Rory McIlroy is celebrating his double PGA Championship triumph with three days in the ‘Big Apple’ before stepping out onto Old Trafford this week with the Claret Jug and maybe the PGA Championship trophy.
It was not to after midnight Sunday when McIlroy finally stepped aboard a private jet also carrying his father Gerry, coach Michael Bannon, caddy J P Fitzgerald, manager Sean O’Flaherty, good friend Harry Diamond and their chef for the week in Louisville, Athlone’s Paul McVeigh.

The first photo of Rory McIlroy with the Claret Jub and the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy organised by Eoin Clarke (www.golffile. ie) and also Bernie McGuire taken on the balcony of the Valhalla Clubhouse around 11pm Sunday night.
Also on board the New York bound jet was the Claret Jug and a lighter replica of the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy.
O’Flaherty has ruled out any US TV appearances while in New York and instead McIlroy intends celebrating ahead of returning home to Belfast.
On Saturday McIlroy will walk out to the centre of the pitch at Old Trafford with the Claret Jug and maybe the Wanamaker in hand ahead of his beloved Manchester United tackling Swansea.
He said: “I’m going to enjoy this week. I’ve got a week off.
“It’s been a great summer. I’m not sure if I’m ever going to have another summer like this so I have a week off and I’m relaly going to enjoy it.
“I’m going to share it with the people that are really close to me.
“I’ll be back home in Northern Ireland at the end of the week. I don’t know if I can parade the Claret Jug and the Wanamaker at the same time at Old Trafford on Saturday but I’ll try.
“But I’m going to go to Old Trafford on Saturday and watch the first game of the season and I’ll bring the Claret Jug with me. That’ll be a great thrill.
“I’ll then go back over to the States and get ready for the FedEx Cup.
“But really I just want to let all this sink in this week. It’s been an incredible week of golf and one that I’ll always cherish as I may never have a summer as good as this.”
Hopefully, McIlroy will not drop the Wanamaker Trophy on the Old Trafford pitch as he nearly did on the Valhalla presentation green.