McIlroy out to prove Ernie right

WHATEVER about his US Open chances this week, Rory McIlroy has been backed by Ernie Els to change the face of golf once he makes his major breakthrough.

Such is the potential of the 21-year-old from Holywood that he has long been tipped to do great things in the game but his last-day meltdown at the Masters in April, when McIlroy blew his four-stroke 54-hole lead in spectacular fashion with a triple-bogey seven at the 10th hole, raised questions about whether the Irishman had the temperament to match his talent.

Speaking at Congressional Country Club yesterday, three-time major winner and two-time US Open champion Els backed his International Sports Management stablemate to learn from that experience and not just win a major — but win plenty.