The team behind the hero

When Rory McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the weekend at Valhalla he was asked about the keys to his amazing summer.

The break-up with Caroline Wozniacki, he admitted, was a major factor. But it was more than just a factor in terms of allowing him to focus totally on his game, it also allowed him to circle the wagons in terms of his entourage.

“Obviously there’s a lot of people around me who keep me on an even keel,” he said. “My mum and dad are obviously the two biggest influences on my life and I’ve got a great bunch of friends from home and I’ve got a great team around me.