Emotional Rory McIlroy reflects on 'very special' moment with parents Rosie and Gerry
Rory McIlroy choked back tears as he admitted that winning The Masters for a second year running with his mum and dad in attendance at Augusta National had been the highlight of his year.
When the Holywood man finally claimed a Green Jacket last year to become just the sixth player to complete golf’s career grand slam, Rosie and Gerry were back home in Northern Ireland.
They were there in April, though, to see McIlroy repeat the feat as he became the first player since Tiger Woods more than 20 years ago to win the season’s opening major back-to-back.
“What is the best thing that has happened to me this year?” said McIlroy, repeating a question put to him in his pre-BMW PGA Championship press conference at Wentworth on Tuesday. “Oh, my goodness. I would say winning - not even winning the match, just having my parents at the Masters, getting to play with my dad that Sunday before.
"Yeah, I would say that was probably the best. Yeah, having them there was very special.”
McIlroy, the 2014 winner, is making his first appearance in the BMW PGA Championship, the third Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season, since becoming a Wentworth Estate resident.
“Yeah, it's always nice to be back, I guess even more meaningful now that we have a home here,” admitted the world No 2. “It really does feel like a home event. I haven't always had the best of times around the West Course, but certainly over the last few years I've played well here, giving myself some chances to win.
“I feel it's a great event. A great field is always assembled, and we always play in front of an amazing atmosphere. Honestly, it's one of my favourite weeks of the year. Looking forward to getting going again.”
Bidding to equal Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight DP World Tour Race to Dubai titles, McIlroy has ground to make up on leader Patrick Reed in the final few weeks of the season.
“I'm certainly motivated to play well for the rest of the year,” insisted McIlroy. “Still working on some things in my swing, so just trying to have a balance between still keeping an eye on that but trying to play my best golf and give myself some chances to win.
“It doesn't matter who's up there. I think being second right now and being a little ways off first, that's motivation enough to try to finish the year off well.”