Rorsome!
RORY McILROY was just three months into his professional career when he handed his parents the keys to a silver Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe.
It was a small price to pay for all the sacrifices they had made to help him become the youngest player ever to break into the world's top 20.
Like Earl and Tida Woods, who raised their son to become the world's supreme golfer, Gerry and Rosie McIlroy have only one child and they dedicated their lives to his passion for the game.
Gerry held down three cleaning and bartending jobs at once and Rosie works a nightshift stacking rolls of adhesive tape at a plant in Belfast.
"They sacrificed nearly everything for me to try and progress as a golfer," McIlroy, 19, admitted. "They basically spent all their money paying for trips to America and to junior events all over the world for me to try and gain experience.
"That's a big part of why I've done so well, so it would be nice to be able to repay them, maybe down the line buy them a house."
Twelve years after seeing Tiger Woods win The Masters on TV by a record 12-stroke margin, McIlroy will play with the world No 1 and former Masters and Open champion Mark O'Meara in a practice round before the season's first major gets under way on Thursday.
Two years ago he shot a three-under-par 68 in the first round of the Open Championship at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round on the opening day. He finished tied for 42nd while still an amateur and this will be his first appearance at a major since then.
"I've proved to myself that I can compete at major championships," McIlroy declared.
"I was up there after the first round of the Open and, if I can gain more experience I don't think there's any reason why I can't be contending."
Gerry said: "We're working- class people and when Rory was young there was no support, no organisation to help him out, so his mother and I did everything that we could.
Effort
"I didn't want to say when looking back, 'Why didn't you put more effort into Rory?' "
He and Gerry were coming out of a shopping mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, several weeks ago when a chance encounter with Jack Nicklaus underlined his growing fame.
"He was just about to get in his car and and he sort of took a second look and recognised me, which was seriously cool," McIlroy said.
"I said, 'Mr Nicklaus, how are you doing?
'It's a pleasure to meet you,' and Dad just stepped up and said, 'Jack, how are you doing?'
"It was so funny, like he'd known him for 20 years or something."
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This article has 3 comments
Rory has great parents and he will be a major champion. He is great player and an incredibly mature player for his age. Good luck to him and his parents.
By Freddie .. Posted April 9 2009 at 10:50 PM.
I've been watching him since his rounds at Carnoustie and now that he's 'settled' he will become a great player. I just hope that he keeps his feet on the ground!
By Bob Warner.. Posted April 5 2009 at 12:29 PM.
Good article. good insight into a champion of the future.
By morganusa.. Posted April 5 2009 at 2:10 AM.