Tributes flood in as hero set to return home

TRIBUTES to golfer Rory McIlroy flooded in north and south after his sensational win at the US Open, and ahead of his expected return to his hometown tomorrow.

The 22-year-old blitzed the field at the Congressional club in Maryland to romp to victory, uniting public figures on both sides of the border in praise for his achievement.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny hailed his win as “both emphatic and inspiring”.

“I’m sure this will be the first of many major golfing achievements Rory will attain in what I’m sure will be a long and stellar career,” he said.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also praised the Co Down man, as did British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said: “He’s an incredible talent and clearly has a very exciting career ahead of him.”

Mr Robinson said Rory McIlroy’s win was “one of Northern Ireland’s greatest sporting moments”.

Mr McGuinness, referring to the player’s failure to hold onto a final-day lead in the Augusta Masters two months ago, said: “The manner in which he has conducted himself this weekend, showing tremendous resilience and character following the disappointment of this loss at Augusta, is a tremendous example to us all.”

In Dublin, Sport Minister Leo Varadkar said the win marked the arrival of a sporting hero, while in Stormont, the Democratic Unionist Party’s Peter Weir, who represents the Holywood area, said he was “a true sports superstar”.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is planning its own reception to mark the golfer’s win, and there are growing calls for the British Open to be played at a course in the North on the back of McIlroy’s victory.

His triumph was welcomed by golf fans around the world and the new champion also brushed off, almost literally, any minor rumblings of controversy when a fan threw an Irish Tricolour onto his shoulder as he left the course following his victory.

Footage shows a security guard quickly removing the flag. Rory McIlroy has in the past said he would like to represent Great Britain in golf at the Olympics, although he has represented Ireland at amateur level and at the professional World Cup with Graeme McDowell in 2009.

Locals in Holywood were yesterday hoping their hometown hero would make a swift return, and many at his old golf club and his grammar school were quick to praise Rory’s parents as well as the man himself.

Former headmaster at Sullivan Grammar school, John Stevenson, recalled how it was Rory who explained he wanted to be a professional golfer when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, and that “his parents just did everything they could to help make it possible”.

There were suggestions that another famous golfer from the North, Darren Clarke, has withdrawn from this week’s European Tour event because he wants to be at McIlroy’s homecoming party.

Early expectations are he will return to Holywood some time tomorrow, although the schedule had yet to be finalised, with Holywood Golf Club likely to be at the centre of any celebrations.