Rory McIlroy is known for his low score loopholes, but a 16-year-old amateur is almost as memorable as any other round. Twenty years ago, the young Hollywood ripped apart the Royal portrayal in qualifying for one of Ireland’s most famous amateur championships.
1. Break Padraig Harrington’s long-term course record
Padraig Harrington holds a 65-year-old royal record in Royal Protush. Then there was 64, then McIlroy won 61 times in the 2005 Irish Champions North Qualifying Tournament. It will include the 28-point nine.
2. Rising Star: McIlroy’s Amateur Success in 2005
Earlier that year, McIlroy became the youngest champion of the Irish West title, beating David Finn 2 and 1 in the final and also Ireland’s closed champion. He will win two championships again in the second year. His obstacle at that time was +4.
3. McCree’s 61 grab points during the St Andrews Open
McIlroy gave birth to his 61-year-old on July 12, a week that opened in St Andrews. So, on Tuesday of the oldest major on the calendar, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell were asked to score by a 16-year-old home, which was a strange event.
4. The nine first nine before the storm
Given his 10 shots, his first nine games were pretty inconspicuous. He missed the first birdie’s short putt and scored two in the 6th short 6 and 2 5-5 matches, followed by the second one by the wedge.
5. Explosive Back Nine: Eagle, Bird and Catastrophe Angle
Then there are fireworks. He put the Eagle in 10th place and then took another shot in just 11th place. That day left him alone for a day. The course at that time did not feature the current seventh and eighth points, so his next bird would be in the 14th disaster corner, of course the 16th.
“He hit a big climax in the valley in the middle of the green. It’s one of those shots you wish you could hit yourself,” recalled Stephen Crowe, one of his game partners.
16-year-old Royal Portrush is 61 years old.
Rory McIlroy has special memories of the venue at the 153rd Open.@mcilroyrory @Royalporttrush pic.twitter.com/wpjbeh6vjo
– Public (@theopen) April 4, 2025
6. As McIlroy catches fire, the crowd grows
From there he will enter in his own way somehow. Now 17th and 18th places, then 15th and 16th, bringing it to three points.
“I think when the crowd gets bigger, he starts to perform better,” Crowe said. “I can’t hit my shot. I had to say to people, ‘Sorry, do you mind going back?’ It’s not out of control, but having a marshal there will not cause harm.
“No. 16 is frightening. The fairway once went into the green road in the lower right corner. It was an incredible shot. Below eight. I don’t think I myself ran into the driver on my own at nine o’clock.”
7. Strong surface: 17 and 18 bird seal 61
Then he will find the old 5 5 17 and the bird is the last one.
“He didn’t get off the pedal, he didn’t miss the last two holes shots,” Crow added. “He hit the driver, up to the seventh shot. He always hit a long time, even because of his size; he only put on his muscles after he turned to the pro ball, and he was always aggressive. He wouldn’t shy away from the shooting, he believed he was going to take it off.
“The old last one was a tough tee with lots of bunkers on it, but he kept it offensive, spotted the fairway and hit the middle of the green, and then hit the 20-foot green. That was the most impressive thing about how he kept everything up.
Eight pars, nine birdies and eagles in 10. Eliminated in 33, returned to 28 times, with a total of 61 rounds.
8. Word spreads with recognition from Darren Clarke and other regions
“The news started filtering out there (St Andrews), and I did something special, and I got texts from Darren Clarke, which was so cool,” McIlroy said. “It felt normal for me. I had that kind of arrogance and thought it was what I should do. It was only when the time was playing that I realized that these things were special and you should taste them. It was a decisive moment. I became a professional in 2007 and had two years to make the Walker Cup. But it was a definition because of the wider world of golf.”
9. Review 61 during the 2019 Open
When asked about 61 in the 2019 Open, he played.
“This golf course has changed a lot. It’s a different par, different holes. There are a lot of holes that have been extended. There’s already a 5-5-stroke turned into a 4-stroke. I think this week’s condition, such a condition, and then you’re looking at 67, 68 is a good score. I played last night with my condition.
He will then open at 79 and follow it at 65. ShaneLowry is the new course record holder, with his third round of 63 points.
10. Aftermath: Leading qualifiers, but lacking in knockouts
Apparently, he will lead the qualifying match (with 5 points) and then he will win Game 17 of the first two knockout matches. But he would cancel, losing to Andrew pitchers 4 and 3 in the third round. Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw will be from portush to become the champion.
Read more: Reveal: Why JJ Spaun’s Fantastic American Open Putter Falls in History?
