Golf:As Rory McIlroy travelled home from America, fresh from winning the US Open in record style, another runaway winner of the title has spelt out what it will mean for the young Northern Irishman.
"Life as he knew it has ended," said Tony Jacklin, whose seven-shot victory in 1970 was Europe's first for 43 years and last for a further 40.
Eight-shot winner McIlroy has followed in the immediate footsteps of fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and Jacklin believes that can only help as the 22-year-old - Europe's youngest major champion since 1872 - tries to adjust to his elevated standing in the game.
"What a terrific performance and how remarkable that a tiny little area on the map has produced two winners in a row," said Jacklin. "I watched all I could and I'm absolutely thrilled for him. It was fantastic.
"He is such a great kid and it was faultless. Obviously he had learnt from the other opportunities he had."
McIlroy followed an opening 63 in The Open last year with an 80, missed out on a play-off by a shot at the US PGA a month later and then in April was four ahead with a round to go at The Masters only to compile another 80.
"I remember I was with Jack [Nicklaus] and he told me he had lunch with Rory," Jacklin continued. "He said that you basically figure it out - if you are good enough to get into contention a few times you figure it out.
"I'm so glad he did it in the very next major and I remember myself that when you have that much of a lead it's hard in some respects. You want to get it done because you don't want to be branded a choker, but now he's won one I think he's going to be around for a very long time.
"He has such a great way about him and great technique. But whether he will break records depends on how he organises his life quite frankly.
"That's going to be the hardest thing - there's so much more media coverage than there was in my time, although when you think back guys like Bobby Jones and Byron Nelson quit young because of the pressures."
Nelson officially retired at 34 to become a rancher, although he did make occasional appearances afterwards, while amateur legend Jones - the last player to win the US Open at a younger age than McIlroy - stopped at 28.
"Stability of your family life is so important," added Jacklin. "That's where Jack was so fortunate - he managed to juggle things because he had such a wonderful wife and course design work gave him balance.
"Rory is clearly good enough to win many more, but you can't do it without a plan. How do you get away from the attention when you don't want? Everybody needs down time and it's harder living in the UK or Ireland.
"These are the challenges, but let nothing take away from the performance."
JacKlin's US Open win came 11 months after he became Britain's first Open champion since Max Faulkner in 1951, and the scene was already very different in terms of global travel and financial opportunities.
"In my case there were no example in Britain of how to handle the situation. I was busy trying to be all things to all people and you can't do that," he continued. "You need people around you you can trust and he has plenty of examples of what to do and how to organise."
"You've still got to have a life and have a good time. The money on offer now is obscene, but that's not a factor for him now - he is never going to be short and that's a positive aspect.
"It's more about how you organise yourself to arrive on the course focused, but the information is out there for him, even though he might not like some of the stuff he will have to do.
