RORY McILROY & HURLERS ON THE DITCH

The first hero of hurling history was Cuchulainn and he was an Ulsterman like Rory McIlroy. Rory will represent Ireland in the next Olympic games. He is currently the World number 1 golfer and after taking his fourth Major, is billed as taking over the Crown of Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers the world has seen. 

Golf is an evolution of the Game of Hurling and is currently the World's most popular game. Ireland is just starting to process, just how important the phenomena of Rory McIlroy, is for the island and its future. The Rory McIlroy phenomena will have considerable influence on  the future of Ireland. He will be a highly significant role model for the next generation. Political forces will attempt to mould him for their own agenda. Rory made a higly significant choice, in choosing Ireland for the next Olympics, despite considerable pressure to choose otherwise. He can be a major factor in moving Ireland in a progressive direction. 

The two main games of the GAA (gahhhhh) are "football" and "hurling", the chief difference being that in football, the fights are unarmed. There is also "camogie," which is like hurling, except that in fights the hair may be pulled as well.   
Here we deal with hurling

HURLING  FOR  FOREIGN  DUMMIES

Howryez! Welcome to the The O'Byrne Files ^© easy-to-follow, comprehensive online cut-out-and-keep guide on how to follow the sport called "hurling".   It's full of handy advice to make even the most clueless person into an avid hurling fan in only a few centuaries.   I should let you know first that hurling had a major role in the legend of Cuchulainn, who was a sort of Herculean or O'Byrne -type hero in early Irish politics and was apparently related to the country's latter day greatest villain,  C. J. Haughey.   I should also mention that in Scotland the natives practised "shinty", the Scottish form of hurling, alone in the hills of the Highlands (it was a solo game there for obvious reasons) and around St Andrews.  This led to the creation of golf.  Hurling also reached Nova Scotia in the early 1800s and was picked up by the Micmac Indians, to create the multimillion-dollar sport known today as "Ice Hockey".  Now, where were we?   Oh yeah, the lessons

Lesson #1:
 "What the feck is Hurling?"

Hurling is an ancient game from the Ice Age, but it didn't get official recognition until approximately 1889 or thereabouts.   As Liam Griffin, the former Wexford hurling manager and amateur poet, once described it: "Hurling is the Riverdance of sport."

NB: This doesn't mean that it involves loads of tap-dancing by poncy blokes in black mini-skirts (or girls either). Hurling is actually a venerable outdoor activity, a traditional game of immense skill in which people of all ages beat the crap out of each other with quite big sticks.   It also involves a ball (called a "Sliotar"), two goalposts (shaped like a "H", or a "h" if they need repairing), and a very muddy field named after a dodgy bishop.

The ball is about the same size as a tennis ball, only much heavier if you get whacked with one.    If you get the ball over the bar but between the posts (as if they extended infinitely into the air), you get one point.

When you do this, you get a damn big cheer and people slap you on the back and say "Fair play".   If you get it under the H, you get a goal.   This is worth three points.   So you get three times as much cheers. More about cheering techniques in lesson six or seven.

There are 15 players in each team, until several of them are sent off.   The players' sticks are called "hurleys" (after which Elizabeth Hurley's family gets its name). These sticks have a broad bit at one end called the bas (boss). The rest is called "the rest". Incidentally, one of Ireland's former taoisigh (but not Jack Lynch) was also known as The Bas, and also sometimes called The Crook.

Fair play to ya! You've reached the end of lesson one! Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until the next lesson.... ...and we are outta here.   Remember: In case of doubt, just make what you think you know sound convincing.

Lesson #2:
Now, where were was I?    Oh yeah
"GETTING A STICK"

A hurling stick or "hurley" is essential for every hurling fan.  They are available at your local sports shop, usually next to the Liverpool and Chelsea shirts, for a very modest sum.   But if you're from abroad you can easily make one yourself.   All it takes are the following readily available items:
* 1 large ash tree
* 1 axe/saw
* 1 plane
* 2-3 other tools
* 1 good carpenter (or "chippy")

Well done!  Now that you have a hurley, it's time to pick your team.  This is normally not required, because you are simply stuck with the parish/town/county you were born in.  You are also stuck with a geansai (jumper or jersey) of a particular colour and shape.  But for The O'Byrne Files many overseas readers this may not be an option.  So you will have to plump for either Wexford or Kilkenny - because these are good hurling counties but brutal at football (let's keep it simple) - or Cork if the worst comes to the worst.

Fair play to ya! You've reached the end of lesson 2! Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until taking the next  lesson.

Welcome back to the The O'Byrne Files ^© easy-to-follow, comprehensive online cut-out-and-keep guide on how to follow the sport called "hurling". 
Lesson #3:
"Going to your first match"

For this you will need the following equipment:
# A decent coat
# 1 umbrella
# Several wire coathangers
# 4 washing up liquid bottles
# An assortment of beer-mats
# 1 roll of Sellotape
# 1 pair of wellies
# 1 cap
# A good bit of cash (at least £30-£40*)

(* It is often necessary to bring more money than this of course, e.g. you might have to survive for a week in a strange town if you are up for a big match such as a provincial final, or if you go on something called an "All Ireland Almight Bender".)   

On arrival at the ground, make a rough assessment of the players' ages.   If they look like they're under 18, you're at a "Minors" match. Any older and you're probably at a "Seniors".   Unless, that is, they are Under 21s.   To complicate things, though, some players could be playing both Senior and Under 21.   Then again, others simply give up playing.   And sometimes they are actually picked for an important game and though they are on the pitch they aren't actually playing.   Seasoned match-goers often refer to this condition by its old Irish terms (either "Arafeck yalayzee bollicsya" or "Getuptha fieldya cunchya").

For the first few matches, keep as quiet as possible: listen to the other fans nearby, and if asked a question, answer as briefly as possible and never smile.   It is always better to communicate with a quick nod or shrug of the shoulders rather than actually talking.   Remember to clap when everyone else claps or jumps in the air.

Then in the pub afterwards, you might be asked to re-create the finer moments of the game you have just witnessed.   The Fairy Liquid bottles make an ideal bottom of the goalposts, and construct the rest of the posts with the coat hangers and sticky-back plastic.  Get a sharp Stanley knife (always ask an adult to help you) and cut the beer-mats into the shapes of each member of both teams, in order to create that vivid action replay in full colour.

