As Rory McIlroy was putting the finishing touches to his maiden victory as a professional at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, Darren Clarke, one of the players who has come to know the teenager better than most, displayed not the slightest surprise.
"I met him for the first time when he was 12 and knew within three minutes that he was something special," Clarke said. "He came to one of my Foundation days (in Northern Ireland) and I could see it as soon as he hit his first shot.
"You could tell straight away, even at that age. He's always had this prodigious talent and was hitting shots way beyond his peers. He was far ahead of the level you would expect him to be and was incredibly mature for his age. Still is."
McIlroy's first win would have been particularly pleasing for Clarke for the way he held his nerve when the pressure was at its most intense. He had led Justin Rose by six shots with six holes to play but came to the last leading the Englishman by just one stroke. But he got down in two shots from a bunker at the back a green that slopes towards water for a par that matched Rose - and the first of what is certain to be many titles was in the bag.
It was Clarke who had taken McIlroy aside and encouraged him after he had lost in a play-off for the European Masters in Switzerland last year, telling him not to get down on himself but to use the experience to become a stronger player. It was good advice.
"He's matured fantastically and I think that when he didn't win in Switzerland when he could have done, it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to him," Clarke said. "I spoke to him immediately afterwards and he was obviously disappointed. It hurt, but he has learnt from it.
"But the best thing about him," Clarke continued, "is his please and thank-yous. He's a very polite young man and will be a great champion, of that there is no doubt."
And what about Clarke partnering him perhaps in the Ryder Cup in 2010? Would he fancy that?
"If I'm anywhere near Rory two years from now, I'll be a very happy man," Clarke replied. It said it all. McIlroy's victory has ushered in the start of a new era. Exciting times lie ahead.
Source:the times
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Premier League
14.12pm: Wayne Bridge takes a dislike to the advertising hoardings behind the goal and belts the ball at them. He's pretending it was a shot on goal.
14.09pm: Robinho runs around in circles to little effect, and finally manages to get a corner. Chris Riggott takes a knock somewhere in the melee, and has to have treatment just behind the goal. Just as well the corner isn't at all dangerous.
14.04pm: Shaun Wright-Phillips races down the right to chase an optimistic long ball, and he forces Pogatetz to concede a corner.
13.59pm: Free-kick to Boro, close to the corner flag. Downing loops it in, and it's deflected out for a corner-kick. It's swung in, and man of the moment Shay Given claims it.
13.57pm: GOAL! Manchester City 1 Middlesbrough 0 After Robinho makes a rather lacklustre attempt at a strike from outside the area, blocked by Huth, Craig Bellamy gets the ball on the right, and Pogatetz, isolated in defence, can do nothing to stop him from drilling it into the far corner.
13.54pm: Alves simply can't get his feet to a well-placed cross into the box from the right side.
13.53pm: Middlesbrough are tapping it about nicely. No cutting edge as yet - the Manchester City defence are staying tight on them.
13.51pm: Kick-off.
13.49pm: Shay Given salutes the fans as he jogs on to the pitch and into his hutch.
13.34pm: The last touch of the half goes to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has a shot on goal, but it's an odd angle, and Brad Jones easily saves. So it's goalless at half-time, and Boro will be the happier of the two teams going into the interval.
13.29pm: It's a Boro free kick, but Downing skies it.
13.27pm: It looks like a dead cert for a City goal, but Ireland scrambles Bellamy's cross and somehow the ball goes wide.
Source: the times
14.09pm: Robinho runs around in circles to little effect, and finally manages to get a corner. Chris Riggott takes a knock somewhere in the melee, and has to have treatment just behind the goal. Just as well the corner isn't at all dangerous.
14.04pm: Shaun Wright-Phillips races down the right to chase an optimistic long ball, and he forces Pogatetz to concede a corner.
13.59pm: Free-kick to Boro, close to the corner flag. Downing loops it in, and it's deflected out for a corner-kick. It's swung in, and man of the moment Shay Given claims it.
13.57pm: GOAL! Manchester City 1 Middlesbrough 0 After Robinho makes a rather lacklustre attempt at a strike from outside the area, blocked by Huth, Craig Bellamy gets the ball on the right, and Pogatetz, isolated in defence, can do nothing to stop him from drilling it into the far corner.
13.54pm: Alves simply can't get his feet to a well-placed cross into the box from the right side.
13.53pm: Middlesbrough are tapping it about nicely. No cutting edge as yet - the Manchester City defence are staying tight on them.
13.51pm: Kick-off.
13.49pm: Shay Given salutes the fans as he jogs on to the pitch and into his hutch.
13.34pm: The last touch of the half goes to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has a shot on goal, but it's an odd angle, and Brad Jones easily saves. So it's goalless at half-time, and Boro will be the happier of the two teams going into the interval.
13.29pm: It's a Boro free kick, but Downing skies it.
13.27pm: It looks like a dead cert for a City goal, but Ireland scrambles Bellamy's cross and somehow the ball goes wide.
Source: the times
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