'Tiger' tag doesn't faze McIlroy

Teenage golfing sensation Rory McIlroy admitted today that he relishes being hailed as the next Tiger Woods.

The 19-year-old, who returned to the North after landing his maiden European tour victory in Dubai, said the comparisons with the American superstar do not faze him.

“It’s better people are asking those questions than not asking them,” he said.

“As long as people keep saying those things it obviously means I’m doing something right.”

McIlroy was back in the familiar surrounds of his hometown club in Holywood, Co Down, as he reflected on his breakthrough win in the desert and his meteoric rise to fame.

Already a millionaire, he scored another €300,000-plus cheque for his win in Dubai.

“I haven’t splashed out on anything,” he said.

“When I first turned pro I bought a house and car but that’s pretty much been it – now I just let it (the money) sit there.

“I don’t think about it (wealth) really. When I first turned pro it was a bit of a shock. My second-ever pay cheque was €220,000 and I was like ’Woo’. But now I don’t think about it.”

And while he is feted as the game’s next superstar, away from the course it appears he is still very much a typical teenager.

His first port of call on arriving back in Holywood was to dump his dirty laundry round at his parents’ house.

“I had to call round to my mum and dad’s to get all my clothes washed,” he said.

“Then I headed home and watched a couple of episodes of 24 I had to catch up on after being away.”

Now number 16 in the world, his aim is the break into the top 10 by the end of the year.

He has come a long way from swinging a shortened club as a five-year-old at Holywood golf club. And on every step of that journey his parents, Gerry and Rosie, have been by his side. Appropriately they were the first to embrace him after he holed the winning putt on the 18th green on Sunday.

“My mum and dad made a lot of sacrifices for me when I was young, when I went to America to play junior tournaments,” he said.

“So it was great for them to be there with me in Dubai when I won it.”

McIlroy is still a member at Holywood GC and his exploits on the world stage have seen the number of junior members soar.

Eleven-year-old PJ Rowan is one of those inspired by the local hero.

“He’s the reason so many kids are wanting to play the game now,” he said.

“Everyone wants to be like Rory.”

General manager Paul Gray has known McIlroy since he first joined the club.

“Even when he was as young as seven you could tell he was something special,” he said.

“His technique and style – even then he looked like a pro.”

While his mother still does his washing, life certainly has been transformed for McIlroy in the last couple of years. And it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

“Travelling round the world on your own makes you grow up very fast,” he said.

“I probably haven’t had a normal teenage life but, saying that, a lot of teenagers probably would like to be in my position, so I’m not complaining.”

And what of his ever-lengthening locks? The teenager’s haircut, or lack of one, is now quite a talking point on the tour.

“I haven’t had my hair cut since Switzerland (in September) and I’ve played well since then so I might keep it, a bit like Samson.”