Fair play to ya! You've reached the end of lesson 3!   Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until the next lesson....

Lesson #4:
"Cheering"

The most important part of hurling is knowing how to cheer.  All cheering phrases begin with a "Grrrr" sound, and almost all end in a "yahh!" sound.   You will also need to lower your voice as far as it will go. Practise this voice in the bath and on your kids/little sister/pet dog.   Remember that even if your team scores a point or three, your voice must always sound abit angry and growly.

Next you have to get the accent right.   The accent can be easily picked up at a local pub or Spar supermarket.   To cheer properly you will also need one of the following multi-purpose phrases so you can fit in properly.

* Come on ya!
* JAYssis yafeckya!
* Come on now yaboya!
* Clatter dafecker!
* That's the ball yafeckineejitya!
* Pull!
* Take him down!
* Oh Noooooooooooo!

Fair play!   You've reached the end of lesson 4!   Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until the next lesson....

Lesson # 5:
"Shorts"

In English premiership football, due to the inclement weather you will find many teams togged out in shorts that stretch down to their knees, and in the style of Accrington Stanley circa 1880.   But in hurling (and Gaelic football too), there's no mucking about: shorts live up to their name.   They are much shorter.   In fact the shorter your shorts are when playing hurling, the more you will distract your opposition, and the more likely you are to win.   Who needs skill!

Fair play!   You've reached the end of lesson 5!   Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until I find out more and get around to telling ye....

Lesson # 6:
"Junior hurlers"

You know you're a junior hurler when.....

1. You spend all winter on the beer speculating on who will be brought in to manage the junior hurling team next year.
2. The hardest tackle you will make all year is in an indoor soccer match in January.
3. When you break your borther-in-law's leg.
4. There are 35 at training under lights on a bitter February night (unfit but enthusiastic) - the average for Augsut is 7 (unfit, sick of training, reading Teagasc manuals and making silage)
5. The club treasurer spends some time at the AGM lamenting the yearly cost of running a club and especially the bill for hurleys; a month later, the team is being urged to "give 'em timber lads - we have plenty of hurleys on the sideline..."
6. When you go for a pick-up, you tap the ball at least twice on the hurley before you fumble it.
7. Ground hurling is for juveniles and camogie players.
8. The full forward has his son and grand nephew in the corners.
9. The grand nephew is two years older.
10. For a 2.30 throw-in, you start packing your gear bag at 2.40 and still manage to be on the field before the referee even arrives.
11. You can get a match called off because your star player is playing divisional under-16 the following week
12. Your tight marking corner back never gives an inch - except of course, when the ball gets inside his own 50 and he charges out after it with all the other backs, forgetting that the other team are even on the field.
13. Your goalie lets in a sitter every second game - this usually happens after you have scored 5 points from play to reel in a difficult half-time deficit.
14. Or in the first minute if it is a final.
15. Your full-forward can't score but "he's a good man to bust up the play".
16. Your centre-forward can't score either but "he'll stop a good man from hurling".
17. Your championship is either a round robin that requires you to play six league games to eliminate one team, or a knockout starting in October.
18. Any members of your panel who claim to have back injuries are either lazy or completely daft. Unless you can see blood, bruises or bandages, they are making it up.
19. Before every match, the forwards are told to stay wide and not bunch - but this is not what happens. The only time any forward goes wide is to take a sideline cut or if they are looking for water.
20. Your backs play from behind waving a hurley with one hand while resting the other on the forward's back - this is why all your scores and all their scores come from frees.
21. You can't field a team during the fortnight of the Leaving Cert.
22. The more people instruct you to "let fly if you don't get it up the first time", the more you ignore them.
23. Your left-corner-back plays at No.4 because he can only strike off his left side.
24. Ditto No.7.
25. Your star player always has one other brother "that was even better but he couldn't stay off the drink".

Fair play! You're a junior hurler, and you've reached the end of lesson 6! Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until we have our next lesson....

Lesson #7:
"Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh"

This is probably the most difficult lesson in the entire series, particularly if you're from abroad. There is probably no more famous name in Gaelic Games than Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Well, apart perhaps from Tommy Semple, Jason Sherlock, Master McGrath, Cusack Park, Bibi Baskin and Lana Bus.
"Micheál" is Irish for, well, "Micheál". A rough translation into other European languages is "Mikhail" or "Michelle". All of Ireland's greatest broadcasters have the first name of Micheál, with two notable exceptions: Gay Byrne and Gabriel Byrne. And Ó Muircheartaigh is a good South Kerry name. In English it roughly translates as Moriarty.
Broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh became famous from Ireland to Timbuktu for the special language he developed for people to talk about Hurling in all its glory. Micheál also covers major greyhound meetings, and beneath that genial exterior is a man of steel and a fierce competitor on the golf course.
Fair play! You're a junior hurler, and you've reached the end of lesson seven! Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until we have our next lesson....
Lesson #8:
"Heroes Of Hurling History"
The first hero of hurling history was Cuchulainn, who was a sort of Herculean hero in early Irish politics and was apparently related to C. J. Haughey. We also forgot to mention in Lesson 1 that clansmen practised "shinty", the Scottish form of hurling, alone in the hills of the Highlands (it was a solo game there for obvious reasons) and around St Andrews Golf Course. This led to the creation of golf.
Hurling also reached Nova Scotia in the early 1800s and was picked up by the Micmac Indians, to create the multimillion-dollar sport known today as "Ice Hockey". Hence the famous ballad "Micmac Paddywhack Give A Dog A Bone".

Fair play! You're a junior hurler, and you've reached the end of lesson eight! Now turn off your PC and memorise all this until we have our next lesson....

Lesson #9:
"Talk the Talk"

An essential part of hurling is knowing how to talk the talk. While there are significant regional variations in this way of speaking, many of the key terms are much the same from county to county.  Take how they talk the talk in the west. For example, try getting your teeth into the unofficial "Galway GAA Glossary"...

