That heartstopping moment
CAN you even begin to imagine what it would be like to achieve your lifelong goal?
No, neither can I!
Hannah Scott and Rhys McClenaghan did it last summer in Paris by winning an Olympic gold medal. And now Rory McIlroy has done the same.
Writing himself into the history books by completing golf’s Grand Slam, winning all four majors (The Masters, The Open, the PGA Championship and the US Open) and becoming only the sixth player in history to do so.
Gene Sarazen was the first to achieve golfing immortality in 1935 – and just like McIlroy, The Masters was the last piece of the puzzle.
Ever since the heartbreak of turning a four shot lead on the final day of the 2011 Masters into a final round of eight under par 80 to tie for 15th place, McIlroy has struggled to get over the line at Augusta. He came so close in 2022 when he finished second but had to watch Scottie Schefler don the famous green jacket.
What we witnessed on the 18th green after his play off victory over Justin Rose on Sunday, April14, 2025 was an outpouring of emotion like no other past Masters champion.
Rory’s relief, roar, tears, smiles, elation were all the outpouring of years of expectation and pressure.
Yes, pressure in sport is a privilege but it is also a huge weight to carry, especially for 11 years as 2014 was when McIlroy had won his last major and talk of the Grand Slam had begun.
As Rory said in his press conference straight after winning the 2025 tournament, many of his heroes and past winners, like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer, had sat in that same chair in front of the world’s media and claimed Rory was too good not to win the Masters and that it would happen one day.
As much as Rory could appreciate the compliments, those words were also a burden to bear.
In fact, he said: “I’d like to start this press conference with a question of my own, ‘What are we all going to talk about next year?'” It was clearly a joke as he laughed upon saying it but he’s right, every year since 2011 the narrative has been the same – will this be Rory’s year to win The Masters? And since 2014 ‘When will Rory McIlroy complete the Grand Slam?’
McIlroy has endured his fair share of struggles along the way but still remained the most consistent golfer since Tiger Woods in his prime in the stats. That’s what he is most proud of, his resilience. And as his four year old daughter Poppy watched on at the prize giving ceremony, Rory made sure he gave her the best advice that she will forever look back on – “Never give up on your dreams, Poppy.”
There wasn’t a tear left for anyone watching that and seeing what the victory meant to Rory was so special for everyone who has cheered him on down through the years.
Don’t get me wrong, the viewing was heart attack material, but that’s why we love sport isn’t it?
It’s one of the few things in life that can’t be faked, live sport grips you like nothing else.
I was trying to think of times in the past that I have felt like my heart was going to stop while watching sport.
Being ringside for Carl Frampton’s world title fights, in particular the gutting feeling when he lost unexpectedly to Josh Warrington after a brutal battle in Manchester; watching Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat to New Zealand in Paris in the Rugby World Cup as they had their best chance to make it to their first ever semi final of the tournament; watching Northern Ireland come agonisingly close to qualifying for the World Cup only to lose in a play off…
But those rollercoasters ended in disappointment and heartbreak. Rory’s Grand Slam success story brought tears of joy, jubilation and justice. If anyone deserved it, he did. Well done Rory, it was worth the wait.
Local Women Sports awards selfie
April was also a month to remember for all our winners at the Local Women Sports awards at Belfast’s Europa Hotel.
We had another massive celebration of all things good about local females in sport and yet again the stories of our winners and nominees were humbling and inspiring.
We have so many athletes, coaches and teams to be proud of right here on our doorstep and I want to personally congratulate all the winners on the night.
Each year the awards are getting bigger as it is the only event of its kind to recognise a wide range of female sport across the UK and Ireland.
As we celebrate all things good about local sport, my message to all of our incredible sportswomen is to keep doing what you’re doing and remember, as a wise man (and Grand Slam winner) once said, never give up on your dreams.
