Rory McIlroy!!

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by DaveE

But we can still insult you for being from Alabama can't we?

Bring it on!!! There's a couple of million rednecks here who are prime candidates for humor.....

[SiberianDVM]

Being from Alabama is punishment enough.

But, as we in Georgia used to say when public school rankings were published yearly and we were 49th: Thank God for Mississippi!!

[ezra76]

I'll shoot at this one like I saw it. Not only was the Tiger at the top comment dead on... Whether or not this was for one golden round or not remains to be seen but for this one golden moment Rory McIlroy was in posession of the swing that Tiger has been working on for the last 6years or so. If he can repeat the swing he had today we just saw a preview of the kid who will come up and challenge for #1 IMO. He would have gone lower if he could putt like these guys, his full swing and distance control blew away everyone elses today, not even a close 2nd in that department.

I'm saddened to see Flomarius flying off the handle here. I saw nothing that indicated anything deserving those comments. If anything I saw a kid who was simply awestruck at his own performance and totally "deer in the headlights" while the commentator did most of the talking.

[The master]

Originally Posted by flomarilius

Oh boy, how can you guys applaud this guy? You can honestly tell that this kid has been spoon fed his entire life and never worked for anything. Now that's just the demeanor and vibe I get from that kid. I CANT stand those kind of golfers. I refuse to acknowledge them.

Are you being serious?????? This post must be a joke. Rory has had to work extremely hard to get to where is now, his dad had to get a 2nd job so he could fund his sons dream, Rory is a very down to earth guy and appreciates everything in golf, to say Rory has been spoon fed his entire life shows how much you know, it is the complete opposite.

On a more serious not, I know Rory and have played with him on several occasions. He has and unbelievable game and is one of the best ballstrickers I have ever seen. He is fearless and deep down will be thinking he has a good chance of winning this tournament.

PS: Rory was one of my picks in the shottalk open contest, shows how much confidence I have in him.

[The master]

Originally Posted by flomarilius

and actually bryan and manchester,

money buys talent. Money buys what ever the hell you want. You don't think this kid went to the best golf schools where ever the hell he grew up? Nothing is better than raw talent. I MEAN NEVER HAD A TEACHER FOR EVERYDAY WORK RAW TALENT. A LA WATSON, WEEKLEY, SINGH. Those are golf professionals not this new phase that Faldo's british ass brought into golf. These players couldn't do squat without their instructors at the range hours a day. It was disgusting seeing all these guys hitting shots in front of Harmon at doral making him seem like he is some god amongst men. Seeing kids running to Harmon for his autograph was even worse.

I will probably end up apologizing for this later but right now im a little steamed and it seemed on the right kid to take it out on.

Don't post if you are going to post nonsense dribble, it makes you look like a dickhead!

[The master]

Originally Posted by Bravo

Flomarilius:

Based on your last two posts - I've decided to give you a 7 day rest from Shottalk. You have not been put into 'permanent electronic hell' as we do with those that we never want to see again. You will not be permanently banned if you return with acceptable behavior.

However the nature of your comments about the fact that this player is European are not tolerated And the fact that you alledge he is spoiled is completely irrelevant.

The thread remains open for others to continue to comment....

There is a man with sense, good decision.

[ManchesterGolfer]

Originally Posted by The master

He is fearless and deep down will be thinking he has a good chance of winning this tournament.

Fair play to the lad.

I must admit I'm not a big Poulter fan as in my opinion he's more famous for his clothes than he is for his golf game. That said he's worked hard to get where he is and if the clothing brings him extra lolly than fair play to him, we can't all be Tiger, but we need to make hay when the sun shines.

