THE GLORY of Rory finally moved “home” as a clearly tired but contented US Open champion stepped on to familiar turf at Holywood Golf Club yesterday.
The press were ready for him with straightforward questions about golf – and tougher ones about his girlfriend.
The mood was quietly jubilant as hundreds turned out to catch a glimpse of their superstar and his latest – and greatest – prize, but he gave them the slip, entering the modest but welcoming clubhouse nearly unnoticed and by the back door.
A couple of hours locked in a series of intense press conferences meant the crowd below the clubhouse balcony had to wait.
Inside the club lounge which had heaved and sweated long into the night on Sunday as Rory sank his winning putt on the large TV screen, the questions flew.
Displaying astonishing calm and a sensitivity beyond his 22 years, the champion posed for cameras and fielded questions, not all of them original, until all were happy.
He seemed to enjoy tackling the curved ball inquiries best.
“One for the ladies, Rory,” ventured one of the few female reporters in the room. “You’re one of the most wanted men in sport right now, could you put all the ladies out of their misery and tell us are you single or have you a lady friend?”
That well-aimed personal inquiry almost seemed to embarrass him.
“She’s waving at you from the back of the room,” he replied, gesturing to the still-teenage Holly Sweeney over the heads of his inquisitors.
“So you’re both back on track then?” came the follow-up question and the reporter moved close to mortification of the hitherto unflappable champ.
“Uh, yeah,” and the room laughed in consolation.
What was he going to do next year for Mother’s Day? That got a genuine laugh.
“I’ll need to do something pretty special. I don’t think there’s a much better Father’s Day gift to give your dad than one of these things,” he said, referring to the US Open trophy which had been pawed by so many to the point of grubbiness.
What did the other tour pros both past and present have to say, asked another?
“There have been a few,” he conceded. “I got a really nice one from Greg Norman . . . and I got a nice letter from Arnold Palmer – there have been a lot of nice messages.”
Anything from Alex Ferguson? “Uh, I’m sure there is,” he faltered, “but there have been so many.”
Any personal contact from Tiger Woods? “Errr, no”, but he then moved to fill a long pause by confirming receipt of a congratulatory note.
He confirmed there would be no open-top bus parade. “I’m a golfer, not a football team,” he said, “and a boxer has only one world title to win. There are four of these things a year. So it’s not as if it’s going to be the last one.”
There’s confidence for you.