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The proof of Rory McIlroy's remarkable resiliency was the silver trophy at his side and the pages of a record book that he changed during four mind-boggling days at the U.S. Open.
For his father, it was a phone call right after a most crushing collapse at Augusta National two months ago.
Poised to fulfill his potential and become the youngest Masters champion since Tiger Woods, McIlroy shot 80 in a final round that was painful to watch. Gerry McIlroy, who worked three jobs so his son could pursue his passion, was home in Northern Ireland when the phone rang some 20 minutes after it was over.
I said, 'Rory, are you OK, son?' Because you always fear for your kids," the father said Sunday. "And he says, 'Dad, um, I have no problem with it at all. I hit a few bad shots. And if you play golf, then you'll understand that.' "
The father had his country's flag draped over a green shirt during a momentous celebration at Congressional on Sunday.
McIlroy, the 22-year-old who can make golf look easy even in the toughest of circumstances, buried that Masters memory the way he buried his competition in a breathtaking performance filled with the promise of more majors to come.
"I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly. I kept telling you guys that, and I don't know if you believed me or not. But here you go," McIlroy said, gesturing to the shiny prize on the table. "Nice to prove some people wrong."
Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/usopen11/news/story?id=6678101
For his father, it was a phone call right after a most crushing collapse at Augusta National two months ago.
Poised to fulfill his potential and become the youngest Masters champion since Tiger Woods, McIlroy shot 80 in a final round that was painful to watch. Gerry McIlroy, who worked three jobs so his son could pursue his passion, was home in Northern Ireland when the phone rang some 20 minutes after it was over.
I said, 'Rory, are you OK, son?' Because you always fear for your kids," the father said Sunday. "And he says, 'Dad, um, I have no problem with it at all. I hit a few bad shots. And if you play golf, then you'll understand that.' "
The father had his country's flag draped over a green shirt during a momentous celebration at Congressional on Sunday.
McIlroy, the 22-year-old who can make golf look easy even in the toughest of circumstances, buried that Masters memory the way he buried his competition in a breathtaking performance filled with the promise of more majors to come.
"I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly. I kept telling you guys that, and I don't know if you believed me or not. But here you go," McIlroy said, gesturing to the shiny prize on the table. "Nice to prove some people wrong."
Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/usopen11/news/story?id=6678101