According to the glossary, here are the main VERBS you'll need:

• Welt - swing at.
• Bata - eg "I gave it bata" - I put a fair bit of effort into it.
• Warp - hit something hard as in "I'll f*ckin' warp you."
• Horsed - bout of rough play or intimidatory tactics as in we horsed them out of it. Sometimes referred to as kicking/batin' the shit out of the opposing team.
• Leh-it-in-ta-fuck-weddya - Full forward's appeal to a midfielder for a more timely delivery of the pass.
• Yabollixya - Corner back's formal recognition of a score by his esteemed opponent.
• Namajaysus - What was that for, referee?

Next we come to the essential ADJECTIVES:

• Stomached - surprised eg. "Jaysus when he came up behind me I was awfulstomached."
• Mighty - very good.
• Mantach - missing front teeth eg. Mairtin Staunton is mantach.
• Bullin' - angry. eg. "the centre half back was bullin' after I lamped him".
• Bull thick - very angry.
• Bushted - broken, e.g. "Jayz me arm is bushted."
• Blast - A great amount of anything.
• Rake - Also a great amount of anything, usually pints of Guinness (as in "a rake of pints").

And finally there are ALL THE OTHER BITS that go between the adjectives and verbs:

• Hames - a right shite - eg. "he made a hames of that clearance".
• Timber - intimidation of a hurling opponent.
• Lamp - a good thump.
• Schkelp - another good thump.
• Joult - a push.
• Joshel - a shoulder push.
• The Comm-it-eeee - Local GAA bullshitters in general.
• A Crowd - Eg. "that crowd from Ardrahan are a right shower of shites".
• The Bomber - a very popular nickname for a GAA player.
• A hang sangwidge - consumed with tay on the sides of roads after matches in Croker or Thurles.
• Citeog - he hit it with his citeog. ie. left handed/footed.
• A Shamozzle - a group of players shkelpin' one another but not exactly hittin' anyone at the same time!
• Flakin' - usually goes on for a whole game..... eg. "Jayz Paulie Cooney gave Pateen Og an awful flakin' below in Loughrea on Sunday". To "flake" a lad for a whole game usually starts off with a bit of the aforementioned "joshellin'" and "joultin'" and develops into a bit of "weltin'" and may  even result in a good "lampin'" for the victim especially if he gets "bull thick".
• Mullocker - untidy or awkward player.
• Horse - another untidy or rough player. There's one in every club.
• Burst the C**t - Common exhortation also referred to as the Turlough roar.
• Row - Fight involving four or more players swinging hurls like lunatics.
• Massive Row - Row involving both team, substitutes and supporters jumping fences.
• Running Row - A massive row that continues out in the parking area and or dressing room areas.

Fair play! You can talk the talk like a Galway hurler, and you've reached  the end of lesson 9!

Hurling is regarded as a culchie game until Dublin win a match when it suddenly becomes "Hooorlin', da fastest field sport in da bleedin' wooorld".

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Warning: New Computer Viruses

Microsoft Ireland has just issued a "high alert" warning concerning a new strain of computer virus that affects Irish personal computers. Many of these are most active during the summer months, and affect Outlook Express users. Infected messages contain the letters "GAA" in the Subject line.

MEATH VIRUS: Throws you out of Windows.

CLARE VIRUS: Memory forgets everything before 1995.

KERRY VIRUS: Five years of hard work wiped out by undetected Offaly mail.

WATERFORD VIRUS: Not due to strike again for another 40 years.

COLIN LYNCH VIRUS: Boots up some Waterford machines and carries on as if nothing happened.

MAYO VIRUS: Always billed as harmful, but really nothing to worry about.

MICK O'DWYER VIRUS: Attempts to install lots of foreign programs to replace existing slow-running applications.

LIMERICK HURLING VIRUS: Causes problems for 65 minutes then disappears, never to be seen again.

JOHN MAUGHAN VIRUS: System crashes in September.

DAVID FORDE VIRUS: Hasn't been seen since the "Michael Duignan Virus Killer" was invented.

MICHAEL DONNELLAN VIRUS: Attacks operating system and timekeeper and then deletes all records of this ever occurring.

GER LOUGHNANE VIRUS: Speakers emit a continuous whining sound, keeps generating data corruption messages, PC blows up but it won't accept any blame.

MARTIN LYNCH VIRUS: Computer pretends to go down, but then boots back up and is OK.

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This material is courtesy of my friends from Wasting time @ Work  
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Hands Off Our Irish Rory McIlroy Golfer of Ireland

Rory McIlroy the world number one golfer has admitted that the heartfelt reaction by fans to an article in a British tabloid, claiming he has decided to choose the British team over the Irish team for the Rio 2016 Olympics is inaccurate and reaction to it, has led him to think deeply about his identity.

Chatting before the Championship climax in Atlanta, the young Irish champion golfer said, “After everything that happened last week it definitely makes me reconsider my position and reconsider a lot of things. I think it just really hit home with me how important it is for a lot of people and how important my success has been to them. Obviously I have had a lot of support from all sides, from people who call themselves Irish, from Northern Irish, to the whole of the UK, to people over here in the States. It just hit home with me at how my success is welcomed by everyone.”

Rory  insists that has made no final decision on the matter and that he has plenty of time to think about this before the Olympics in 2016, adding that choosing one team over another is difficult for him as he does not want to seperate himself from people who support him.He said, “It would be terrible for me to nearly segregate myself from one of those group that supports me so much. It’s four years away andI still have a bit of time to decide. But, I’m very, very appreciative and very grateful of the support that I get from everyone. It’s great that I get so much support. There are not many people in my position that have to go through what I might have to go through in four years’ time, but it is what it is. I’m a golfer first and foremost and I just want to play well on the golf course. Hopefully people enjoy that and the entertainment that that brings.”


