Rory McIlroy is ready to bring his new Green Jacket from Augusta to Old Trafford in hopes of sparking some magic in his beloved Manchester United. The Holywood golf ace sealed his career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, on the same day of United's dismal defeat at Newcastle that left them lingering at 14th in the Premier League standings.
Back in 2014, after clinching the Open, McIlroy showcased the Claret Jug at Old Trafford, emulating Ken Doherty who brought the World Snooker Championships trophy there in 1997. When quizzed about whether he'd parade his Green Jacket at the Theatre of Dreams, the Masters champ remarked: "If it can inspire some better play, absolutely."
The golf superstar is also plotting a return home to celebrate his fifth Major win with his folks, Gerry and Rosie. "I'll stay here tonight," he disclosed.
"I'll probably head home to Florida tomorrow. I'd really love to see my mum and dad. They are back in Northern Ireland. So maybe a trip back home at some point next week."
McIlroy has now etched his name alongside golfing greats Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods as one of the few to have triumphed in all four Majors, reports the Mirror.
During his press conference as the newly-crowned champion, the world No. 2 candidly discussed the immense pressure he's felt since his last Major victory at the 2014 US Open, revealing his emotional breakdown post-win.
McIlroy confessed: "It was all relief. There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief.
"The joy came pretty soon after that. But I've been coming here 17 years, and it was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there. At least 11 years, if not 14 years of pent-up emotion. It's very difficult. I think I've carried that burden since August 2014. It's nearly 11 years.
"And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam. Trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.
"It's been difficult, and I've tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I've shown up, and I think just the sort of cumulative experience that I've gained coming back here each and every year, I just I feel like I get a little more comfortable with the shot needed."
"I talked about it at the start of the week, but you know, there's talking about it and actually doing it.
"And today was difficult. I was unbelievably nervous this morning. Really nervous on the first hole, as you witnessed with the double, but that sort of calmed me down and I was able to bounce back and show that resilience that I've talked about a lot.
"Yeah, look, it was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don't have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I'm coming back here every year, which is lovely."
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