Rory McIlroy

It was Ireland's first title in the championship since 1987.

Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who is a member of both the European Tour and the PGA Tour.

He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, and has spent over 100 weeks in that position during his career.

Mcllroy was born on 4 May 1989 in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, as the only child of Rosie (McDonald) and Gerry McIlroy.

He attended St Patrick's Primary School and then Sullivan Upper School.

He was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age by his father, who coached him.

Gerry McIlroy is a fine golfer himself, who once played at a scratch handicap level.

He asked his father virtually every day to take him to Holywood Golf Club.

Family lore relates that he received a new golf club as a present, being shown the correct grip by his father, then taking the club to bed with him that night, with his hands holding the club properly.

McIlroy joined Holywood Golf Club and became the youngest member at the club at age seven.

A video on golf technique produced by champion Nick Faldo was his early favourite.

McIlroy's father held down several jobs to earn additional income for his son's golf development.

His mother worked extra shifts at the local 3M plant.

McIlroy's first significant international victory came in the World Championship for the 9–10 age group bracket at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida.

He learned his early golf at the Holywood Golf Club, which he still retains as his home course.

He started his early training with Michael Bannon, previously the Golf Professional of Holywood Golf Club, who is also his current coach and dedicated mentor.

At the age of 15, McIlroy was a member of the Irish team at the 2004 European Boys' Team Championship and of Europe's winning 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team against United States on foreign soil in Ohio.

In late 2004, at age 15, he signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.

In 2005, he became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.

In July 2005, at age 16, McIlroy shot a new competitive course record score of 61 on the Dunluce links of Royal Portrush Golf Club.

At 16 years old, he was part of the combined Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland team at the 2005 European Amateur Team Championship.

However, team Ireland did not make it to the quarter-finals.

Two years later, Ireland won the championship at Western Gailes Golf Club in Scotland, with McIlroy on the team again, this time with 20-year-old future Open champion Shane Lowry as one of his teammates and with McIlroy as tied individual leader in the initial stroke-play rounds.

Mcllroy retained the West of Ireland Championship in 2006 and followed that up with back-to-back wins at the Irish Close Championship.

In August 2006, he won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy, with a score of 274.

In October 2006, McIlroy represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, which is the Amateur World Team Championship.

McIlroy had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007.

Later that year, he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour.

On 6 February 2007, he became the second man to top the World Amateur Golf Ranking, though he lost the top spot after just one week.

McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round of 3-under-par 68 at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, his first major championship entry.

He shot +5 overall and was the highest finishing amateur, winning the silver medal.

McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the 2007 Walker Cup, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club.

He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009 and on the PGA Tour in 2010.

At the Ryder Cup, he played for Europe against the United States in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023, with Europe winning in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2023.

He is a four-time major champion, winning the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014 PGA Championship.

Along with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, he is one of three players to win four majors by the age of 25.

In 2011, at the age of 22, he became the youngest player ever to reach €10 million in career earnings on the European Tour.

For his individual and team achievements, he has twice been named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year, in 2011 and 2014.

In 2012, he became the youngest player to reach $10 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional.