Rory McIlroy

Decotron

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A massive congrats to Rory McIlroy who's just won his first PGA Tour tournament. The youngest winner since Tiger in 1996.

His final round today was one the best Ive ever seen by any player. Quail Hollow is known as one of the more testing on tour and aged 20 McIlroy just smashed the course record by 2 shots shooting a 62.

Against a top class field he literally destroyed them in a manner I've only seen from Tiger Woods. His swing is superior to Tigers but his short game and putting has a long way to go to match Wood's quality.

Im convinced McIlroy is destined to be world number 1 one day.
 
Rory McIlroy set a new course record en route to winning the Quail Hollow Championship, his first PGA title as he became the youngest winner on the Tour since Tiger Woods in 1996.

The Northern Irishman, who turns 21 on Tuesday, enjoyed a blistering round, capped by a 43-foot birdie putt on the 18th, to sign for a 62 and win by four shots from Phil Mickelson.

McIlroy began the day four shots off the lead, held then by Billy Mayfair, but caught fire midway through his opening nine holes.

After going to the turn in 32, including a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh, McIlroy stormed clear of the field with a brilliant run of birdie-eagle-birdie from the 14th.

The 20-year-old went for the green on the reachable par-four 14th, his tee shot coming up right of the green in a bunker. From there he splashed out to 10ft and holed for a birdie, his sixth of the day.

The best was yet to come however, McIlroy hitting a stunning approach from 207 yards to within four feet of the flag on the par-five 15th to set up a simple eagle.

And the former Walker Cup star followed that with a mid-iron from a fairway bunker on the 16th to four feet for yet another birdie and, at that stage, a four-shot lead over Masters champion Mickelson.

He made par on the 17th and then capped a stunning day's work with the long putt on the 18th for a birdie.

McIlroy had missed the cut in his last two events in America, including the Masters at Augusta following rounds of 74 and 77.

And he was not in strong position on Friday night at one over par before a stunning turnaround, completing the weekend at 16 under par.

"I suppose I just got in the zone," McIlroy said on Sky Sports 3. "I didn't realise I was going eight, nine, 10 under par. I just knew I'd got my nose in front, I was just trying to stay there.

"Ever since I was 10 or 11 I wanted to be a professional golfer and you know it's been a crazy ride to this point. I'm just delighted to get here and get my first win of the year and to do it on a golf course like this is an amazing feeling.

"I'm going to have a bit of a party on Tuesday night down in Sawgrass. If I was back home and had a win like this I'd be having a good one tonight."

Mickelson made a birdie on the 18th to pip Angel Cabrera for second place, having seen any fading hopes of catching McIlroy die with a bogey on the 17th, his second of the round.

Cabrera, who had a share of the lead with McIlroy at the midway point of the round, was the victim of his own poor putting, as he missed five putts from less than eight feet on the last eight holes.

Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge had the second best round of the day, a six-under-par 66, to take fourth place on nine under par.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who waited to give hearty congratulations to McIlroy on the 18th, signed for a 68 that left him in a four-way tie for seventh at six under par.

McILROY CLAIMS FIRST PGA TOUR TITLE | Sporting Life - Golf News | Open De Espana, Quail Hollow Championship, Tiger Woods
 
Big future ahead of this lad. I've played golf all my life, and its pretty obviously from my point of view that he has a sensational swing, game and mentality. Hopefully he can go on to win majors.
 
Congrats Rory, after coming off the back of some pretty bad form this is the best possible reply from him, destined to be one of the best players around for years to come and its great to see him get the victory he deserves

Lets hope he has a good Ryder Cup
 
I remember seeing a feature on him many years ago when he was a junior. They said he was destined for greatness, but you never really know for sure when people say things like that. Looks like he's fulfilled the potential. Fair play to him.
 
Tiger who? The yanks were going mad for him. Well done Rory, incredible stuff. Scoring 10 under par, with the like of Mickleson hot on his heals. Then to think he'll turn 21tomorrow. Just what golf needed at this current time.
 
It's funny, he's been pretty shocking for a few months now. I was at the pub watching him with a few mates on Friday evening and he was in danger of missing the cut at one over and I was telling the lads about the text from Fergie.

Next day he shoots a 66 and follows that up on the Sunday with a course record 62. An unbelievable weekend performance. Great potential.
 