Rory McIlroy has represented Ireland on many occasions playing alongside Graeme McDowell in the World Cup.Rory was born and reared in Ireland of Irish parents.Rory is a name of Irish and Scottish origin. It is of the Irish Gaelic origin  Ruaidhrí/Ruairí ("red king"), the name of Irish kings Ruaidrí na Saide Buide and Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh/Ruaraidh explained by the clip above from Braveheart. Unfortunately the British use their tabloids and the BBC world service to politicize such matter even in sport and music, causing division and sectarianism to divide and conquer occupied Ireland, which fuels the sectarianism that murdered Rory's Uncle. The Irish flag above which Rory and Graeme McDowell both Catholic and Protestant have previously had no problem representing Ireland under its green white and orange flag which represents both traditions equally but outside interference is the problem. Sport ha snormally brought people together in Ireland such as the Irish rugby team and several other sports. The background to the story is covered below on Twitpic with Irish people having obviously strong feelings about the matter, where they have been re-tweeting the article below in support;

http://twitpic.com/atf4u0

BrianClarkeNUJ

@BrianClarkeNUJ

FREE PRICE in British Occupied Ireland http://www.causes.com/FREEePRICE

    

 10,784

9 days ago

Rory McIlroy whose great Uncle was murdered by Loyalist Paramilitaries in the '70's for being Irish is under extreme pressure. Hollywood in British Occupied Ireland is where the British secret services train and finance British Loyalist terrorists, to assassinate Irish people like Rory and his family, who are bullied & pressured to consider their extended family with regard to their identity.Now that Rosy is successful and very wealthy, these same British secret services surround & control his family and personal security whether he like it or not, putting them in an extremely difficult situation. Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has got one one but the FACT is that anyone born on the small island of Ireland is Irish whether they like it or not. Retweet to show your support.

Rory McIlroy, Golf, Sport, Irish, british,

See details; http://irishblog-brianclarkenuj.blogspot.com/ 

If you FEEL like to re-tweeting too, you can do so at the following link;

http://twitpic.com/atf4u0

Opinions are Like Assholes Rory McIlroy is IRISH

Rory McIlroy's great Uncle was murdered by Loyalist Paramilitaries in the '70's for being Irish and because Rory's Uncle Mickey McDonald on his mother's side was a good forward on the Armagh Gaelic Football Team in the '80's. Hollywood in British Occupied Ireland is where the British secret services train and finance Loyalists to assassinate Irish people like Rory who are put under considerable pressure and have to think about their extended family.


http://rorymcilroy.com/

McIlroy clarifies his position on Olympics

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks across the practice green during the third round of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club on September 8th, 2012 in Carmel, Indiana. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Golf:  Rory McIlroy has posted an open letter on his twitter account in response to comments he made in an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, rejecting any suggestion that he had made a decision on whom he would represent in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 23 year old Northern Ireland golfer stated during the newspaper interview that: “I’ve always felt more British than Irish,” during a wide ranging discussion that touched upon whether he would represent Ireland or Britain in Brazail; the first time that golf will be included in the Games.

He was further quoted in the article as saying: “What makes it such an awful position to be in is I have grown up my whole life playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland umbrella. But the fact is I have always felt more British than Irish. Maybe it is the way I was brought up, I don’t know, but I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland.

“And so I have to weigh that up against the fact that I have always played for Ireland and so it is tough. Whatever I do, I know my decision is going to upset some people but I hope the vast majority will understand.”

However in an open letter McIlroy rejected the notion that he had made any decision on who he would represent in the Olympics.

It read: “Having just won three of my last four tournaments, including a second Major championship, I was hoping that my success on the golf course would be the more popular topic of golfing conversation today. However the issue of my cultural identity has re-emerged, and with it, the matter of my national allegiance ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“I am in an extremely sensitive and difficult position and I conveyed as much in a recent newspaper interview. I am a proud product of Irish golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland and am hugely honoured to have come from very rich Irish sporting roots, winning Irish Boys, Youths and Amateur titles and playing for Ireland at all levels. I am also a proud Ulsterman who grew up in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. That is my background and always will be.

“I receive huge support from Irish and British sports fans alike and it is greatly appreciated. Likewise I feel I have a great affinity with the American sports fans. I play most of my golf in the US nowadays and I am incredibly proud to have won the US Open and US PGA Championship in the last two years.

“As an international sportsman I am very lucky to be supported by people all over the world, many of whom treat me as one of their own, not matter what their nationality, or indeed mine. This is the way sport should be.

“Since turning professional at 18, I have travelled the world playing the game that I love and consider myself a global player. As the World No.1 right now, I wish to be a positive role model and a sportsperson that people respect, and enjoy watching. I feel very fortunate to be in a position to play the sport that I love professionally and to have enjoyed the success that has come my way.

“I wish to clarify that I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation in the next Olympics. On a personal level, playing in the Olympics would be a huge honour. However, the Games in Rio are still four years away and I certainly won’t be making any decisions with regards to participating any time soon.

“The Olympics will be great for the growth of golf on a global scale, but my focus right now is on being the best player I can be, trying to win Major Championships and contributing to what will hopefully be a victorious European side at the forthcoming Ryder Cup Matches against the USA.

“Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for the amazing support that I receive around the world every time I play. It is hugely appreciated…Rory.”

Rory McIlroy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rory McIlroy MBE
McIlroy in May 2011
Personal information
Full name	Rory McIlroy
Nickname	Rors
Born	4 May 1989 (age 23) Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight	73 kg (160 lb; 11.5 st)[1]
Nationality	Northern Ireland
Residence	Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland[1]
Partner	Caroline Wozniacki
Career
Turned professional	2007
Current tour(s)	European Tour PGA Tour
Professional wins	9
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	6
European Tour	4
Asian Tour	1
Other	1
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2)
Masters Tournament	T15: 2011
U.S. Open	Won: 2011
The Open Championship	T3: 2010
PGA Championship	Won: 2012

Rory McIlroy  MBE (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer fromHolywood in County Down who is a member of both the European and PGA Tours.^[2]He is the current World Number One and a two-time major champion. On 19 June 2011 he won the U.S. Open, setting a record score of 16-under-par on his way to an eight-shot victory. He then won the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island by a record eight shots on 12 August 2012 for his second major championship victory. He has been cited as the most exciting young prospect in golf and having the potential to become one of the highest earners in sports in terms of endorsements.^[3][4][5]

McIlroy has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009, and on the PGA Tour in 2010. He represented Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup. In 2011 at the age of 22, he became the youngest player ever to reach €10 million in career earnings on the European Tour. In 2012 he became the youngest player to reach $10 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.

