Rory McIlroy shooting 61 at Royal Portrush at the age of 16

The Open makes an historic return to Northern Ireland next month. Golf’s oldest championship returns after 68 years with the world’s greatest players competing for the Claret Jug over the Dunluce Links at Portrush.

The jewel in Northern Ireland’s crown, the famous stretch of land situated on Antrim’s north coast has a fearsome reputation as one of the toughest links courses around.

Indeed, in 1951 only two players finished The 80th Open under par, yet in 2005 a 16-year-old emerged and produced a round that reverberated throughout golf in the North of Ireland Championship.

With one eagle and nine birdies, Rory McIlroy became front page news. 

McIlroy’s round built perfectly. He narrowly missed a putt for birdie at the first before sinking one at the second to move to one-under.

Three straight pars followed before further birdies came at the par-three sixth and par-five ninth to see him move to three-under through nine.

That was special enough but the back nine was something else. An eagle at ten was followed by a birdie at 11 and then five straight birdies to finish – including one at the treacherous par-three ‘Calamity’.

“There are not many golf rounds where I remember every shot but for that round, I do,” McIlroy said.

“I knew the record was 64. Once I got to nine-under through 16, I thought if I could par the remaining two and set the new record that would be pretty special.

“The 17th at the time was a par-five and the easiest birdie on the course. That took me to ten-under and I just thought, don’t screw this up.

“I hit a perfect drive and a good eight iron into the heart of the green. I just wanted to two-putt but ended up rolling it in. I did not care what the score was, I just wanted the course record.”

“I had my dad and a couple of uncles walking round and a mate of mine was on the bag. He had just turned 16 as well!”

In front of a moderate crowd, McIlroy’s achievement may not have seemed headline-making news. But quickly, the scale of what he achieved became apparent.

“I was driving home from work and the golf club phoned me but I thought it was a joke. I did not think anyone could shot a 61 around Royal Portrush,” said Bannon – his first coach and mentor.

“On that day, it was set up difficult because it was a qualifying tournament. It lit up the golfing world.”

Running parallel to the North of Ireland Championship was The 134th Open at St Andrews. News of what this exciting kid from Northern Ireland had achieved was quickly circulating.

“News started to filter across there that I had done something special and I got a text from Darren Clarke, which was so cool,” McIlroy added.

“It felt normal to me. I had that cockiness and thought this was what I was supposed to do. It is only when time goes on that I realise these things are special and you should savour them.

“It was a defining moment. I became pro in 2007 and had two years to make the Walker Cup. But it was defining because the wider golf world took notice.”

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