By Daniel Noble
THERE has been an outpouring of praise for double Masters champion Rory McIlroy, with the who’s who of the celebrity world extending congratulations.
From sports stars and football clubs to world leaders and the Royal Family, the Holywood golfer is certainly not short on people celebrating his success.
Fellow golfer and friend Shane Lowry was the first to congratulate McIlroy on his success, despite his own disappointment on the day.
Before posting the joint- worst final round at the Masters, Lowry had been a contender for the green jacket himself, sitting on -9 and occupying fourth place on Sunday morning.
A series of blunders and unfortunate lies led to a score of +8 for the day and just -1 for the week, but that did not stop the Irishman from rushing over to embrace the champion.
Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson also complimented the achievement, saying “Congrats to Rory McIlroy for an exciting Masters win. Back- to-back is simply remarkable.”
Meanwhile, rival Justin Rose, who finished tied third, looked towards the future while offering his congratulations. Taking to Twitter, he posted: “I’ll just keep knocking on that door. See you next year Augusta! Congratulations @McIlroyRory going back-to- back.”
The well-wishes from the sporting world did not stop there either, with support coming from those within another athletic discipline.
Manchester United, the football club McIlroy supports, shared “Warm congratulations to United fan @McIlroyRory on your triumph at #TheMasters,” while Red Devils legend Wayne Rooney said “Congratulations @McIlroyRory. Class.”
Some of the most high-profile figures worldwide even took the time to highlight their delight for the County Down star.
US President Donald Trump, owner of 15 golf courses, posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying: “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another great championship, the Masters!
“He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a legend.”
The official Royal Family Twitter account added: “Congratulations @McIlroyRory on your extraordinary back-to-back win at @TheMasters.”
Receiving such a positive reaction from so many well-known individuals is nothing short of remarkable, but perhaps the most significant and satisfying praise of all came from a man who has been there and done it all.
Jack Nickalus, the golfer many consider to be the greatest of all time – a winner of a record 18 major championships, including six Masters, and the first to go back-to-back – expressed his delight for McIlroy. “Congratulations, Rory, on back-to-back green jackets. You played like a guy who has already won a Masters championship, which is relaxed, free and confident,” he stated.
“The monkey came off your back last year, and now, all of a sudden, you are the only guy who had a chance to three-peat.
“Rory had a long time between major championships four and five, but six came pretty quickly. Rory is in the prime of his career. Now let’s see if there are some more majors for him on the horizon.
“I’m very happy for Rory. It’s great for the game of golf to see really special players win.”