SportsPro has McIlroy rated as the second most marketable athlete in the world^[6]while the Golf Club Managers' Association's Golf Club Management magazine ranked him as the second most powerful person in British golf.^[7]

Contents   [hide]  1 Early life, family, and early golf development 2 Amateur career 3 Professional career 3.1 2007 3.2 2008 3.3 2009 3.4 2010 3.5 2011 3.5.1 Masters 3.5.2 2011 U.S. Open win 3.5.3 Rest of 2011 3.6 2012 3.6.1 PGA Championship 3.6.2 Pursuit of the FedEx Cup 4 Technique, additional mentors and coaches 5 Controversy 6 Personal life 7 Amateur wins (5) 8 Professional wins (9) 8.1 PGA Tour wins (6) 8.2 European Tour wins (4) 8.3 Asian Tour wins (1) 8.4 Other wins (1) 9 Professional career summary 9.1 European Tour 9.2 PGA Tour 10 Major championships 10.1 Wins (2) 10.2 Results timeline 10.3 Summary 11 Results in World Golf Championship events 12 Team appearances 13 Equipment 14 References 15 External links

[edit]Early life, family, and early golf development

McIlroy was born in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, the only child of Gerry and Rosie (née McDonald) McIlroy; he attended St. Patrick's Primary School^[8] and then Sullivan Upper School.^[9]

He was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age by his father, who coached him.^[3] Gerry McIlroy is a fine golfer himself, who once played at a scratch handicap level.^[10] Young Rory gave early evidence of his golf potential by hitting a 40-yard drive at the age of two.^[11] Rory asked his father virtually every day to take him to the golf course. Family lore relates that he received a new golf club as a present, being shown the correct grip by his father, then taking the club to bed with him that night, with his hands holding the club properly. A video on golf technique produced by champion Nick Faldo was his early favourite.^[12]

Gerry McIlroy held down several jobs to earn additional income for his son's golf development. Rory's mother worked extra shifts at the local 3M plant.^[13] Rory's first significant international victory came in the World Championship for the 9–10 age group bracket at theDoral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida.^[3][14] He learned his early golf at the Holywood Golf Club, which he still retains as his home course.^[15] He became the youngest club member at age seven.^[16] He started his early training with Michael Bannon, previously the Golf Professional of Holywood Golf Club, who is also his current coach and dedicated mentor.^[13]

[edit]Amateur career

McIlroy at age 15 was a member of Europe's winning 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team; the event was held in Ohio.^[17] In 2005 he became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.^[18] He retained the West of Ireland Championship in 2006 and followed that up with back-to-back wins at the Irish Close Championship.^[19] In August 2006, he won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy with the score of 274.^[20]

In late 2004, at age 15, he signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.^[21] McIlroy shot an opening round of 3-under-par 68 at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, his first major championship entry. He shot +5 overall and was the highest finishing amateur, winning the silver medal.^[22]

In July 2005, at age 16, McIlroy shot a new competitive course record score of 61 on the Dunluce links of Royal Portrush Golf Club.^[23]In October 2006, McIlroy represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, which is the Amateur World Team Championship. On 6 February 2007, he became the second man to top the World Amateur Golf Ranking, though he lost the top spot after just one week.^[24]

McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the 2007 Walker Cup, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club.^[25] On the first day of the event he was paired with Jonathan Caldwell for morning foursomes, and the match was halved. In the afternoon he faced Billy Horschel in singles, but Horschel won 1 up. On the second day McIlroy and Caldwell lost in morning foursomes by the score of 2 & 1. In the afternoon he faced Horschel in singles again, and this time he won by the score of 1 up. McIlroy's overall record was (1–2–1) in Win-Loss-Tie format. The United States came out victorious by a score of 12½ to 11½.^[26] He made his first appearance in a European Tour event a few days after turning 16, when he took part in the 2005 British Masters. He made the cut on the European Tour for the first time as a 17-year-old at the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic, where he had to forego prize money of over €7,600 due to his amateur status.^[27]

[edit]Professional career

[edit]2007

McIlroy turned professional on 19 September 2007, the day before the Quinn Direct British Masters. He signed with International Sports Management.^[28] At the Quinn Direct British Masters, McIlroy shot 290 (+2), which put him in a tie for 42nd place.^[29] He finished in 3rd place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October. He became the youngest Affiliate Member in the history of The European Tour to earn a tour card.^[30] The next week, he secured his card for 2008 by finishing in a tie for 4th place at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano.^[31] On the 2007 European Tour season, he earned €277,255 and finished in 95th place on the Order of Merit list. He was the highest ranked associate member.^[32]

[edit]2008

Before his season started, Tiger Woods invited McIlroy to play in the 2007 Target World Challenge, held in December. McIlroy declined the invitation, preferring to play the European Open.^[33]

McIlroy started his 2008 European Tour season at the UBS Hong Kong Open. He did not make the one-under cut.^[34] He entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time on 27 January 2008.^[35] On 7 September 2008, McIlroy took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, but finished in a tie for first place with FrenchmanJean-François Lucquin and lost in a play-off.^[36]

McIlroy finished the Europen Tour season in November 2008 with six top-10 placements and ranked 79th in the World Golf Ranking.^[37]

[edit]2009

After finishing second in the UBS Hong Kong Open in November 2008,^[38] McIlroy attained his highest world ranking position of 50.^[39]He finished the 2008 calendar year at 39th in the world rankings after finishing joint 3rd in the South African Open.^[40] This earned him an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament. His first professional win came at age 19 when he won the Dubai Desert Classic on 1 February 2009, this win took him to 16th in the world rankings.^[41]

In the 2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, McIlroy reached the quarterfinals. In the first round he defeated Louis Oosthuizen 2 & 1, in the second round he beat Hunter Mahan 1-up, and in the third round he beat Tim Clark, 4 & 3. He lost to Geoff Ogilvy, who won the tournament, in the quarterfinals 2 & 1.^[42] McIlroy continued to play on the PGA Tour until May. He finished tied for 13th at the Honda Classic, tied for 20th at the WGC-CA Championship and tied for 19th at the Shell Houston Open.^[43]

In April 2009, McIlroy appeared at The Masters in his first major tournament as a professional and his first Masters Tournament. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place, two shots under par for the tournament. Of the players to make the cut, McIlroy achieved the third highest average driving distance, beaten only by Dustin Johnson and Andrés Romero.^[44] McIlroy played in two more events on the PGA Tour after the Masters including his first appearance at The Players Championship where he was cut.^[43]

