Rory McIlroy Fact File

Rory McIlroy fact file

Born 4 May 1989 (19 years old)

Home Holywood, Co Down

Age 2
Drives the ball more than 40 yards

Age 8
Becomes youngest full member of Holywood Golf Club

Age 9
Wins the world under-10 title at Doral in Florida; records first hole in one; appears on UTV’s Gerry Kelly show, chipping balls into the drum of a washing machine

Age 11
Shoots level-par 69 at Holywood Golf Club

Age 13
Plays off scratch

Age 15
Plays in his first professional event, the British Masters, but misses the cut; becomes the youngest winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship

Age 16
Shoots course-record 61 in the North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush; makes the cut in Challenge Tour Morson International Pro-Am; successfully defends Irish Close and West of Ireland titles

Age 17
Wins European Amateur title; breaks par in three of his four rounds at the Dubai Desert Classic

Age 18
Becomes world No 1 Amateur. Outscores Tiger Woods on the first day en route to winning the Silver Medal for the leading amateur in The Open at Carnoustie.

Finishes third in his second professional event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, to become the youngest and quickest Affiliate Member to secure his card. Joint fourth in his third event, the Open de Madrid Valle Romano.

Age 19
Loses in a play-off for the Omega European Masters but makes his Volvo Masters debut in his first full season on tour.

Becomes the fastest player to pass €1m in career earnings when he finishes fourth in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Becomes the youngest player to break into the world’s top 50 after losing in a play-off for the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Becomes the youngest professional to qualify for the Masters when the finishes 2008 ranked 40th in the world.

Wins the Dubai Desert Classic to become world No 15 and the seventh youngest winner in European Tour history at 19 years, eight months and 28 days.