New dog for Tiger copycat McIlroy

Rory McIlroy will be gunning for Tiger Woods in the US Open.

But the Holywood idol has taken his admiration for the world No 1 to new heights by buying the same breed of dog - a labradoodle.

The Ulster ace, 20, and his girlfriend Holly have bought opted against a maltipoo and gone for a cross between a labrador and a poodle.

Yet instead of naming it after Woods, McIlroy has called the dog after a three time major winner. And it’s not Padraig Harrington, Phil Mickelson or Vijay Singh.

The pampered pooch is called Theo, after Theodore Ernest Els, winner of two US Opens and an Open.

Massively popular in the US following his PGA Tour debut earlier this year, McIlroy is rated joint sixth favourite for the US Open at 33-1 with Paddy Power alongside Harrington, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia and Steve Stricker.

But he admits that Woods is still his idol because of the way he handles the pressure week in, week out.

McIlroy said: “Over the last couple of years, I’ve really appreciated how Tiger handles himself on and off the golf course.

“He is in the media spotlight so much but he never flinches.

“He gets on with his business and does his thing and I think he is the ultimate professional.”