McIlroy then returned to Europe and recorded two top 25 finishes leading up to his first U.S. Open. He finished fifth at the BMW PGA Championship and 12th at the European Open.^[45] McIlroy played in his second major as a professional at the 2009 U.S. Open. His final round of 68 (−2) helped him finish in a tie for 10th, his first top ten finish in a major. The following week, McIlroy finished in 15th at the BMW International Open.^[45] McIlroy played in his first Open Championship as a professional in July and finished T-47.^[43] He finished T-3 at the 2009 PGA Championship.^[43]

McIlroy finished the 2009 season ranked second on the Race to Dubai, behind Lee Westwood, and in November he entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time.^[46] McIlroy finished 2009 ranked 9th in the world.^[47] In November 2009, McIlroy announced that he would join the American-based PGA Tour for the 2010 season.^[48]

McIlroy accepted an invitation from Gary Player to participate in the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club atSun City, South Africa in December, but withdrew after feeling unwell.^[49]

[edit]2010

McIlroy during a practice round of the2010 PGA Championship.

McIlroy finished 3rd at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. McIlroy failed to defend his title at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic after shooting a round of final-round 73 to finish in a tie for fifth place.^[50]

In the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, McIlroy beat Kevin Na 1-up in the first round and then lost on a playoff hole to Oliver Wilson. After the Accenture Match Play Championship, McIlroy took time off from golf due to a sore back.^[51] After a two-week break McIlroy returned in the 2010 Honda Classic and finished in a tie for 40th.^[43]

On 2 May, McIlroy recorded his first PGA Tour win after shooting 62 in the final round of theQuail Hollow Championship. The round set a new course record, and concluded with six consecutive scores of three.^[52] He became the first player since Tiger Woods to win a PGA Tour event prior to his 21st birthday.^[53] The win earned him a two-year Tour exemption.^[54]On 2 June, McIlroy played at the Memorial Skins Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.^[55] McIlroy finished T10 at the Memorial Tournament.^[56]

On 15 July 2010, McIlroy confirmed his status as a favourite for the Open title on the Old Course at St Andrews by shooting a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day, the lowest-ever first round score in the 150-year history of the Open Championship, and tying the course record.^[57] He missed a putt on the 17th, "The Road Hole", that would have given him the outright record.^[58] His tied third finish in the 2010 Open Championship sent him to a career high world ranking of seventh.^[59]

McIlroy missed out on a chance to win the 2010 PGA Championship when he three-putted the 15th green to fall out of a tie for the lead.^[31] His final-hole birdie putt narrowly missed the hole to leave him a shot out of the playoff between Bubba Watson and eventual winner Martin Kaymer. McIlroy finished tied for third.^[31] On 4 October 2010, McIlroy won a crucial half-point to help Europe regain theRyder Cup.^[32] Following the Ryder Cup, he announced in November that he would return to play full-time on the European Tour, although he also stated that he would continue to play 11 or 12 tournaments in the U.S. per year. He attributed the decision to having closer friends on the European Tour, his part in the Ryder Cup victory, and wanting to be nearer his girlfriend and family.^[60]

McIlroy later stated that he regretted his 2010 decision to give up his PGA Tour card, and his skipping the 2010 Players Championship at Sawgrass. McIlroy's manager Chubby Chandler's aversion to the PGA Tour was cited by McIlroy as one of the main reasons for their later professional split.^[61]

[edit]2011

McIlroy in June 2011
at the Memorial Tournament

[edit]Masters

On 7 April, McIlroy shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 in the first round of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia to take the lead after the first day of the four-day competition.^[62] He is the youngest player to date to lead the Masters at the close of the first day.^[63] On Friday, he shot 69 to lead by two strokes over Jason Day with a 10-under-par score. On Saturday, he shot 70 to finish at 12-under-par, four strokes ahead of four other challengers. However, on the fourth and final day, he shot the worst round in history by any professional golfer leading after the third round of the Masters.^[64] McIlroy scored one-over-par 37 on the first nine, and still had the lead, but shot a round of 80, finishing T15 at 4-under for the tournament.^[43]

McIlroy failed to make the cut in his title defence at Quail Hollow in early May, was well off the pace at the BMW PGA Championship.^[43] He held the 18 hole lead at the Memorial Tournament but finished in 5th place.^[43]

[edit]2011 U.S. Open win

McIlroy won the U.S. Open held at Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland on 19 June winning by eight shots over Jason Day. McIlroy set several records in his victory, most notably, his 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (16-under) was a new U.S. Open record. The 268 aggregate beat the previous record of 272 held by Jack Nicklaus (Baltusrol, 1980), Lee Janzen (Baltusrol, 1993), Tiger Woods (Pebble Beach, 2000), and Jim Furyk (Olympia Fields, 2003).^[65] The 16-under in relation to par beat Tiger Woods' 12 under at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.^[5][66][67] He became the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923. The victory lifted McIlroy's position in the Official World Golf Ranking to a then career high of number four.^[68]

In preparation for the US Open, McIlroy practised at Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, rather than at Congressional, but did play two practice rounds at Congressional about a week before the start of the Open, after returning from a two-day trip to Haiti as an ambassador for UNICEF.^[69][70]

On 17 June during the second round, McIlroy became the first player in the history of the tournament to amass a score of 13-under-par at any point in the tournament. He achieved the feat by making a birdie at the 17th hole in the second round. Despite a double bogey on the final hole, his two-day total of 131 (65–66, 11-under par) set a record as the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history.^[71] The score was one better than Ricky Barnes' 132 in 2009. He was also the fastest golfer to reach double digits under par in the U.S. Open, reaching 10 under par in 26 holes.^[72]

On 18 June, during the U.S. Open's third round, he became the first player to reach 14-under par at the tournament by making a birdie at the 15th hole, on his way to a 54-hole U.S. Open record of 199.^[73] In doing so, he also built an eight-shot lead going into the final round. A final round of 69 allowed him to claim his first major championship setting the 72-hole record.^[74]

The win meant that, in a poll conducted a few days later, 39 per cent of British 18-to-24-year-olds said they were inspired to try golf for the first time because of him. Partly due to this, he was named by Golf Club Management magazine as the second most powerful person in British golf^[75].