[emc]

Rory McIlroy is just a once in a 5 years kind of player, smila to Sergio when he was an amateur. To Flomarilius, Rory actually lives close to a golf course, and his dad taught him how to chip and putt as a youngster, and when he was 8 Darren Clarke was playing the course, but Rory was beating him in chipping comps, so Darren took him under his wing. Phenomenal talent, won the West of Ireland at age 14, 15 & 16 the Irish Close at age 15 & 16 and won the European Amateur this year. He's turning pro after the Walker Cup, hopefully he'll make it all the way

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by emc

Rory McIlroy is just a once in a 5 years kind of player, smila to Sergio when he was an amateur. To Flomarilius, Rory actually lives close to a golf course, and his dad taught him how to chip and putt as a youngster, and when he was 8 Darren Clarke was playing the course, but Rory was beating him in chipping comps, so Darren took him under his wing. Phenomenal talent, won the West of Ireland at age 14, 15 & 16 the Irish Close at age 15 & 16 and won the European Amateur this year. He's turning pro after the Walker Cup, hopefully he'll make it all the way

OK this is the inside background information I was certain would be forthcoming from our members. For a proven player like Darren Clarke (whom I have the deepest respect) to take the boy under his wing is a great story. I researched and saw the Irish Close victories at 15 and 16.

I love watching emerging players. And as I Tivo'ed his swing several times today, I saw a huge move from the top that looks like Hogan in terms of ballstriking.

Too bad he didn't turn pro last week. I'll bet he makes the cut.

[Stanters]

One thing I saw that makes me believe as much as any other that this kid can make it came at about the 16th (I was just getting ready to go out so wasn't paying full attention so it may have been a hole or 2 either side.) He hit a shot to about 4 feet......he missed the putt but it was the way he missed it that interested me. It went a full 5 feet past. He really went to hole it and not to dribble it in.

That kind of fearlessness is the stuff of champions and once his experience starts to catch up with his ambition then he will be some player.

I hope he holds it together the whole week, it's always great to see young players coming through on the big stage.

[petersmells]

While glancing through the tee times to make my picks for the cup, I had to take a second on his name because at first glance I thought it said Roy McAvoy and I thought, howd tin cup get in there.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Originally Posted by petersmells

While glancing through the tee times to make my picks for the cup, I had to take a second on his name because at first glance I thought it said Roy McAvoy and I thought, howd tin cup get in there.

That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw his name on the leader board.

[mont86]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Being from Alabama is punishment enough.

But, as we in Georgia used to say when public school rankings were published yearly and we were 49th: Thank God for Mississippi!!

Thats funny Doc....LOL..How is the smoke out going?


Master I noticed that someone had picked him when I posted my picks and on Thur. thought too myself, someone is smiling now. He looks awful talented.

[IrishGolfer]

Rory has been playing golf from the age of 2. He comes from a lovely (ordinary) family from Holywood, Northern Ireland. Spoonfed is just laughable, he has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is. His family were by no means rich. In fact what I have heard is that his parents scrimped and saved everything to help their son. I love the fact that he has stayed loyal to his home club over all this time. Everyone in Northern Ireland knows about this young lads precocious talent. And Teh Master has played with him!!!

Some interesting facts:

• He won the world under 10s in USA
• He became a scratch golfer at 15
• Hew plays off +4 and has been ranked in the top 10 amateurs in the world
• He shot a 61 round Royal Portrush in tournament condidtions (See my post about it). I still find that stunning.
• He won the European Amateur last year.
• He helped Ireland to winning the European Team Championships this year
• He is almost a certain for the Walker Cup team this year.
• He is plannning to turn Pro after the Walker Cup
• Darren Clarke has taken him under his wing and sorted him out money/advice wise. He spent a winter in South Africa at Clarke's expense. Clarke first met him when he was 10 and gave him his cell number when he was 13, with the instructions to "call him anytime".

Yes he wears loud clothes but so do half the kids in the country, who love emulating Poulter, Parnevik etc. He has always done so.

I think it is great that he was able to shine under the spotlight yesterday. I hope he wins the silver medal and goes onto bigger and better things. How big remians to be seen but all the signs are there.

I find it unbelieveable that people can try and take this guy down. From what I know and see he is such a nice dude. Anyway...

[ManchesterGolfer]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

• He shot a 61 round Royal Portrush in tournament condidtions (See my post about it). I still find that stunning.

I remember reading this post but I must admit I didn't put it together when I saw the Wee man interview on TV yesterday. IG you should have had a few quid on him to win a major back then when nobody outside NI had really heard of him. I bet his old fella has.