Champ punt pays off after eight years

WHEN Brian McElhinney saw a then 14-year-old Rory McIlroy represent Ulster Youths at the Interprovincials in Lahinch in 2003, he knew he was witnessing a special talent and trusted his instincts, placing £300 on the prodigy to win a major by 2020, at odds of 66/1.

McElhinney had nine years to spare when McIlroy tapped in on the 18th green at Congressional to mark a historic eight-shot victory in the US Open and win his first major, winning the Clare pharmacist £20,100 (€22,648) in the process.

“He was a superb player, even then,” McElhinney said. “I just followed him a little more after the interpros and then I said to myself, let’s have a gamble. Even so young he a had a great head for the game.”

McIlroy looked certain to claim his first major at Augusta in April only to capitulate on the final day but McElhinney insists he wasn’t upset by the defeat.

“Augusta didn’t worry me because he obviously had the ability and things just didn’t go well on one particular day and it kind of unravelled. A lot of people said a lot of very unkind things about him which I didn’t think were justified.

“I was delighted when he won the US Open. I wasn’t jumping around the room or anything because I knew he’d win one sooner or later. It was nice to see because he was such a deserving winner.”

Asked to shed some light on golf’s next rising star, McElhinney conceded, “I haven’t found anybody of that stature since, but I’ll keep looking.”