Rory McIlroy splashes out on an extravagant golf club membership at an exclusive venue for his father. McIlroy is a genuine golf enthusiast. The Northern Irishman eats, sleeps and breathes the sport both during competition and in his downtime.
Throughout his illustrious career as one of the globe’s finest players, the four-time major champion has accumulated an impressive collection of golf club memberships. When pressed about exactly how many memberships he possessed last year, McIlroy responded: “Gotta go country by country here… 12, 13,” quite the modest boast.
However, the 35-year-old couldn’t resist using the moment to take a playful dig at his father, declaring: “Can I include Seminole? Because I pay for that for my dad.”
Not that father Gerry will be particularly bothered, considering memberships for the Florida-based facility aren’t available to the public and are rumoured to cost thousands of pounds annually.
McIlroy proceeded to rattle off his catalogue of memberships, ultimately settling on 18 as his final tally, including his preferred choice, which is hardly likely to shock many observers.
He continued: “My favourite is the R&A [The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews]. I think that’s probably my favourite.”
The Old Course on Scotland’s eastern coastline remains one of golf’s most cherished venues and frequently hosts The Open Championship.
McIlroy holds numerous special memories from playing at St Andrews, including recording the lowest-ever first-round score for an Open Championship at the R&A in 2010. He would ultimately secure third place, trailing eventual champion Louis Oosthuizen by eight strokes on that occasion, before finally claiming the Claret Jug at Hoylake four years down the line.
His PGA Championship triumph – marking his fourth career major – came just one month afterwards.
He most recently finished runner-up at the DP World Tour Championship after losing a dramatic play-off to Matt Fitzpatrick.
McIlroy secured the Race to Dubai for the fourth year running, however, and overtook the legendary Seve Ballesteros’ tally of Order of Merits.
Holding back tears when asked about the achievement, McIlroy said: “He means so much to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup Team,” McIlroy said. “We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf. To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, I didn’t get this far in my dreams.
“It [Montgomerie’s record] seems within touching distance now. I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races. I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.”
