McIlroy’s latest victory - Inspirational

What a joy and what an honour it is to watch Rory McIlroy’s great talent, courage and determination reach the level that has made him the great force in world golf. The 25-year-old from Holywood in Co Down is the third youngest player to win four Majors after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

That McIlroy greets each success with considerable modesty and a knowing nod to the transient nature of success — ask Tiger Woods — suggests he has the character to achieve many more victories. That his US PGA win on Sunday night was his third major tournament win in a row strenghtens that hope.

A small island like this can only hope to produce so many world-class sports people, maybe two or three a generation. McIlroy joins Katie Taylor and Paul O’Connell, he follows Brian O’Driscoll and Roy Keane — each of whom inspire others to believe nothing is impossible, the kind of belief that will drive our women’s rugby team when they take on England in the World Cup semi-final tomorrow night. Two great victories in one week? If they are as tenacious as McIlroy, as they have been, then nothing will be impossible.