Golf's 'Pride Of North' Celebrated In Holywood

The pride of the Northern sporting world, golfer Rory McIlroy has spoken of his joy at bringing the US Open trophy back to his home club in Holywood, Co Down.

The 22-year-old made sporting history and secured his first major title with an eight shot victory on Sunday to become the youngest US Open champion in history.

He made global news and carved his name into the record books with a spectacular victory - especially sweet as this followed last year's coup by Co Antrim's own Graeme McDowell - who won the US Open in 2010. On Monday, worldwide news coverage followed as Holywood, Co Down celebrated in a style fit for Hollywood, USA with golf fans packing both the Holywood Golf Club and local bars to cheer their hero on late into the night and early hours.

Rory continued his top form with a magnificent fourth round of 69, two under par, to finish on a record-breaking 16 under par for the tournament, eight shots clear of Jason Day, the Australian, with England's Lee Westwood one of four players tied for third on six under.

Last night, a large crowd was at McIlroy's home club in Holywood to greet the winner who said returning with the US Open trophy was "a special moment".

Rory McIlroy said: "To come back to the club I spent every day at for the first 20 years of my life brings back a lot of good memories.

"To come back with this trophy is very special and hopefully it is not the last Major I come back with."

The new world number four said he was "very aware" that he was now "going to be portrayed as a role model for a lot of young people in Northern Ireland and across the world".

"I know there will be a lot of expectations on me, a lot of pressure, but hopefully I am well enough equipped to deal with that," he said.

See: Records Fall As NI Wins US Open - Again

(BMcC)