secure full Tour statue for the 2008 DP World Tour season.

I was in attendance at the 2011 Masters when McIlroy headed into the final round of just a third Masters showing but for him to endure the hurt of a closing round 80 at drop to a share of 15th.

Around a month later, McIlroy brilliantly celebrated Father’s Day bringing the famed Congressional course to it’s knees to capture a maiden major championship at the 2011 US Open.

McIlroy also tore-up Kiawah Island, capturing the 2012 PGA Championship by an incredible eight shots.

Two year later in July 2014, McIlroy won his first Claret Jug with a wire to wire victory edging out Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler by two shots on a thrilling final day at Royal Liverpool Golf Course.

Then just two months on I recall the eeriness of being at Valhalla in suburban Louisville, Kentucky when McIlroy shone brightly for a fourth occasion in his career, emerging in the darkness to win a second Rodman Wanamaker trophy.

Who would have thought as with stood in the near darkness that it would be a wait of 10 years, 8 months and 3 days till Sunday 13th April, 2025 till the sight of McIlroy extending out both arms and be fitted into an Augusta National members green jacket.

So, from the excitement that Sunday afternoon in St. Andrews over 17-years ago to the raw emotion of McIlroy capturing golf’s Grand Slam winning Masters on Sunday 13th April, 2025 it’s been some journey.

“It’s very difficult. I think I’ve carried that burden since August 2014. It’s nearly 11 years”, said McIlroy.

“And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam. You know, trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.

“Yeah, it’s been difficult, and I’ve tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I’ve shown up, and I think just the sort of cumulative experience that I’ve gained coming back here each and every year, I just I feel like I get a little more comfortable with the shot needed. I talked about it at the start of the week, but you know, there’s talking about it and actually doing it.

“And yeah, today was — today was difficult. I was unbelievably nervous this morning. Really nervous on the first hole, as you witnessed with the double, but as I said, that sort of calmed me down and I was able to bounce back and show that resilience that I’ve talked about a lot.

“Yeah, look, it was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don’t have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I’m coming back here every year, which is lovely”.

Congratulations Rory, everyone is just so proud of you.

 

 



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