'Next Rory McIlroy' becomes youngest winner of title since golf icon's historic feat
An 18-year-old schoolboy dubbed
"the next Rory McIlroy"
has become the youngest
golfer
to win the West of Ireland Championship since the Northern Irishman in 2006.
McIlroy has been front and center of everything golf-related
since lifting his first ever Masters title earlier this month
as he finally completed
a career Grand Slam
, becoming
just the sixth player in history to win all four majors
following his nail-biting
play-off victory over Justin Rose
at Augusta.
Just over one week later, however, and a new name is threatening to knock the 35-year-old off his perch. Teenager Dylan Holmes is in the midst of celebrating his own major milestone after claiming the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Men's Amateur Open this week - a tournament
McIlroy
knows all too well.
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The current world No. 2 became the youngest winner of the Championship when he won it as a 16-year-old in 2006 and now Holmes has become the latest teenager to get his hands on the prize after overcoming horrific
weather
conditions and a spirited comeback from a battle-hardened Colm Campbell to claim victory.
The Leaving Cert student from Greystones Golf Club dazzled with his golf game, defeating local favorite Barry Anderson in the semifinals before forging a commanding lead early in the final, ultimately sealing a 2&1 victory on what was also his PGA professional father Karl's 51st birthday.
After outpacing Warrenpoint's seasoned competitor Campbell in an epic West of Ireland final played under some of the harshest weather conditions seen in years, the young rainsoaked golfer told the
Belfast Telegraph
: "That was some of the best golf I've ever played."
Holmes battled through torrential rain to secure victory in his first ever men's tournament
(Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady)
Despite having to play through less than ideal weather with seven holes remaining, Holmes managed to stay four under and led by four. Campbell did manage to snag a couple of wins at the 14th and 16th but it wasn't enough to stop the youngster from marking yet another sports triumph for Greystones as he nailed the title on the renowned 17th green.
A relieved Holmes reflected on the nail-biting moments towards the end, admitted nerves almost got the better of him at one stage. 'That was a brilliant match. I was really nervous coming down the stretch there. I am so happy it's over,' he said. 'It's incredible. I didn't really have any expectations coming in this weekend. I'm just really happy.'
To circumvent the oncoming severe weather, officials pushed up the final match's start time, but it had little impact as the heavens gave way. Showing resilience and poise beyond his years, however, Holmes powered through the punishing rain and fierce gusts that dominated the final stretch of this unforgettable showdown, cementing a piece of history in the legacy of the West.
McIlroy previously claimed the West of Ireland Championship as a 16-year-old in 2006
(Image: Getty Images)
Campbell conceded he experienced a dose of his own medicine from Holmes, who was not only competing in his first West but also his first men's championship. 'He probably gave me a wee bit of my own medicine,' he confessed. 'I've done that enough over the years… It wasn't meant to be today. Dylan was the right winner.'
Battling through high winds and heavy rain, Campbell was 4-down with five to play after a bogey at the 13th. He managed to win the 14th in bogey, halved the 15th in six, and won the 16th with a par, but could only match Holmes' five at the 17th.
Naturally, Holmes has drawn comparisons to McIlroy and when asked about them, he couldn't help but grin, showing exactly how much it means to be mentioned in the same breath as the
2025 Masters
winner. "He's probably one of the greatest golfers of all time," he said. "So I guess that's a pretty cool thing."
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