[edit]Rest of 2011

McIlroy took a month off from competitive golf.^[76] At The Open Championship he struggled in tough weather over a difficult layout atRoyal St George's Golf Club, failing to contend with the conditions.^[77] He was again a non-factor at the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club after injuring his wrist on the 3rd hole of the first round after attempting to hit a ball behind a tree root.^[78] McIlroy went on to win the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters in a playoff against Anthony Kim.^[79] In November, he finished tied for 4th at the WGC-HSBC Champions to move to a then career high of number two in the Official World Golf Ranking. In December 2011, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open by 2 shots.^[80]

[edit]2012

McIlroy warms up at the 2012 U.S. Open

McIlroy's first tournament of the year was at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship during the Dubai swing of the European Tour at the end of January.

The tournament was in the spotlight due to its high profile field including former and current World Number 1 Tiger Woods and Luke Donald respectively, and World Number 2 Lee Westwood. McIlroy also played alongside Woods and Donald in the marquee group during the first two days. McIlroy shot rounds of 67-72-68 to start round 4 in joint 3rd place behind joint leaders Robert Rock and Tiger Woods. He shot a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday to finish lone second, one shot behind winner Robert Rock. McIlroy continued the Dubai swing at theOmega Dubai Desert Classic where he finished tied 5th on 14-under-par, four shots behind winner Rafael Cabrera-Bello. He continued to play well at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona where he won matches against George Coetzee, Anders Hanson,Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Bae Sang-moon and Lee Westwood before losing to Hunter Mahanin the final. After 10 holes in the final match, McIlroy was 4 down to Mahan, but cut the deficit to 2 down through 16 holes. The 17th hole was halved with pars, securing the win for Mahan. There was anticipation surrounding the semi-final match between McIlroy and Westwood, as the winner would become the number one golfer in the world if they also won the final. McIlroy's runner-up finish moved him up to number two in the world while also putting him at the top of the Race to Dubai leaderboard.

Two weeks later, he lost the number one spot to Luke Donald but regained the top spot on 15 April. After being number one for two weeks, he lost the spot to Donald again on 29 April.

The following week, McIlroy continued good form and won the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and with it claimed the Number 1 spot in the world rankings.^[81] He started the fourth round in first place at 11-under-par after rounds of 66-67-66, ahead of a chasing pack including Tiger Woods, Lee Westwoodand Keegan Bradley. McIlroy shot a final round of 69 to claim his third PGA Tour title and finished two shots ahead of Tiger Woods andTom Gillis. McIlroy became the second youngest World Number 1 and moved up to fourth place in the FedEx Cup standings.^[82] He played the following week at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami, Florida. His recent good form began to dwindle slightly on Thursday, when he shot a 1-over par 73. However, he shot 69 and 65 the next two days to begin the fourth round in tied 8th place. Going into the back 9 on Sunday, he had a chance of winning his second title of 2012 in as many weeks due to the leaders faltering. However two late bogeys halted his chance and he settled for 3rd place, two shots behind winner Justin Rose. McIlroy lost his number one ranking on 18 March to Luke Donald after Donald won the Transitions Championship. McIlroy was one stroke off of the lead going into the weekend at The Masters but struggled in his last two rounds and finished in a tie for 40th. He regained the top spot in the world rankings on 15 April but lost it to Donald again on 29 April. On 6 May, McIlroy was in contention at the Wells Fargo Championship and went to a playoff with Rickie Fowler and D. A. Points. Fowler won the tournament on the first playoff hole with a birdie. The runner-up finish put McIlroy back at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.^[83] After the runner-up finish, McIlroy would later miss the cut in his next three events, and fell again from number one ranking.

[edit]PGA Championship

McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship by a record eight strokes, which was done with a birdie on the final hole.^[84][85][86] The record stood since Jack Nicklaus won the 1980 PGA Championship by seven strokes.^[84][85][86] McIlroy started the final round with a three shot lead and shot a bogey free 66 to run away from the field. With this win, McIlroy became the youngest multiple major champion since Seve Ballesteros won the 1980 Masters, and the 6th youngest of all time. The win also helped McIlroy regain the world number one ranking.

[edit]Pursuit of the FedEx Cup

McIlroy finished the regular season third in the FedEx Cup standings. At The Barclays, the first of four playoff events, he finished in a tie for 24th, dropping him to fourth in the standings. McIlroy won the following week at the Deutsche Bank Championship to take the top spot in the standings. McIlroy entered the final round three strokes behind Louis Oosthuizen and defeated him by one stroke.^[87] The win also put McIlroy at the top of the PGA Tour money list. McIlroy's success continued the following week when he won the BMW Championship. With the win, he became the first European to win four PGA Tour events in a single season and the only person other than Tiger Woods to win four events in a season since 2005.

[edit]Technique, additional mentors and coaches

McIlroy employs the interlocking grip on full shots. He has worked with various professional golfers since he was young, includingDarren Clarke, Nick Faldo,^[88] and Graeme McDowell. McDowell frequently plays practice rounds at Tour events with McIlroy. McIlroy has recently^[when?] obtained putting assistance and instruction from Dave Stockton, a retired PGA Tour player who works as a putting instructor. He was first managed by Englishman Andrew "Chubby" Chandler, a former European Tour player who founded International Sports Management (ISM).

