Philip Reidreflects on a momentous week for Rory McIlroy who won the Silver Medal for leading amateur at Carnoustie

Some time soon, Rory McIlory will be playing for pay.

Yesterday, though, it was all about the honour and glory as he strode the fairways of Carnoustie with a panache that hinted at future greatness.

As Scott Verplank, a Ryder Cup veteran and a man with over $20 million in career earnings, remarked of the Northern Ireland prodigy after being outscored by six shots, "Rory's a very fine player. He's 18, looks 14 and plays like a 28-year-old. He has a game that is far beyond his years."

For those gathered in the grandstands by the 18th hole, McIlroy - who closed with a 72 for 289, five-over, to claim the Silver Medal as leading amateur - provided a stunning finish, reducing the 499 yards closing hole to a drive and seven iron approach to eight feet. Of course, he rolled in the birdie putt and, as the crowds stood to applaud, he tossed the ball into the stands to provide someone with a nice souvenir.

"Hopefully, it's the shape of things to come," said McIlroy. "I think I'm getting better all the time, progressing as a player. Hopefully I've got a few more Open Championships in me. I think it is a great performance in my first major and hopefully I can go on to better things."

McIlroy is due to turn professional after the Walker Cup at Royal County Down in September. That will provide a fitting farewell to an amateur career that has seen him win back-to-back Irish close titles in 2005 and 2006 and also help Ireland to the European Team Championships just a fortnight ago.

Although he has a 10-day holiday scheduled for Dubai later this week - leaving his golf clubs behind and intending to spend some time on the indoor slopes of the ski dome in the Emirates - McIlroy has some other amateur engagements prior to that Walker Cup appearance, including defending his individual European title in Berlin and his Mullingar Scratch Cup crown.

McIlroy's future, though, will be in the paid ranks and he intends attending the first stage of European Tour pre-qualifying school in pursuit of getting his card for next season, while also taking up sponsors' invites for whatever tournaments he can get into later this year. The British Masters at The Belfry in September is likely to mark his first competitive outing for pay. He can avail of seven sponsors' invites.

Certainly, he is a marketing dream, with a fabulous golf game and the flamboyance to match. He has been courted by a number of management groups, including IMG, ISM, Faldo Sports Management, Horizon Sports Management and Platinum One. He is expected to team-up with Chubby Chandler's ISM (International Sports Management), which includes Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els in its collection of golfers.

McIlroy can expect to become an instant millionaire on moving to the professional game. When Tiger Woods turned professional, his first sponsorship deal with Nike was for $40 million. While McIlroy is not in that league, his performance has now raised his international marketability and he would be an attractive proposition for club manufacturers and clothing companies too. Currently, he uses Titleist clubs and wore Puma clothing at Carnoustie.

As a youngster growing up, McIlroy's hero was Woods.

Now, already, there is a gaggle of youngsters at his home club in Holywood - where there is a very strong junior section of 40 girls and 130 boys - wanting to be the next Rory McIlroy. "It's only natural to see someone that you look up to and you try and copy things they do. I think by me playing good golf, the interest in Holywood has risen," he said.

Darren Clarke was delighted with McIlroy's performance. "I've known how good he is going to be for a quite some time. He is an unbelievable talent, a great ball striker and has a very good attitude and temperament. He's definitely one that is going to go far."

Verplank also foresees a big future. As he congratulated the teenager on the 72nd hole yesterday, Verplank remarked: "Well done, good luck in Tour School and don't beat the Americans too bad in the Walker Cup . . . and hopefully you're out on the PGA Tour in a few years but, by that time, I'll be on the Champions Tour." He mightn't have to wait that long.