Congrats to him.

I watched a lot of PGA last year and always rooted for Rory. Hopefully he'll build on this and win even more. His talent is undoubtable.
 
62 round Quail Hollow is unbelievable. Well done that man.

McIlroy and Martin Kaymer are undoubtedly the next superstars of the game.
 
Tremendous final round. He is going to be a top top player if he can get his head right. He is going to win a lot of majors and will definitely be the main man to challenge Woods' dominance.
 
1000/1 to betfair on Fri. night. Something like €62 was traded at that price, lucky swines....

Please god he doesnt turn into a harrington that trys to chance his game twice a year.
 
Well done to him.

Great golfer, and form what i've seen and heard he's a really sound wee lad to boot. Not big headed or cocky, but knows what talent he has!!!!!
 
remember seeing an article on him when he was about 15 or 16 and breaking all kinds of junior records. His parents had even turned their garden into a putting course for him so that he could practise. Good luck to him, seems like a nice lad
 
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Ryo Ishikawa and Matteo Mannesero are also being touted as ones to watch.
 
Ishikawa is the best of the young bunch, but Rory did his thing, entertainment at its highest last Sunday
 
I'd be very surprised if Ishikawa can get near McIlroy. McIlroy is as good a raw as there has been, except for Tiger.
 
Missed the cut I think?
 
Decotron said:
Based on what?
Click to expand...

His short game is miles ahead of most his age, and is on par with some of the best on the tour... Both have very similar driving and mid-iron games, both seem to have similar mentalities except for the fact Rory seems to have a bit of a fire to him, which is obviously an advantage in situations, but could come back to bite him.

Alot of analysts believe Ishikawa has #1 potential, where as Rory will be a competator on the major stage but never actually reach super-stardom.

Mind you, Rory has already been in the mix on a major Sunday, so you can pick either and expect greatness.
 
Yeah I rate them both

Crazy thing is that Tiger could lose his No.1 ranking this week; goes to show you how far ahead he was considering he hasnt done all that much since one of his best wins ever
 
McIlroy makes impression on big guns
Wednesday, 19 May 2010 12:45


Rory McIlroy plays in Europe for the first time in seven months this week buoyed by messages of congratulations from three of the biggest names in golf.

The 21-year-old Irishman, a winner in America earlier this month, was at home when letters arrived on the same morning from Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Along with one from Seve Ballesteros, they are to be framed along with the 18th green flag from Quail Hollow - and then placed in his downstairs bathroom.

'When people go in they can see what I've done,' said McIlroy to great laughter. 'Not in that way!'

He has now travelled - by ferry and car because of volcanic ash cloud worries - to Wentworth for the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship starting tomorrow.

Knowing he has caught the attention of three players with 30 majors between them is a superb boost for a young man who hopes he will not have to wait long now for his first.

McIlroy had a sit-down chat with Nicklaus two months ago and the Golden Bear's letter made reference to that.

'I told you to be patient, but that was just outrageous,' wrote Nicklaus after seeing the world number nine finish 66-62 to win by four after only just making the halfway cut.

McIlroy commented: 'It was great. He also said "I look forward to seeing you at the Memorial."' That event at Nicklaus's Muirfield Village in Ohio is in two weeks' time.

Palmer's event is at Bay Hill in Florida every March and after receiving that letter McIlroy stated: 'I'll have to play there. It's brilliant. It's fantastic to be able to spend time with men of their stature. I suppose I'm in a very privileged position to be able to do that.

'I really appreciate that they take an interest in my career and hopefully I can keep playing good golf and try and live up to the potential and the expectations.

'Seve came from a European perspective. He said "It's great what you've done, especially to win in America so early".'

Ballesteros was a few days younger when he had his first victory there in 1978.

'He talked a little bit about the Ryder Cup and about the European Tour and about how proud he was of all the young players coming through.

'It was a very, very touching letter. It's incredible - he's been going through a very difficult time (four brain operations) and hopefully we can see him at St Andrews at The Open.

'I know everyone wishes him a speedy recovery and we all hope he pulls through. To take the time out of his life to write me a nice letter like that was fantastic for me.'

Ballesteros is hoping to take part not in The Open itself, but in the four-hole Champions Challenge on the eve of the event.
 
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