Rory isn’t wrapping himself in Irish flag

WITHIN minutes of winning the 2011 US Open, a fan ran on and draped a flag around Rory McIlroy’s shoulders. McIlroy had taken a stride before looking down and seeing it was the Irish tricolour. One stride more and the flag was lying on the Congressional Country Club grounds. McIlroy marched on without turning back. His relationship with Ireland has always been complex. So he should not be judged too harshly for the many twists and turns of his international career. The Irish Golf Association embraces north and south, but that is not necessarily true of McIlroy’s fellow Ulstermen. So all golf’s return to the Olympics meant was stress. If McIlroy declared for Great Britain, he alienated Ireland. If he declared for Ireland, parts of his homeland would feel equally rejected. McIlroy said he felt British, then Irish, then decided to hell with it, made a bad excuse and didn’t participate at all. So, yes, it was something of a U-turn that he came out so strongly for Ireland this week, and spoke positively about representing them in 2020. Yet it is the logical choice. In golfing terms, Great Britain ends at the sea, as it does with rugby. McIlroy isn’t wrapping himself in a tricolour by playing for Ireland. He’s just being true to the golfing culture that nurtured him.