Golfer Rory McIlroy says he has always felt more British than Irish -- Says “I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland”
Posted on Monday, September 10, 2012 at 08:08 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
67 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Orb should win Preakness easily, Oxbow up for second
- Could Celtic boss Neil Lennon be next manager at Manchester United? - His European exploits, especially defeating Barcelona may put him in frame
- Orb has what it takes to win Triple Crown in 2013 - Kentucky Derby winner has breeding, connections and talent
- Goldencents can lead all the way for Doug O’Neill in Kentucky Derby - Lines of Battle, Irish horse looks outclassed in Run for the Roses
- Why Ireland’s Rory McIlroy can defeat Tiger Woods at the 2013 Masters - Comeback kid proves in Texas Open that he still has a unique talent
Archives
 |
| Rory McIlroy at the British Open |
Ever since it was announced that golf will be an official sport in the next Olympics, the discussion about which country McIlroy would represent has been a hot topic. Now he seems to have answered the question.
McIlroy, born Catholic in Northern Ireland, told the Daily Mail at the weekend, “I’ve always felt more British than Irish.
“Maybe it was the way I was brought up, I don’t know, but I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland.”
Catholic athletes in Northern Ireland usually declare for the Republic but McIlroy seems likely to declare for the UK.
McIlroy says he definitely feels more British, ”And so I have to weigh that up against the fact that I’ve always played for Ireland and so it is tough. Whatever I do, I know my decision is going to upset some people but I just hope the vast majority will understand.
"What makes it such an awful position to be in is I have grown up my whole life playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland umbrella," he said. "But the fact is, I’ve always felt more British than Irish.”
McIlroy solidified his number one world standing with a weekend victory at the BMW championship, his third victory in four weeks.
McIlroy had accepted a MBE from Queen Elizabeth at the end of last year, giving further credence to the belief that he would declare for Britain.
As a Catholic reared in Northern Ireland, McIlroy has come under intense scrutiny for his political views.
His grand-uncle was murdered in The Troubles by Loyalist paramilitaries but McIlroy has never discussed it. The murder was re-opened for investigation last year by the Northern Ireland cold case police authorities.
McIlroy has avoided all political discussion. The only incident of note came when some nationalists claimed he brushed off an Irish tricolor that was thrown at him after his 2011 win at the US Open but the video is inconclusive to say the least.
His compatriot and fellow golf major winner Graeme McDowell, who is a Protestant, gets no such scrutiny as it is widely accepted he will play with Britain.
McIlroy also told the Daily Mail that staying No 1 was his priority and that his girlfriend tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki had shown him how hard it was to stay on top as her career has foundered. He also stated they had no immediate plans to marry.
‘I’ve seen it myself, it’s a very hard thing to stay at No 1 and Caroline was No 1 for two years, with all the expectations that raises,’ said McIlroy. ‘But she has got a lot of good people working around her and she’s the hardest working person I know, so I don’t think there’s any question that she will be back.’ See more: Irish in Golf
67 comments
Next
Page 1 of 5 pages
DanOLoingsigh | Sep 13, 2012, 01:54 PM EDT
Seano...still haven't answered how the tribal or religious affiliation of a group of killers would change things?
Report abuse
seanomelb | Sep 12, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT
Well Dano if you don't understand the written word tough go chew yor bottom lip crybaby
Report abuse
maryosullivan | Sep 12, 2012, 10:21 AM EDT
" Ruadhri Mc " tip him off this is Gaelic. Who know what harm it will do to
his delicate psyche if he finds out he has a Gaelic name
Report abuse
IrelandNorth | Sep 12, 2012, 08:46 AM EDT
RachelGaffney! There's no such thing as an English passport, even if there should (and probably will) be come 2014. Rúadhrí Mc was born and raised in Northern[ised] Ireland (NI), an inconvenient truth of which is part of the Island of Ireland - which is due west of the island of Great Britian (GB). Pay attention to the next weather forecast you watch on either Irish (RTE/Net2/TV3/TG4/UTV) - or British (ITN/BBC1-2/Chan4/Sky) TV stations. Whether Iri$h or Briti$h/Catholic or Prote$tant/Briti$h unioni$t or Iri$h nationali$t/r€publican of £oyali$t - it's all the same difference to his Ul$ter bank account.
Report abuse
IrelandNorth | Sep 12, 2012, 08:14 AM EDT
"... his girlfriend ... has shown him how hard it was to stay on top ..." Hmmm! Demanding girl. "Raises expectation"? (Geeze, will you guys read yer Freud!) How does it 'feel' to be British or Irish. Is there an discernable Galvanic Skin Response? Sadly, young Rúadhrí is in a no win situation. Between a rock and a hard place, as the Americans would say. Between the divil and da deep blue sea, as the rural Irish would say. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He should play for Team USA, a country which both traditions on the Island of Ireland identify with, despite the occasional jealousy-based criticism from some posters for ulterior motives.
Report abuse
DanOLoingsigh | Sep 12, 2012, 03:18 AM EDT
Here's some news Sean...dead people can't think anymore...whereas you keep wanting to tell us how they should think...it doesn't get more meaningless...
Report abuse
seanomelb | Sep 11, 2012, 07:04 PM EDT
I asked what the uncle would think Dano not what Ruairi thinks. Now who has the twisted logic. You're a fool Dan why embarrass yourself with meaningless posts. All you do is project spite.
Report abuse
cillowen | Sep 11, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT
the fence straddling by RC wiz can be solved by utilizing the feherty (emphasizer on Scots) naturalized american approach. That's what one gets with settling to please an occupier. The dysfuntion that ensues by such nation slicing and dicing leaves its patient severly sick. Anything of benefit accrues to benefit England - achievements of the others in the club goes to benefit the mother. Hear it all the time, of credit going to
the Lion tamer.
Report abuse
ancavker | Sep 11, 2012, 09:25 AM EDT
Old Mariner: I know the Welsh have a Celtic background coming from the Brythonic (pardon the spelling) branch of the tree.Just commenting that I find them (and I am speaking in generalities here), them to be a fairly sad bunch, with little to no enthuasism for any thing.
Report abuse
ancavker | Sep 11, 2012, 09:21 AM EDT
Nicoletta: Being loyal to a country because they have good dole benefits is pretty sad and pathetic.
Report abuse
jetsnoone | Sep 11, 2012, 03:52 AM EDT
give the kid a break, if he comes out strong Irish the prot. militants would harm him.
Report abuse
DanOLoingsigh | Sep 11, 2012, 03:39 AM EDT
By Seano’s twisted logic, if Rory’s uncle had been an unfortunate victim of Omagh, Enniskillen or any of the other ‘Republican’ outrages, he would have been ‘OK’ with his decision to embrace his NI identity?
Report abuse
seanomelb | Sep 11, 2012, 12:36 AM EDT
BTW Alun english people may not back the UDA but the BA and MI6 certainly availed of their services to do their dirty work.
Report abuse
seanomelb | Sep 11, 2012, 12:32 AM EDT
reg your comparisons failed to make your point,you may as well compare Sands to Thatcher.
Report abuse
Next
Page 1 of 5 pages
Report abuse