McIlroy left ISM in 2011,^[89] with McIlroy joining Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.^[90][91] Michael Bannon is expected to work full-time with Mcllroy beginning in October 2012.^[92]

[edit]Controversy

On 17 August 2010, McIlroy answered a media question regarding Tiger Woods' potential of getting a captain's pick in the Ryder Cup(despite his poor play at the time) by saying that any member of the European Team would "fancy his chances against him".^[93]

In May 2011, McIlroy was criticised for skipping The Players Championship. The skip was controversial because 48 of the top 50 in the world participated in it, the other golfer skipping being fellow European Lee Westwood.^[94]

On 17 July 2011, following a poor showing over the weekend in the 2011 Open Championship, McIlroy told the media that he was "not a fan of golf tournaments that are predicted so much by the weather,", and saying he would rather "wait for a year when the weather is nice" instead of tuning his game to prepare for the Open Championship. He also added that he would "rather play when it's 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind".^[95]

On 28 July 2011, after being criticised on air by commentator Jay Townsend about McIlroy's questionable course management skills during the first round of the Irish Open, McIlroy wrote on Twitter telling Townsend to "shut up" and saying Townsend is a "failed golfer" and that "his opinion meant nothing". Later, McIlroy stood by his comments and stated that his comments were made in defence of his caddie J. P. Fitzgerald whom Townsend had been blaming for McIlroy's course management since 2008.^[96]

[edit]Personal life

McIlroy has self-identified as British^[97] and carries a British passport, although he usually shows reluctance to be drawn into a debate on his nationality.^[98]

When in Northern Ireland, he lives near the town of Carryduff in County Down, about 20 minutes from Belfast. The land around his house includes a custom-made practice facility, as well as a scaled-down football pitch.^[99]

He is an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland^[100] and made his first visit to Haiti with UNICEF in June 2011.^[101][102]

His great uncle Joe McIlroy was killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force at his east Belfast home in November 1972.^[8][103] As of 2011 he has been dating Danish tennis professional Caroline Wozniacki.^[104] McIlroy is a fan of Premier League team Manchester United.^[105]

McIlroy was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to sport.^[106][107]

[edit]Amateur wins (5)

• 2005 West of Ireland Championship, Irish Close Championship
• 2006 West of Ireland Championship, Irish Close Championship, European Amateur Championship

[edit]Professional wins (9)

[edit]PGA Tour wins (6)

Legend Major championships (2) FedEx Cup playoff event (2) Other PGA Tour (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	2 May 2010	Quail Hollow Championship	72-73-66-62=273	–15	4 strokes	Phil Mickelson
2	19 June 2011	U.S. Open	65-66-68-69=268	–16	8 strokes	Jason Day
3	4 Mar 2012	The Honda Classic	66-67-66-69=268	–12	2 strokes	Tiger Woods,  Tom Gillis
4	12 Aug 2012	PGA Championship	67-75-67-66=275	–13	8 strokes	David Lynn
5	3 Sep 2012	Deutsche Bank Championship	65-65-67-67=264	–20	1 stroke	Louis Oosthuizen
6	9 Sep 2012	BMW Championship	64-68-69-67=268	–20	2 strokes	Lee Westwood,  Phil Mickelson

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	2012	Wells Fargo Championship	Rickie Fowler,  D. A. Points	Fowler won with birdie on first extra hole

[edit]European Tour wins (4)

Legend Major championships (2) Other European Tour (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	1 Feb 2009	Dubai Desert Classic	64-68-67-70=269	–19	1 stroke	Justin Rose
2	19 June 2011	U.S. Open	65-66-68-69=268	–16	8 strokes	Jason Day
3	4 Dec 2011	UBS Hong Kong Open (co-sanctioned with Asian Tour)	64-69-70-65=268	–12	2 strokes	Grégory Havret
4	12 Aug 2012	PGA Championship	67-75-67-66=275	–13	8 strokes	David Lynn

[edit]Asian Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	4 Dec 2011	UBS Hong Kong Open (co-sanctioned with European Tour)	64-69-70-65=268	–12	2 strokes	Grégory Havret

[edit]Other wins (1)

• 2011 Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters (Not sanctioned by any major tour)

[edit]Professional career summary

[edit]European Tour

Season	Starts	Cuts made	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Earnings (€)	Money list rank
2007	4	4	0	0	1	2	2	277,255	95
2008	27	16	0	1	0	6	10	696,335	36
2009	25	24	1	3	3	14	18	3,610,020	2
2010	16	14	0	0	3	9	11	1,821,050	13
2011	19	19	2	2	3	12	17	4,002,168	2
2012	11	10	1	2	1	7	7	2,813,962	1
Career	102	87	4	8	11	50	65	13,220,791	18[108]

As of 9 September 2012 ^[109]

[edit]PGA Tour

Season	Starts	Cuts made	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Earnings ($)	Money list rank
2007	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	(amateur)	n/a^
2009	11	10	0	0	1	3	7	849,719	n/a^
2010	16	12	1	0	2	5	6	2,554,280	26
2011	10	9	1	0	0	4	7	1,905,609	n/a^
2012	15	12	4	2	1	9	10	7,842,192	1
Career	53	44	6	2	4	21	30	13,151,800	88[110]

As of 9 September 2012 ^[111]

• ^ McIlroy was not a member of the PGA Tour in 2007, 2009 or 2011 so he was not included on the money list.
• Note that there is double counting of money earned (and wins) in the majors and World Golf Championships since they are official events on both tours.

[edit]Major championships

[edit]Wins (2)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
2011	U.S. Open	8 shot lead	–16 (65-66-68-69=268)	8 strokes	Jason Day
2012	PGA Championship	3 shot lead	–13 (67-75-67-66=275)	8 strokes	David Lynn

[edit]Results timeline

Tournament	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
The Masters	DNP	DNP	T20	CUT	T15	T40
U.S. Open	DNP	DNP	T10	CUT	1	CUT
The Open Championship	T42 LA	DNP	T47	T3	T25	T60
PGA Championship	DNP	DNP	T3	T3	T64	1

LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

[edit]Summary

• Starts – 17
• Wins – 2
• 2nd place finishes – 0
• Top 3 finishes – 5
• Top 5 finishes – 5
• Top 10 finishes – 6
• Top 25 finishes – 9
• Missed cuts – 3
• Most consecutive cuts made – 7
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2

[edit]Results in World Golf Championship events

Tournament	2009	2010	2011	2012
Accenture Match Play Championship	QF	R32	R32	2
Cadillac Championship	T20	T65	T10	3
Bridgestone Invitational	T68	T9	T6	T5
HSBC Champions	4	5	T4

DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.

[edit]Team appearances

Amateur

• Junior Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 2004 (winners)
• Eisenhower Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2006
• European Amateur Team Championship (representing Ireland): 2007 (winners)
• Walker Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2007

Professional

• Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 2010 (winners), 2012
• Seve Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2009 (winners)
• World Cup (representing Ireland): 2009, 2011