Rory McIlroy crushed his Congressional opposition with an historic U.S. Open landslide victory in Washington DC.
McIlroy, 22 led from start to finish to turn the 111th U.S. Open into his own ‘Rory’s Roadshow’ showcasing an invigorated new world order of skill and mental toughness.
And in the absence of Tiger Woods, the new World No. 3 ranked McIlroy also delivered golf a standard of Major’s behaviour post the Woods sex scandal that stained the ancient game.
Rory McIlroy proudly holds his first Major trophy. (Pic - www.golffile.ie)
McIlroy went into the final round leading by eight and buried any lingering Augusta demons with one of the most impressive performances in recent history.
McIlroy eventually signed for a final round 69 and be handed the gleaming U.S. Open trophy after posting a 16 under par tally.
Over his four unchallenged rounds, McIlroy recorded an eagle, 19 birdies and just three bogeys and a ‘reality check’ double bogey at 18 on Friday.
Australia’s Jason Day, just a year older than McIlroy, captured his second runners-up position in as many Majors with a 68 for an eight under par tally.
Four players – Lee Westwood (70), Korean Y E Yang (70) and the American duo of Robert Garrigus (70) and Kevin Chappell (66) – shared third place at six under par
“Happy Father’s Day, dad. This one is for you,” said McIlroy holding the trophy in the direction of his father, Gerry McIlroy.
“Overall the whole week has been incredible
Rory McIlroy hugs his father, Gerry as caddy J P Fitzgerald looking on and with 18th hole flag in his hand. (Pic - www.golffile.ie)
I could not have asked for much more.
“I am just so happy to be holding this trophy.
“I know how good Tiger was to win by 15 shots at Pebble Beach and I was trying to go out there today and emulate him in some way.
“But I played great for four days and I could not be happier.
“What happened to me at Augusta was a very valuable experience and I knew what I needed to do today, to win.
“I learnt a few things about myself and about my game, and I put a few different things into practice and they paid off.”
Tennis World No. 1 Rafael Nadal had ‘texted’ Mcllroy declaring he’s an inspiration to the Spaniard as he seeks a second-straight Wimbledon crown and an 11th Grand Slam title, and ‘Rafa’ was on the mobile straight after the victory again texting McIlroy.
McIlroy smashed many records on route to a first Major success:-
- Quickest player to get to double under par figures ever in a U.S. Open
- Record 36, 54 hole & 72 hole U.S. Open totals.
- The youngest player in the history of the European Tour to win a Major, and younger than the late Seve Ballesteros.
- McIlroy’s also younger maiden Major Champion than Jack Nicklaus who captured a first Major in winning 1962 U.S. Open.
And with still five holes to play Jack Nicklaus was on the phone again singing the praise of the player younger than the ‘Golden Bear’ when Nicklaus won the first of 18 Majors.
“This kid is going to have a great career and there is no question about it,” he said.
“He’s got all the components. He’s got a lot of people rooting for him, and he’s a nice kid. He’s got a pleasant personality. He’s humble when he needs to be humble. He’s confident when he needs to be confident.”
And when Nicklaus was reminded McIlroy is some four months younger in winning a first Major than Nicklaus, Nicklaus remarked: “Rory’s already ahead of my Major’s base and his scoring is way ahead of my pace.”
McIlroy’s victory will again have the European Tour crowing loudly as it’s the eighth Tour Major success in 16 Majors since Padraig Harrington captured the 2007 Open at Carnoustie.
As well, it’s a first Major success for Irish golf that will have all those at the GUI proudly smarting.
In what has to be a first - Rory 'tweets' picture of the U.S. Open trophy. (Pic - www.golffile.ie)
‘Father’s Day’ dawned in the U.S. capital with McIlroy leading by eight and no sooner had he stuck his tee into the ground at the first and the crowd was cheering wildly.
The curly haired McIlroy then delivered his rivals a straight-talking statement in birding the first to move nine clear, and then roared 10 clear of nearest challenger, Lee Westwood with a birdie at four.
After Westwood found the drink to bogey the sixth, McIlroy continued walking on water to be eight strokes clear heading to the back nine.
But it was Congressional’s 10th where McIlroy sealed success and nearly holing his 6-iron shot into the hole and just a few weeks after the 10th hole at Augusta National ruined his hope of a then first Major.
And in stark contrast to Graeme McDowell’s super come-from-behind Pebble Beach, McIlroy’s triumphant really was an unchallenged walk in the park and daylight well back in second place.
And McDowell, who carded a pair of 69s over the weekend, was there to congratulate McIlroy as he walked from the 18th soon after praising McIlroy and Northern Ireland golf.
“The probability of Northern Ireland producing back‑to‑back U.S. Open champions is a lottery number,” said McDowell.
“It’s bigger than that. The flood gates are wide open with South Africans start winning nearly back‑to‑back with Louis (Oosthuizen) and Charl (Schwatzel) and with what (Padaig) Harrington winning in 2007 and 2008 and Europeans started stepping up.
“It’s just watching your colleagues and friends and guys you play with week in and week out and doing things like that gives people the belief ‑‑ there’s no doubt my win last year has given Rory the belief to do it, and Charl and Louis and all of the above. That’s great.
“So my hat’s off to Rory this week.
“It’s been waiting to happen. He’s been this good for a long time, and it’s great to see him, like I say, fulfill his potential. He’s an awesome player.”
McIlroy had earlier shared a Father’s Day breakfast with silver-haired father, Gerry and then watching round half of the DVD movie ‘Silkwood’.
But it was the words of his father rather than the 1983 drama that McIlroy had ringing in his ears.
“It’s been so nice to have breakfast with him every morning and just talk about the day ahead, and what’s going to happen,” he said.
“We’ve talked about how I have been feeling.
“So it’s just been good to have him here, as he’s always been so positive and it’s nice to have those reassuring words in your ears.”
And among the first McIlroy embraced was his father, a former barman at Holywood Golf Club who’ll proudly return to the club this week the toast of town.
McIlroy had been at the course around 1.30pm (local time) and some two hours before tee-off, trying to avoid the temptation of arriving too early for the biggest date in his career.
But while McIlroy had breakfast with his father, he had dinner for the second night running with Westwood.
And with Westwood also looking to capture a first Major Championship title, McIlroy was quizzed if Westwood, who would go back to World No. 1 should he finish, at worst runner-up.
McIlroy said: “No, definitely not!
“Lee’s going to be going out there to post a number but I can’t take notice of what anyone else does.
“I have to take care of my business and take care of myself, and if I can do that I will be probably very hard to beat.”
Mum, Rosie was home in suburban Belfast, and given she was such a nervous wreck in Dubai in January, 2009 when her son won his Tour title it was the best place for her.
Also staying at home in Northern Ireland was long time girlfriend, Holly Sweeney as she’d turned up on the weekend in Augusta and we saw what transpired.
ISM manager, ‘Chubby’ Chandler commented: ‘No, Holly’s not here this week, and probably after what happened in Augusta, it’s been a good idea not to come this week.”
McIlroy will host a corporate outing for sponsor, Audemars Piguet later today (MON) at Cape Cod but has turned down a request to appear later this evening New York time on the ‘David Letterman Show’.
He will be in Birmingham tomorrow morning (TUES) for a taped appearance and the ‘Ant & Dec’ show ahead of a triumphant return to Belfast.
And later this week, McIlroy will be at the Wimbledon Centre Court cheering on Nadal.
