Editor’s Note: The following was supplied to us by our friends at Links Golf Ireland. Enjoy!

Rory McIlroy: From Holywood Toddler to Hollywood Golfer – Storymap

Having turned professional at the age of just 18, the signs looked good even then that Rory McIlroy would become a globally recognised name in the golfing world. Eight years on, the Northern Irishman is among the sport’s best players, having accumulated four Major wins and spent many months at the summit of the world rankings.

This interactive storymap by golf tour operator Links Golf Ireland charts the career of McIlroy from his childhood right up to the modern day. The boy from the village of Holywood was just seven when he first became a member at his local golf club, having been introduced to the game by his father Gerry, and Rory’s love affair with the sport was duly born. He was only 18 when he competed as an amateur in his first Major, the Open Championship in 2007, and he joined the professional ranks later that year.

McIlroy was still only a teenager when he broke into the top 20 of the world rankings and he has been involved in all of Europe’s last three Ryder Cup triumphs. His collapse in the 2011 US Masters would have psychologically crushed many golfers, but instead he quickly put it behind him to romp to victory at the US Open just a few weeks later.

McIlroy reached the world number one spot at the age of 22 and he has been one of the sport’s true stars over the last few years, his fame transcending golfing circles. In addition to his on-course successes, he has accumulated a number of individual awards, including the BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year. His career has been remarkable and, at just 26, there is plenty more to come from McIlroy.

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