Rory McIlroy Dominates The 2011 US Open – Winning by 8 Shots

Rory McIlroy - US Open 2011 Champion

A brilliant display from Rory McIlroy saw him capture the US Open Championship by eight shots at Congressional Country Club. Making it back to back wins from Northern Ireland.

The wonderkid from Holywood in Belfast delivered the golfing equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster, setting record after record.

More than that, he became at 22 the second youngest European Major winner of all time – and the youngest since 1872, the year Young Tom Morris captured his fourth and final Open Championship at 21.

“The whole week has been incredible – I could not have asked for any more and I am so happy to hold this trophy,” he said.

Rory McIlroy 2011 US open

“For such a small nation to win two US Opens in a row is pretty special. As Graeme (McDowell) said last year, there will be a lot of pints of Guinness going down.

“I know a few of my friends will be partying and I can’t wait to get home and join them.”

Looks like Rory has started celebrating already - Drinking out of the US Open Trophy.

A Few Tweets after his win:

McIlroyRory

#winning #bounceback http://yfrog.com/gzhheqfj

McIlroyRory

Tastes good!!! http://moby.to/4866cn

McIlroyRory

Thanks to everyone for all the messages over the past few hours. It was a very special week for me. Proud to be a major champion!

IanJamesPoulter

RT @trickle13 @IanJamesPoulter so how expensive does @McIlroyRory tab get tonite?>> not sure but I think he will be able to cover it.
RickieFowlerPGA

Congrats Rors @McIlroyRory on a record breaking week…impressive man!!

garyplayer

Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on an absolutely fantastic win at the US Open.This is the first Major of what I expect to be more to come

AlanShipnuck

I’m hearing that Rory is going to be on the cover of this week’s SI. Pretty sure he’ll be the first Euro golfer since Faldo. #Starpower

golfoddsJeff Sherman

British Open odds are available … R McIlroy opens as the 6/1 favorite … L Westwood 10/1 … L Donald 15/1 … T Woods 15/1

YES Please!

Not since amateur legend Bobby Jones in 1923 has this the toughest of all four Majors been lifted by someone of such tender years – and with Padraig Harrington saying that McIlroy has the potential to challenge Jack Nicklaus’s 18-Major record it ought to be noted that the Golden Bear was a few months older when his first win came.

But the most remarkable thing is that it was only in April that McIlroy saw a four stroke lead turn into a ten shot defeat with a closing round of 80 at Augusta National.

Speaking of that Masters Tournament disappointment he said: “Augusta was a valuable experience. I knew what I needed to do today to win. I learnt a few things there about myself and my game.

“I put a few different things into practice and it paid off.”

This was the first Major since then and he was a class apart from the moment he started in the same way he had at The Masters Tournament with a 65.

By the time he had raised his arms in triumph to the roars of the crowd everybody present knew they had witnessed something and somebody truly special.

Among the first to join in the celebrations was his dad Gerry. On Father’s Day that was only right and proper.

“Happy Father’s Day – this one’s for you,” shouted McIlroy at the presentation ceremony. “I have to mention my Mum too – everything they have done for me I can’t thank them enough.”

Back at home there were the same joyous scenes that had greeted McDowell’s victory 12 months ago – the first by a European in the event for 40 years.

They have all known about McIlroy’s talent since he shot 61 at Portrush as a 16 year old – and many of them for long before that.