Earmarked for greatness from an early age

IT IS something of a cliche when a young athlete bursts on the scene that his or her potential had been obvious from the start, but unless you’re a two-year-old Tiger Woods filmed putting with Bob Hope for US network television, very few can attest to the veracity of the testimonials.

As the video clips of a toddling Rory McIlroy juggling a golf ball on a cut down club and launching a mini version of that effortless swing were played regularly on American television yesterday ahead of the Holywood golfer’s final round at the US Open, it was a reminder that “wee Mac” has long been in the Woods category, however – earmarked for greatness from an early age.

The timeline reads like a pathway to greatness, from that 40-yard drive, aged two, through to victory at the Under-10 Doral Publix Junior event in Miami, to shooting a 61 around Portrush as a 16-year-old.

“I first saw Rory in his early teens,” recalled Darren Clarke a couple of years ago after McIlroy had won his first European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic.

“I knew instantly he had a special talent and I believe he can go as far as he wants in the game.”

Graeme McDowell had been told about the burgeoning talent of his future Ryder Cup teammate after McIlroy tore up his golfing backyard.

“I first heard about him when he shot 61 at my home course in Portrush,” McDowell said this week.

“You hear rumours about people. You hear things, and good players come and go, but this kid was something a bit special.

“I’ve gotten to know him a lot over the last three or four years and played practice rounds with him. Playing practice rounds with him can be demoralising, because you walk off feeling down on your own game when you see how he hits it. He’s potentially the next Tiger Woods. He’s that good. It’s great to see him out there fulfilling his potential.”

Cork golfer Aaron O’Callaghan has similar stories to McDowell from a much earlier age, from when McIlroy pitched up as an 11-year-old on the Under-15 national squad. Now 25 and an assistant professional at Baton Rouge Country Club, having taken a golf scholarship and graduated at nearby Southeastern Louisiana University, O’Callaghan recalled being blown away by the younger boy’s talent.

“I met Rory when he was 11-years-old and we were both on the same Under-15 national panel.

“We played foursomes together against Scotland because, of course, Rory was always playing about three years ahead of his level. When he came into the squad we knew he was basically the best 11-year-old in the world and right the way through there was no one better than he was at his age.”

O’Callaghan recalls McIlroy’s victory in the 2006 European Individual Amateur Championship as the most telling pointer to a big future for the Ulsterman. He had already retained his West of Ireland and Irish Close Championship titles but this was a step up.

“That was the big turning point for him, winning the European Individual. We were rooming together and had a great week, great banter and when he won that and got into the British Open I really think he started moving through.

“This was totally different (to his previous titles that year), like going from the Conference to the Premier League, it was such a big deal and I remember him stringing together four rounds very close to 20 under par that week in Italy and just playing incredible golf.”

And if that was Premier League stuff, McIlroy now finds himself playing on a different planet, never mind the Champions League.