Holywood in the grip of Rory fever
The 22-year-old, fresh from winning the US Open in record-breaking style, is expected back in his home town in the next few days, but yesterday, those who helped nurture his talent were unsure when he would return.
They have guaranteed that he will be welcomed as a hero as the town is currently in the grip of Rory fever.
Paul Gray, Holywood Golf Club general manager and former club professional, has known Rory since he was a youngster and admitted feeling a swell of emotion as he watched his protege scoop his first major.
Paul, who was assistant to Rory’s coach, Michael Bannon, said: “There is a lot of excitement going on and a lot of members are coming up [to the club] just to be around and talk about it.
“From a very young age he had the ability to stand and practice and work hard at something and that set him apart from other kids. He could stand at pitching for four hours in a row, he spent an awful lot of time practicing and just playing golf.”
Rory had got tickets for Paul so he could watch the first few days of the Masters in Augusta two months ago, only for the young Co Down man to lose a four-shot lead on the final day.
“The fact that he came in and won this event straight after the Masters, certainly I would say he is relentless,” says Paul.
“I wouldn’t say he is relentless at all costs and I would say he’s a very different character to Tiger Woods but he has a drive, from day one even as a kid he knew where he wanted to be and who he wanted to emulate and it is people like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.”
His old school, Sullivan Upper School, was not slow in hailing the past pupil’s achievement, with its website declaring: “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his fantastic victory in the US Open.
“Rory has done himself, his family, his school, his town and the country proud and the whole school community celebrates with him.”
Former principal John Stevenson, who retired last year, was headmaster when Rory was making his way through his secondary education.
“A lot of people have made the mistake [that] because he’s personable, with the hair and the grin, they underestimate this guy’s character. He knows where he came from, his feet firmly on the ground, and when it comes to confidence in his own ability there is a steely determination.”
John recalled how special arrangements were agreed with Rory’s parents once the scale of his golfing talent became apparent, leading to him taking just one GCSE exam — PE, in which he scored an A — and many hours and days of school missed. “I was deter-mined that the school was not going to get in his way,” he says.
Meanwhile, a local bookmakers in the Holywood area faces making a massive pay-out to Rory’s father Gerry if he pulls off back-to-back Major victories by winning the upcoming British Open.
Gerry placed a £400 bet on his son winning the Open by the age of 25 at odds of 500/1 — meaning a £200,000 windfall if the US Open champion takes the British crown at any stage over the next three years.
Staff at the bookies did not comment but said they wished Rory well.
And what a Holywood ending that would be.
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