Rory McIlroy: golf’s golden boy

When Rory McIlroy raised the US PGA's Wanamaker Trophy high in the air in Louisville, Kentucky in 2014, he laid claim to a staggering four major titles by the age of 25. But just where did this exceptionally talented young player find the skills to take on the world’s best and beat them all at their own game? We explore the courses that have made McIlroy a four-time major winner.

Where Rory McIlroy learned to play…

McIlroy was a winner from an early age. He was raised on challenging links and parkland courses along the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland and won several prestigious titles as a teenager. No doubt these stood to him when he held off Tiger Woods at the Honda Classic in 2011 to become the World Number One for the first time.

Long hours of practice at his home club of Holywood in County Down gave the rising star the confidence he needed to produce the goods: proven in full when he captured the 2005 Irish Amateur Close title at Westport. The victory, at age 16, made him the youngest ever winner of the title, which had been captured in the past by stars such as Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

Rory turns pro

In 2007, McIlroy earned a coveted spot on the Great Britain and Ireland team at the Walker Cup, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club. Although his team didn’t take home the cup, he did win his single matches against Billy Horschel. 2007 was also the year that Rory turned pro, though success took a while as he didn’t win his first tournament until 2009.

Fast forward six years and McIlroy was back at Golf Digest's World No. 1 course, Royal County Down, for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2015 as the tournament host. Using his Rory Foundation to promote the event, the pride of County Down raised huge sums for local charities.  

The wilds of Donegal

Speaking of Ballyliffin, after McIlroy became Irish Close champion for the second time, he prepared for his title defence by humbling a giant, his mentor Nick Faldo, on the windswept Old Links at Ballyliffin. “Ballyliffin is a great golf course,” says McIlroy, who shot a course record 67 to beat six-time major winner Faldo by a stroke in an exhibition match.

After beating Faldo in Ballyliffin, McIlroy retained the Irish Close title at The European Club and declared that it was the best links course he had ever played. That’s high praise from a player who grew up just a few minutes’ drive from the great links of Royal County Down and regularly teed up at Royal Portrush when he was just a young boy.