Ireland might still be celebrating after Rory McIlroy’s Masters win, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be getting a statue in his hometown anytime soon – and for good reason.
The Holywood, Co. Down, golfer, 36, became the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters titles over the weekend when his one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler took his tally of major wins to six.
Local councillor Stephen Hollywood told the Mail on Monday there had been ‘some sore heads’ after the late-night win and formal recognition of Mr McIlroy’s achievements was overdue.
‘What a great ambassador for the town, Rory is one of the best sportspeople these islands have ever produced. To win back-to-back Masters is just unbelievable,’ he said. ‘Plenty of people here want the town to celebrate their hero in some way, but that’s down to Rory and his team to make a decision on.
‘The council has reached out many times to do different things or to erect something in recognition of his sporting achievements but he’s a very humble guy, and I don’t think he wants that yet.’
Mr Hollywood said while the council won’t erect a monument without his blessing, a private property owner may decide to take a more low-key approach.
‘A local artist has called on anyone with a gable wall or business premises that would like to see a Rory mural in Holywood to get in touch, and I know his work is of a really great quality,’ he said.
The small town has been abuzz since McIlroy’s win, Mr Hollywood said, adding ‘everyone in the town centre I passed today has been over the moon’.
As well as paying dividends in local pride, McIlroy’s success has also boosted tourism in the area. The golfer joined Holywood Golf Club, where his father worked as a barman, aged seven, and by nine he was already able to complete the course on par.
Marketing manager at the club, Will Elliott, told the Mail the club received over 100 bookings for golf rounds in just three days since he teed off at Augusta.
‘Bookings have come in thick and fast, and we’ve seen a big jump in our Rory Experience Tour as well, where you can see his major championship trophies and Ryder Cup memorabilia led by older club officials who would have known him as a kid,’ Mr Elliott said.
He was among the 150 people who watched McIlroy’s victory at the clubhouse on Sunday night.
‘The atmosphere was electric and as soon as he dropped the last putt in, the cheers roared through the room. It was a huge moment for the club and students from Rory’s former secondary school were there too, the next generation of golfers.’
Mr Elliott added: ‘The guy you see on camera, that’s Rory, he’s just a Holywood boy at heart. He’s very down to earth. Even his mum Rosie and his dad Gerry, they’re all the same.’
Rory McIlroy's mum's custom handbag at Augusta shows how proud she is of her only child
