McIlroy: I didn’t think I meant that much to people

Rory McIlroy has admitted he was more emotional and overwhelmed by the support he received at Portrush last week than missing the cut at the Open Championship. He said last night it was the first time he had to stop himself crying on a golf course.

“I didn’t think I meant that much to people,” he revealed in Memphis ahead of Thursday’s WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational, adding: “I realised they mean more to me than I thought, so it went both ways. I had to stop myself crying about four times on the back nine on Friday, not because of the situation I found myself in (cut-wise) but because of the support. It sounded like a Sunday. I had to take a step back and say ‘wow, I sort of mean a lot to these people, and it felt really good.”