Rory McIlroy exhibits true colors as he unlocks Augusta secret on the Masters
McIlroy’s magical moment proves just why we all love sport so much as the Holywood star gave us a blockbuster ending to seal his spot as one of the all-time sporting icons
If he never wins another tournament it won’t change a thing. Because Rory McIlroy’s seat at the table reserved only for genuine sporting icons, is now secured.
It wasn’t, before a genuinely brilliant and bonkers afternoon at Augusta. Because the Northern Irishman had left himself in danger of being remembered more for his failures than successes. But with one putt, of the same length that saw him blow the US Open last summer, McIlroy buried his demons, to elevate himself to the ultimate level of achievement and appreciation.
One which now sees him staking a genuine claim to be the greatest British sportsperson of all time. Andy Murray couldn’t win all four Majors available to him. Lewis Hamilton has relied on a car to propel him to greatness. Chris Hoy needed a bike.
Steve Redgrave required the help of others to win five Olympic golds, while the likes of Mo Farah, Daley Thompson and Lennox Lewis didn’t need to peak five times to win what they all did.
All McIlroy has had to rely on is himself, and his head, hands and heart, to get to where he wanted to be.
It has taken McIlroy 17 years to finally unlock Augusta’s secrets – and slip on a Green Jacket most people always believed was made to measure for him. To become just the sixth golfer in history to complete the Grand Slam.
Being destined for greatness is one thing, but achieving it is another altogether. Only the chosen few get to do it. But it is the manner in which McIlroy has finally got here which encapsulates his deserved place in sporting folklore.
Extraordinary sportsmen are capable of extraordinary things. And not since Tiger Woods in his prime has a golfer made his sport come alive more than McIlroy has.
How McIlroy managed to beat Justin Rose to win the Masters makes Sunday arguably the greatest one Augusta has ever seen. We love sport because it entertains us. It fills us with different emotions. It makes people forget, for a few hours at least, how hard life can be. It gives you that fuzzy feeling.
McIlroy has provided all of the above and more. He’s from Holywood, after all. And his legacy will stretch way beyond what he’s won on a golf course. Because he is living proof of how we should never give up on our dreams.
How we need to persevere and be brave, to keep striving to be the best version of ourselves we can be. McIlroy possesess a golfing gift, but even this hasn’t made him immune from the bad things life can hurl at you.
He might not seem it at times considering some of the genial shots he plays, but McIlory is human, after all. No-one has carried as much baggage as him during the last decade and more.
Pressure might be a privilege, but it has reduced him to rubble at times. So it’s impossible to fathom how much stress he must have felt while trying to find his moment of redemption.
And now the sport’s longest running soap opera, the one people have been binging on, is over.
Following a lesson from McIlroy in how to not let adversity define you.
FA Cup could be left in shade as Liverpool march towards Premier League title
For supporters of Nottingham Forest, it promises to be a day to remember. A trip to Wembley to see their team take on Manchester City in an FA Cup semi final.
A place Forest and their followers haven’t been to since 1992. With the chance to win – and reach the final of the most iconic club competition in the world.
But most people won’t be talking about whoever wins that game on April 27. Because up north, the likelihood is Liverpool will be beating Tottenham at Anfield to win the Premier League title.
That’s where the real party will be. The FA Cup doesn’t deserve to be put in the shade, because it means so much.
And weekends like the one upcoming should be dedicated to the two semis – and nothing else. But the constant and relentless churn of football games won’t allow this to happen anymore.
