McIlroy sets down marker for Rio Gold
As the spectacularly successful London 2012 Olympics came to a tumultuous conclusion, Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy closed in on his second major title – the 2012 US PGA.
As the Irish Times live blog noted
He will be younger at 23 years and three months than Tiger Woods was when winning his second major.
Stunning performance. By 8 shots! [added link]
Tags: Golf, International, Media, Rory McIlroy, Second Major Title, Sport, US PGA
Topic: Sport
Region: Global, Northern Ireland
Topic: Sport
Region: Global, Northern Ireland
As Monty summed up at the end,
” From Northern Ireland,from The United Kingdom,from Europe. The shortest favourite going into Augusta in April 2013 in history.”
( stinking £20 @ 30′s on Betfair )
Yeah potentially Team Ireland’s first ever golf gold medal winner, or has that opened another can of worms?
Well; American TV are calling him a Brit (actual word).
Jagmaster,
I think that’s the intention of the thread. A little invitation for a boring fight on the point
Stunning indeed. McIlroy on form is arguably the most enthralling sight in modern sports. That he’s a Co. Down local makes his journey so much more enjoyable to follow, of course. The quality of golfers on the homefront is barely comprehensible.
Well done McIlroy, class act.
Just over five years ago, no Irish golfer had won a major since Fred Daly in the 1947 Open, but how times have changed. Starting at the 2007 Open, Padraig Harrington won three out of six, and then Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy – both from Northern Ireland, like Daly – won back-to-back US Opens. Darren Clarke followed that up by triumphing at the 2011 Open and McIlroy secured his second major with the 2012 USPGA crown at Kiawah Island.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/rory-mcilroy-wins-uspga-title-at-kiawah-island-by-eight-shots-16196920.html?r=RSS#ixzz23OHCIoaa
Rory is amazing, he will b an iconic sportsman. But if were all honest here its hard to get excited about golf at the olympics. I think golf tennis football and basketball should really stay out of it.
I agree with garry oh so many sports shouldnt be anywhere near the olympics. Im sure some golfers will get excited by the prospect of competing in the olympics but in the real world it means nothing Im sure Murray would gladly have swapped the results against Federer at Wimbledon. As for Rory he probably should give it a miss just to avoid the whole UK/Ireland arguement after all he binned the ’5th major’ the players last year because it didnt suit his schedule so Im sure the olympics should be treated with even less respect leave it to Harrington and Donald to represent the home teams without any controversy
Rory McIlroy said winning the US PGA Championship – his second major – was a satisfying snub to his critics.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/19239032
Yes lebron james winning a gold for team USA against spain. Its hard to get excited about it. When I think of london 2012 I think of farrah, ennis, bolt and taylor. Think farrah the star of the games for me. Nothing has showed up football quite like the olympics. Daniel sturridge acted like a child when he missed his penalty. Contrast that with farrah or hoy. I will never forget it. If only they had the olympics when I was a lad.
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — It was a halogen-bright smile of joy, of disbelief and, yes, of relief, too. Rory McIlroy didn’t just separate himself from the rest of the PGA Championship field Sunday, but from his doubters.
Rory McIlroy proves point in PGA win
http://espn.go.com/golf/pgachampionship12/story/_/id/8259297/rory-mcilroy-proves-point-pga-championship-win
WHY GOLFING GENIUS RORY MCILROY IS NO WANNABE
As the nation, even the world, watched the reunion of the Spice Girls, a 23-year-old Briton was completing a sporting achievement which perhaps dwarfed anything accomplished by team GB over the past glorious fortnight.
http://www.channel4.com/news/why-golfing-genius-rory-mcilroy-is-no-wannabe?google_editors_picks=true
I think Lionel Huntz at 13 August 2012 at 2:53 am is right regarding the intention of the thread but I am not so sure that the debate would be boring to many in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, that debate is not really about McElroy but about Northern Ireland as a whole.
As far as the man is concerned, he has the right to decide who he represents. That decision should be respected.
But what if McElroy wins a medal in Rio? Would the majority of people from both communities be able to take ownership of his achievement?
McElroy will make a significant contribution to Northern Ireland’s shared future if he is able to remain a shared hero.
I don’t think Teams GB or Ireland will have much to worry about by 2016. Rumours have it Rory will have emigrated to the US by then and taken up US citizenship. He has already bought a home in Florida. He didn’t even come home to NI with his new USPGA last week. Instead he flew up to Cincinnati to spend time with Caroline and watch her play tennis. cuphttp://tourreport.pgatour.com/2012/08/18/after-major-win-rory-supports-wozniacki/ His girlfriend
I don’t think Teams GB or Ireland will have much to worry about by 2016. Rumours have it Rory will have emigrated to the US by then and taken up US citizenship. He has already bought a home in Florida. He didn’t even come home to NI with his new USPGA trophy last week. Instead he flew up to Cincinnati to spend time with Caroline and watch her play tennis. http://tourreport.pgatour.com/2012/08/18/after-major-win-rory-supports-wozniacki/
I’d say Rory will move to the US but there’s no way he’ll represent the states.
This page has just about the best explanation of how it might work, that I can see.
http://golf.about.com/od/tourmajorevents/f/olympicformatfield.htm
As things stand, McIlroy and McDowell would qualify as part of the Top 15.
If they represented Ireland, no other Irish golfers could.
If they represent “TeamGB”, then other Irish golfers COULD compete in the Olympics, and maximise the presence of NI/RoI/Irish golfers at the Games.
Nobody knows what the rankings will look like in 4 years time. Maybe there will be no English, Scottish or Welsh players in it and they might want to maximise their presence!
It’ll be moot. Haven’t we been assured that there will be a united Ireland by 2016. Presumably at Easter which will be before the Olympics.
Indeed, Mister_Joe …. how could any of us have forgotten?
good point Joe. Doh, forgot that myself….
Golfer McIlroy Faces Olympic Question in Pull of Divided Ireland
Colm Heatley, ©2012 Bloomberg News
Published 5:21 a.m., Monday, August 20, 2012
Rory McIlroy knows he risks losing some fans as golf returns to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century at the next games in Rio de Janeiro.
Barely has the five-ringed flag landed in Brazil and pressure is already mounting on Northern Irish-born McIlroy to name which country he will represent. Like all competitors born in the U.K. province, the golfer can choose between Ireland and Britain. Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said on Aug. 13 he hoped McIlroy, 23, who won his second major tournament this month, would choose Ireland.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Golfer-McIlroy-Faces-Olympic-Question-in-Pull-of-3800655.php#ixzz245hBb3fO