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Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy was 'third' best amateur golfer - here's what happened to other two
Rory McIlroy was said to have been the third-best amateur player in Sir Nick Faldo's organisation, with two players seen as better prospects than the Northern Irishman in the early 2000s Golf legend Sir Nick Faldo admitted that he once regarded Rory McIlroy as the third-best amateur in his organisation, despite his rise to become one of the game's greats. The Northern Irishman clinched his coveted fifth major title at last month's Masters in a sensational playoff showdown with Justin Rose. The 36-year-old's dramatic Augusta win not only completed his collection of major trophies but also highlighted a journey marked by steadfast dedication to golf since childhood. Regarded as a prodigy in amateur circuits, McIlroy made a name for himself in the Faldo Series, the Brit's initiative, which he started in 1996 to nurture young talent within the sport. Among several renowned graduates, Faldo recalled almost two decades ago when McIlroy wasn't yet a household name: "I had this thing called Team Faldo and I took six or eight of them to California," he told The Times. "James Heath was the best amateur, Ollie Fisher was there. Rory was like third back then, but I remember I played with him in a practice round at Carnoustie [in 2007]. "It was pouring down with rain and he put all his waterproofs on and then he made that famous follow-through and I went: 'Blimey, that's different.' That was the first time [I knew he was special]." Oliver Fisher, 36, was a highly skilled amateur and managed to clinch the Faldo Series three times in a row from 2003 to 2005. Despite being one of the most promising talents of his generation, his professional career hasn't quite lived up to his early promise, with his only tournament win coming at the Czech Open on the European Tour in 2011. More recently, golf enthusiasts had the chance to watch him compete in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022, where he played alongside several major winners such as Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Much like Fisher, James Heath, 42, was a frequent winner on the amateur circuit, bagging the English Amateur and Lytham Trophy, before turning pro in 2004. A regular on the European and Challenge Tour, Heath has secured three tournament wins with his most recent victory in 2016 at the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge when he beat PGA Tour star Ryan Fox. Faldo expressed his belief that McIlroy would secure 10 major titles after collecting four in a four-year period, but insisted his Masters victory could spur the golfer on to earn several more majors. "He obviously got off to a flyer with those first four majors," he commented. "I remember I said then he might be really disappointed to only win ten majors, or he will be ecstatic to win five," he says. Tiger [Woods] and [Ben] Crenshaw both had big gaps [also 11 years], but only won one more. "Rory is 35, he's as fit as a fiddle, and you've got to believe he's really shaken the monkey off his back. I would've thought it'll set him free and he might be the unique one to go on and win [multiple] more majors." He confessed that McIlroy's victory at Augusta left him teary-eyed as he explained the emotional and mental toll the golfer would have endured when consistently coming up short at the Masters. "I did get teary because I kind of know that walk off 18 and realising what he'd done, people don't appreciate the workload that has gone into that physically, technically, mentally. You spend thousands of hours and hit millions of balls to reach your goal, and a heck of a goal it was."
Metro
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Nick Faldo names top five golfers in history after Rory McIlroy wins the Masters
Ryder Cup legend Nick Faldo has named the top five golfers in history after Rory McIlroy's sensational Masters victory. McIlroy beat Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose in a play-off to win his first Masters title and finally complete the career Grand Slam. The 35-year-old missed a par putt to win the Augusta tournament in regulation but recovered to birdie the first play-off hole and pip Rose to glory. McIlroy had been chasing a career Grand Slam for over a decade, having won The Open and PGA Championship in 2014, three years after securing his first major at the US Open. By achieving golfing immortality, McIlroy became just the sixth man – and first European – to clinch the career Slam following Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods. He remains one short of Faldo's Slam tally but the three-time Masters champion insists McIlroy has already achieved more than him. Faldo in fact rates McIlroy as one of the top five golfers in history along with the aforementioned Hogan, Nicklaus, Player and Woods. 'It's a whole different kettle of fish nowadays. He's done way more than me,'Faldo told The Times. 'He's won 29 times in America. 'Of the all-time greats, I'd put him fifth. Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. Rory is right there. 'No discredit to Gene Sarazen, but that was a completely different era. I've hardly seen any footage of him, but achieving the grand slam puts you in a different category.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Having 'shaken the Masters monkey off his back', McIlroy can go on to win 'multiple more majors', according to Faldo. 'He obviously got off to a flyer with those first four majors,' the 67-year-old said. 'I remember I said then he might be really disappointed to only win ten majors or he will be ecstatic to win five. 'Tiger [Woods] and [Ben] Crenshaw both had big gaps [also 11 years] but only won one more. Rory is 35, he's as fit as a fiddle, and you've got to believe he's really shaken the monkey off his back. 'I would've thought it'll set him free and he might be the unique one to go on and win [multiple] more majors. 'I did get teary because I kind of know that walk off 18 and realising what he'd done, people don't appreciate the workload that has gone into that physically, technically, mentally. 'You spend thousands of hours and hit millions of balls to reach your goal, and a heck of a goal it was.' More Trending Faldo has known McIlroy for more than two decades and first realised he was a 'special' when they played a practice round at Carnoustie in 2007. 'I had this thing called Team Faldo and I took six or eight of them to California,' he added. 'James Heath was the best amateur, Ollie Fisher was there. Rory was like third back then, but I remember I played with him in a practice round at Carnoustie [in 2007]. 'It was chucking it down with rain and he put all his waterproofs on and then he made that famous follow through and I went, 'Wow, that's different'. That was the first time [I knew he was special].' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Woman dies days after being hit by van chased into golf club by police MORE: Manchester United and Tottenham face Europa League elimination MORE: Paris Saint-Germain will be too strong for Aston Villa in the Champions League
