Royal Dublin
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is one of the most charismatic, popular, and influential golfers on the planet.
It is fair to say that Rory’s four Major Championships and a host of Tour wins on both sides of the Atlantic make him Ireland’s greatest golfer, thus fulfilling the potential he displayed in his early teens.
Rory was only 15 when he became the youngest winner of the West of Ireland Championship in April, 2005.
Two months later, shortly after he turned 16, the boy wonder defied all comers to claim the Irish Close title, and he repeated the West of Ireland/Irish Close double in 2006.
Rory was clearly destined for a great career as a professional, but before he left the amateur ranks, he had an ambition to add the Irish Amateur Open Championship to his golfing C.V.
His last chance came when the Amateur Open returned to Royal Dublin in May, 2007.
By then young master McIlroy had reached the number one spot in the World Amateur rankings for a short time earlier in the year, and was the reigning European Amateur Individual champion.
Rory came to Royal Dublin as the tournament favourite, underlined by his plus 5.1 handicap being the lowest of all the competitors.
A refurbished clubhouse and an upgraded course awaited the elite field which included the US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay of Scotland and 13 members of the GB & Ireland Walker Cup squad due to play the USA at Royal County Down in September of that year.
Rory teed off in round one on Friday, May 11, a week after his 18th birthday and had mixed fortunes.
He started well and notched up four birdies on the outward nine.
The homeward stretch proved more difficult. Rory struggled in windy and wet conditions on the back nine and finished with 73.
In the circumstances, he felt that was a reasonable return and hoped to improve over the next three rounds.
Unfortunately his optimism was not matched by his golf, and he failed to fire on all cylinders.
Subsequent rounds of 74, 75, and 76 left him too far adrift of eventual champion, Lloyd Saltman of Scotland, and he had to settle for a share of fourth place.
The outcome was disappointing, but to put it in context, this was little more than a blip given his subsequent rise to the highest level of world golf.
Since 2007, Rory has returned to Royal Dublin on a number of occasions for prestigious corporate events.
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The Royal Dublin Golf Club
North Bull Island Nature Reserve , Dollymount, Dublin 3 , Ireland
Phone: +353 1 833 6346 Fax: +353 1 833 6504
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