Joy in McIlroy's hometown at history-maker's back-to-back Masters wins
At Rory McIlroy's home club in Holywood fans cheered him on as he secured his six golf major.
Fans were packed into Holywood Golf Club to cheer on Rory McIlroy [PA Media] Rory McIlroy knows how to put his fans through the ringer - and Sunday at Augusta National was no different. At his home golf club in Northern Ireland, the expressions on the faces of supporters crammed into the small clubhouse said it all. But the mental toughness of McIlroy was what impressed fans at Holywood Golf Club the most as he sealed his second Masters title to become only the fourth man to go back-to-back in the tournament.
At one stage during the fourth and final round he was rocking, but he stabilised his performance to come away with the Green Jacket once again. Rory McIlroy made things nervous at times for his fans [PA Media] As world number one Scottie Scheffler tried but failed to catch McIlroy, a song echoed around Holywood. "He's in your head, in your head, Rory, Rory, Rory, " sang the fans, to the tune of Zombie by the Cranberries.
Leading the chorus were teenagers who went to McIlroy's old school, Sullivan Upper. Among those in awe of his resilience, and brilliance, was 18-year-old Oliver Keown. "I'm amazed, I'm stunned," he said.
"When he double-bogeyed the fourth hole I was starting to get a bit nervous but he came through and still won. " Hamish Johnston, also 18, said: "I never doubted him. He's world class.