Philip Reidgets the reaction from some of the world's top players following Rory McIlroy's magnificent victory.
CERTAIN IMAGES will capture Rory McIlroy’s arrival as a world player. The fist pump. The non-stop grin. The twirling of the golf club.
Other images, though, testify to the qualities of the man himself and, in this world of professional golf where there is a necessary degree of selfishness, the sight of his (older) peers on tour waiting to share the moment at Quail Hollow provide an insight into how well he is regarded and liked in the lockerroom.
As Pádraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, put it of McIlroy’s maiden win on the US Tour: “He played some incredible golf. He’s an amazing talent. You knew he was going to come out and win out here (in the United States). He is some kind of player. He can go from strength to strength, he will be a lot more comfortable with who he is, a lot more patient. The win is significant, very significant, at this time. It’s a big deal for him to come over here and start winning.”
Harrington felt that the pressures of expectations had affected McIlroy’s early-season campaign on the US Tour, where he took up a full tour card for the first time this season. “He wasn’t contending, wasn’t winning. I think it (the win) could make a big difference to his career.”
Phil Mickelson, the US Masters champion who could take over as world number one should he win The Players at Sawgrass this week and if Tiger Woods were to finish outside the top-five, was fulsome in his praise for McIlroy. “He’s got the game of a veteran and he’s a class act. He’s fun to be around and you can’t help but pull for him . . . he’s an impressive player, he’s also a wonderful person, so I’m happy for him,” claimed Mickelson, who finished runner-up to the Ulsterman. He added: “This guy has got all the shots.”
Anthony Kim, who got an up-close view of McIlroy’s mastery down the stretch, said of the tour’s newest champion: “He’s got a lot of talent, there’s no doubt about it.”
After his round, one of the first people to offer their congratulations to McIlroy was Lee Westwood, who had pipped him to the inaugural Race to Dubai last year. “That’s how you finish a tournament,” quipped McIlroy to Westwood, runner-up to Mickelson in last month’s Masters at Augusta.
McIlroy was happy with the reaction of his peers, among them Jim Furyk and Aaron Baddeley who also waited outside the recorder’s hut to offer their good wishes.
“It’s nice that the guys want me to do well. And to have a bunch of people around you and a good bunch of friends out here definitely helps because, when you’re not playing well, it can be a lonely place at times.”