Mcilroy cut his teeth on the greens of Rosses Point
THE ALL-CONQUERING Rory McIlroy was lured to the magnetic appeal of County Sligo Golf Club at a tender age.
He was a few weeks shy of his 16th birthday when he became one of the youngest ever winners of the prestigious West of Ireland Open Amateur Championship at the famous Rosses Point links in 2005.
When the County Down superstar returned to Sligo to successfully defend his title the following year, it was clear that a special talent was born.
Although the Holywood legend failed at a three-ina-row attempt in 2007, losing out in the semi-final to Paul Cutler, he was already on his way to a dazzling career.
He bowed out of the amateur ranks gracefully, paying handsome and heartfelt tribute to the members of County Sligo Golf Club for the courtesy and warm welcome they had shown him and his father, Gerry, every time they visited Rosses Point. And they rest, as they say, is history. With two Major championships, a Ryder Cup and a World No 1 ranking to his credit, McIlroy is now one of the iconic figures in world golf.
But he’s never slow to acknowledge the role his early successes at County Sligo Golf Club played in developing his sensational career.
Of course, McIlroy is not the only famous golfer who has graced the immaculate links at Rosses Point.
Over the years, some of the household names in World golf have played the course, including Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Fred Daly, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington and Peter Alliss.
And Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, is a frequent visitor to the course.