Tag Archives: Rory McIlroy

Men of Action: Paul McGinley’s Wins Ryder Cup Captaincy

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Eyes on the Prize: McGinley will have his eyes on maintaing his record Ryder Cup wins when he leads Team Europe in 2014 (Photo by Dan Perry, danperry.com, via Flickr Creative Commons)

Its been a very good week for Irish golf!

One of the major tournaments of the sport is the Ryder Cup, which pits golfers from Europe against the US. News has been spreading like wildfire that Paul McGinley has now been appointed the Ryder Cup team captain for Gleneagles in 2014.

McGinley has twenty two years experience under his belt and started to make a name for himself when he famously holed a 9 ft on the 18th hole of the 2002 Ryder Cup, a putt that won the tournament for Europe.

The Dubliner’s strengths are many. McGinley has won every Ryder cup he has contested and will be returning next year as captain to merge skill, experience and leadership, a task which even his competition thinks he’s perfect for. Captain of the US Ryder Cup team, Tom Watson, was quick to offer his congratulations:

‘I anticipate that his passion and love of the event will transfer to being an outstanding leader of his team in 2014 at Gleneagles’

Leadership is a vital skill. When The Wild Geese were faced with a difficult choice in 1691, they turned to Patrick Sarsfield to continue their cause, who was loved and admired by his troops. Through this love and admiration The Wild Geese achieved remarkable things.

Considering this, McGinley’s captaincy is not surprising. He received extraordinary support, especially from members of the Ryder Cup team itself. At the forefront was world number 1 Rory McIlroy:

‘I’m thrilled! Paul was not only my choice but the choice for most of the players on the Ryder Cup. He will do a brilliant job at Gleneagles’

McGinley has captained Rory McIlroy in the past at the Vivendi Seve Trophy in both 2009 and 2011 and he fully appreciates what this level of support has meant:

‘To have the support of someone like Rory and all the other players made my hand very strong. I’m absolutely thrilled to be leading this team. It is a huge honour and a humbling experience’

Men of Action: McIlroy ‘Gives A Helping Hand’ in 2013

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Photo by Phillip Wilson (internetsense), via Flickr (Creative Commons)

The year is off to an excellent start for Irish golfer Rory McIlroy. At only 23 years old, he’s starting 2013 as the world number 1, and although the challengers will be lining up at the major tournaments, he’s not likely to shift from that spot for some time.

McIlroy is also now one of the highest earning golfers, second only to Tiger Woods, after he recently signed a new sponsorship deal. The deal will see him change equipment for this year’s tournaments, but with a game as good as his, this may only be a minor adjustment.

It’s inspiring to see someone so talented climb the ranks so quickly, but what’s more, the Co. Down native is keen to give something back. Like The Wild Geese, there is a cause that calls to him and he’s in the position to make a difference.

McIlroy has set up a new charity, to help disadvantaged children from around the world. ‘The Rory Foundation’ will help fund children’s charities and through his ’6 Bags Project’ will aim to raise awareness of the organisations striving to make a difference. At each of the first 6 tournaments of the year, McIlroy’s golf bag will carry the name of a different charity. After the respective tournament, the bag will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to the chosen charity.

‘Having support from my family gave me the opportunity to chase my dreams,’ McIlroy explains.

‘But I know that every child is not so fortunate. My aim is that The Rory Foundation will support children’s charities, big and small, around the world, that try to give kids that helping hand’

The Wild Geese fought their situation to achieve their potential. Now, McIlroy’s initiative will help those less fortunate to reach theirs. He’s in the perfect position to take action and make a difference.

Men of Action: Rory McIlroy’s Time to Shine

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Thrilling scenes ran through the Ryder Cup at the weekend and there have already been whispers that we saw ‘sports greatest comeback’.

The biennial tournament sees Team Europe and Team USA tee off against each other and this year we all saw a remarkable comeback from the Europeans who ended the tournament with a 14 1/2 lead over the USA’s 13 1/2.

At the centre of this was the world number 1, Rory McIlroy. All eyes were on him going into the tournament. McIlroy has already proved time and again that he is the competitor to beat. But confusion over different time zones meant that he was running late for his tee off.

But he made it with only 10 minutes to get warmed up. He putted a few practice shots, but what happened next really showed what McIlroy is capable of and why he’s the world No. 1.

‘In a way it wasn’t really a bad thing because I didn’t have time to think about it – and I played probably the best I played all week’

McIlroy beat the US golfing titan Keegan Bradley and secured a point for his team, which was all important to the Man of Action:

‘This week I’m not the No. 1 player in the world,’ he explained last Wednesday. ‘I’m one person in a 12-man team, and that’s it. It’s a team effort. There’s 12 guys all striving towards the same goal. I’m just part of that’

So when Team Europe came away with a victory, the winning feeling was that little bit sweeter.

‘I know all the boys put their heart and soul into this. It’s unbelievable… to win as an individual is great, but when it’s part of a team it doesn’t get better than that.’

‘To share this moment and to know they gave everything like you have and to walk away as the victors is great’

McIlroy was a strong cog in the mighty European wheel. Like The Wild Geese, he understands how important team work is, and although you can shine individually, when a whole team work together and support one another, the result is remarkable.

But its hard to ignore that fact that McIlroy is the world No. 1, something which could have overshadowed him going into the tournament. But he’s kept his cool and not caved to that pressure. Like a true world class athlete he’ll face the challenges as they come.

‘I don’t think I have a bulls-eye on my back. I think it’s a huge compliment that people are saying they want to beat me and whatever. Whoever wants to take me on, they can take me on’

Congratulations to McIlroy and Team Europe!