It’s time to back Rhys’ bid for Olympic glory

RORY Mcilroy’s latest attempt to complete a career Grand Slam never really got going at Augusta National.

It was dispiriting to watch — not because Rory played poorly, but because you can see how much this course haunts him.

There were millions of words filed over the weekend, as hundreds of sports journalists and commentators from around the world tried to answer the question ‘Why can’t Rory win The Masters?’ in a slightly different way to how they answered that same question the year before, and the year before.

I have nothing to say that hasn’t been said a hundred times before. I just hope Rory doesn’t beat himself up over it — he doesn’t owe any of us a single thing.

But if you’re yearning for some Northern Irish success on the global sporting stage, then keep a keen eye on Newtownards gymnast Rhys Mcclenaghan this year. The reigning World and European Champion is in fine fettle at the moment and has every chance of winning Olympic gold on the pommel horse in Paris this summer, and spoiling Max Whitlock’s farewell party.

He’s in Doha at the moment preparing for a World Cup event (gymnastics’ version of the PGA Tour) before heading to Rimini in Italy to defend his European crown before the end of the month.

While gymnastics is never likely to be as glamorous as golf, I think Mcclenaghan is poundfor-pound Northern Ireland’s best athlete and he deserves our backing.

My hope for this year is that either Rhys or World Champion swimmer Daniel Wiffen end Northern Ireland’s 52-year wait for an individual Olympic gold in Paris this summer.