2 days Ago By Vincent Whelan
PATRICK Kielty and Rory McIlroy linked up on the links in September 2024 – having first played golf together way back in the 1990s.Following the latter completing the career grand slam, The Late Late Show’s Instagram account shared grainy footage of them crossing paths when McIlroy very much lived up to his ‘Wee-Mac’ nickname.@latelaterteIn in, Kielty asks him ‘Do you play much?’[/caption]@latelaterteRory helpfully aided Patrick in lining up his putt[/caption]@latelaterteAround 25 years on they both found the footage very entertaining[/caption]It was captioned: “When a young Rory McIlroy showed Paddy how it’s done.
“We kicked off the Late Late season back in September with a special trip to the Royal County Down golf course where Paddy and Rory reunited for another round.”Fast-forward to the present day and there is fervent speculation over when and how the 35-year-old will celebrate bringing the Green Jacket home with him.What we do know for sure is that he flew to England from the United States on Wednesday.
It seems the Man United fan is set to be the guest of honour at Old Trafford as The Red Devils seek to take inspiration from his crowning glory into their Europa League second leg versus Lyon.In the immediate aftermath of his Masters play-off victory over Justin Rose, Northern Ireland’s leaders started drawing up plans for a big celebration for their favourite son.First Minister Michelle O’Neill proposed a “huge party” for the star — and that his stunning US Masters win should be celebrated “in the best possible style”.
Describing Sunday night’s drama as “an emotional rollercoaster for everybody”, she added: “We all were behind him every step of the way.“I think his story is one of such a positive journey that, no matter how many setbacks you have in life, if you work hard and are determined, you can get there in the end.“I look forward to welcoming Rory home.
I hope that we have the biggest reception possible because we are bursting with pride in terms of what he has achieved over the weekend.” Asked about plans for an official event to mark McIlroy’s victory, Ms O’Neill said: “I think we have to have the biggest party possible.“I think we are so proud of what he has achieved, he speaks so loudly to all young people out there that if you have a dream, that you can achieve it.
“If you look at Rory’s journey over many, many years, all the setbacks, and he kept going back at it and back at it. So, yes, we should have a huge party.”MAY GO LOW-KEYHowever, since then it’s been suggested he may not head home for an emotional return to Holywood Golf Club amid fears a celebration would cause too much ‘fanfare’.
North Downs and Ards Council are preparing for a possible homecoming celebration for five-time major champ.A spokesperson for the local council told The Irish News that plans are “already underway” and that they will “be offering assistance” to Holywood Golf Club to support the celebration.But McIlroy may not be part of the celebrations at the club, after the general manager Tom Widley said that the PGA superstar could want to keep things low-key.
He stated: “I’m sure we will do something as a club to celebrate the win, we will definitely have some sort of party. But whether we will have a homecoming will depend on Rory.“Certainly earlier in his career we would’ve, but now that he is based in the US, we will have to wait and see if he is available when he contacts us.
“I don’t know if Rory would want any fanfare. When he comes here he very much just acts like any ordinary member of the club.”McIlroy became Holywood Golf Club’s youngest ever member when he signed up as a seven-year-old and had a similar celebration when he won his first major – the US Open – in 2011.
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