DUBAI – Rory McIlroy didn’t look alone on Sunday night, did he sound spent – finally, disturbingly sitting down for the first time in hours. His voice was hoarse and his shoulders seemed to have given out as much as his lungs.
McIlroy had missed a playoff but won one Seventh career Dubai title raceall after bogeying the 72nd hole – the combination of which would send any of us deep into the cushions of our chairs. But at this point in his career – after a lifetime of lifting trophies in just this Middle Eastern country – very few results can literally make McIlroy so excited. They are the most special results MEANING that were taken out of him, and this was definitely one of them.
European golf fans would not be surprised. About half an hour ago, McIlroy gave an interview to Sky Sports interviewer Tim Barter, where the subject of Seve Ballesteros came up. McIlroy had passed him into second place all-time for Dubai Open titles.
“It’s amazing,” McIlroy said, taking a deep breath. “I had a chat with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today and she told me how proud he would have been.
“Yeah, it’s – aaah.”
Another big breath.
“I told you that on this green last year,” McIlroy continued. “He means so much to this tournament and to the European Ryder Cup team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he loved about European golf.
“To equal it last year was good, but to beat it this year – yeah, I didn’t get that far in my dreams. So that’s pretty cool.”
He molested her, so no, you’re not imagining it. McIlroy gave almost the same interview in Barter last year.
We’ve seen this a few times now – McIlroy choking up at the mere mention of Ballestero’s name. He certainly made part of the reason clear in those answers as well. The Ghost of Seve is very real to anyone on the DP World Tour and anyone related to Ryder Cup Europe. His quotes are on every memorial wall. The silhouette of his swing is iconic. But for that reaction to arrive multiple times for McIlroy, in such similar scenarios — just 12 months apart — it made me at least wonder if it had any extra meaning for him.
Few professionals are so introspective AND vulnerable enough to share those inner thoughts like McIlroy, so it’s possible he’s thought about it too. Why doesn’t he get all excited when discussing his Irish golfing heroes? Or Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer?
The truth lies with Gerry McIlroy, Rory’s golf-obsessed father, who, together with his mother, worked many jobs so their son could pursue what would end up being a Grand Slam golf career.
“I think Seve’s spirit lives on in the European Tour and in the European Ryder Cup team, and he was always my dad’s favorite player,” McIlroy said during the first question of that press conference. His voice went from slightly hoarse to something much softer. He blinked back a few tears and shrugged.
“Yeah, he’s a beacon of what European golf stands for, and I … I just think of growing up and playing golf and having my dad be such a big part of it, and then his kind of connection with Seven — or Seve was what inspired him to play golf. And then, I don’t know, it’s just a parallel to that.”
This was a response that was thrown together one emotional word at a time, like extra cars to an already moving train. But then he picked up steam and finished with a smile.
“When I listen to Seve, it just takes me back through my whole journey in the game, and yeah, it’s pretty exciting.”
