From a video of a three-year-old practicing in his living room to a national broadcast of a nine-year-old throwing balls into a washing machine, it was clear that Rory McIlroy had the gift to make history.
The only open question was how far he would go, and that question was now answered with confidence by his Masters victory, which ended his Grand Slam career.
McIlroy became the first European golfer to win all four major titles, joining an elite group that includes legendary players such as Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
And the 35-year-old is just two victories away from becoming the most successful European player of modern times: Sir Nick Faldo has won both the Masters and the Open three times.
Not bad for a curly-haired lad from Holywood in Belfast whose father Gerry worked part-time to help fund his son's amateur career, which first came to attention with his opening-round 68 – the only bogey-free round of the day – at the 2007 Open at Carnoustie just two months after his 18th birthday.
Of course, in McIlroy's homeland they had long known about his talent.
At the age of 16, he set a course record of 61 at Royal Portrush, the venue for the 2019 Open, and the following year he became the European Amateur Champion and took the world amateur rankings number one.
McIlroy turned professional after playing in the Walker Cup against an American team that included Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson, and in his second tournament he finished third in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
His first European Tour victory came at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009, and he won his first PGA Tour title with an impressive 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship.
The following year brought him his first major title when he won the US Open by defeating everyone
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
