BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — From a Masters green jacket to a British Open that will be played in his home Northern Ireland this year, suddenly everything seems to be falling into place for Rory McIlroy.
After he became the sixth golfer to achieve a career Grand Slam, McIlroy’s victory at Augusta National was celebrated throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Locals were quick to point out that Royal Portrush will host the British Open in July, marking only the third time that the course in Northern Ireland has had that honor after 1951 and 2019.
Royal Portrush is located about an hour's drive from McIlroy's hometown of Holywood.
“He has given us one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting achievements,” Emma Little-Pengelly, the country’s deputy first minister, posted on X. “He will undoubtedly get a deserved hero’s welcome when he comes home. The reception when he steps onto the first tee at Royal Portrush in July will be incredible. Hopefully he can give the home fans plenty to cheer as he bids to win a second Open Championship.”
The British Open is the year’s last major. First, McIlroy will play the PGA Championship in May and the U.S. Open in June.
McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to win the elusive Masters title, adding to his two PGA Championship titles (2012 and 2014), one U.S. Open trophy (2011) and one British Open (2014).
There were scenes of joy at McIlroy’s home club in Holywood when he finally won the Masters on his 17th try.
Former world snooker champion Dennis Taylor declared McIlroy Northern Ireland’s “greatest ever sportsman”
That’s no small assertion for a country that has produced soccer great George Best and snooker star Alex Higgins.
“Massive congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his incredible victory at The Masters—making history as the first ever from our island to win the prestigious Green Jacket!” Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said on X. “This is a huge moment in sporting history, and one that has filled everyone back home with great pride.”
Irish premier Micheal Martin described the win as “epic”.
Added Deputy Irish premier Simon Harris, “A first Masters and a career Grand Slam means he joins some of the very greatest to have ever played the game. A proud day for him, his family and for Ireland.”
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