KAPALUA, Hawaii – Rory McIlroy sat back in the chair, took a deep breath, and smiled when asked. He smiled because he recognized a chance to give public credit to some special people in his life. His parents. The 14-time PGA TOUR winner was giving a press conference for his first appearance at this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions and the question about who he felt was the foundation of his success was a welcome one. Now almost 30, McIlroy has found a greater appreciation for the sacrifices his parents Gerry and Rosie provided for him. “I couldn’t single out one over the other, because my dad worked three jobs at one time and my mom worked night shifts and so they made a lot of sacrifices,â€� McIlroy praised. “All their extra money and time off was put into me to go and play golf tournaments.â€� It’s true. Gerry split time between cleaning and bar work. Rosie would work nights at a factory. It allowed young Rory to follow his passion for golf. It set the base that would lead to a FedExCup title and four majors to this point. It is a theme you can find all over the PGA TOUR. The trip to greatness is not a solo one. It takes help. It takes belief from others. For Jason Day, a joint course record holder at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, the reflection was to his mother, his wife, his agent and his coach. Without these people on his journey Day says he would never have made it to the PGA TOUR. “Everyone on the PGA TOUR has someone or some people who have put us first on multiple occasions,â€� Day says. “While we work hard and sacrifice our time to practice and get in shape it is those behind the scenes who keep things running smoothly. “It started with my mum, then Colin Swatton came into my life as a coach and father figure, then my agent Bud and my wife Ellie … they all do more than I can ever thank them for. They’ve always done right by me. It allows me to be the best golfer I can be.â€� Up and coming star Cameron Champ threw praise on his family, particularly his grandfather, and also renowned coach Sean Foley for taking a chance on a kid with raw talent but little means. Champ is at the beginning of his PGA TOUR journey. He is acutely aware of the assistance needed from others for him to be living out this dream. Foley, who has coached Tiger Woods among others over the years, was happy to take him on board. People would pay huge money for his instruction. Champ obviously could not do so at the time coming from a humble background. “I met Sean at about 15. He was generous enough to teach me even though means was tough for us,â€� Champ says. “And the connection, the relationship, has gone from there until now which has been amazing.â€� The 23-year-old is already a PGA TOUR winner and touted as the next big thing, something that may or may not have happened as quickly without this foundation. Golf Channel analyst Mark Rolfing, who forged his own golf career in the 1970s before becoming a long-time Maui resident and member of the Kapalua golf family, believes these foundations are critical for not only professional athletes, but for all of us. He has seen the cultural idea of Ohana work on the Hawaiian islands for decades – one based on a wider community or “familyâ€� where everyone works together and supports each other. And he is very keen to push the idea onto the general population. “Part of living on Maui and the whole Ohana aspect of what we do has permeated into my soul and I take it everywhere I go around the world with me,â€� Rolfing explains. “It’s maybe easier for me because I’m constantly reminded about how important people were to me and how I had so many people do right by me. “But the average person has just as many people in their lives provide this foundation. People who share advice. People who unselfishly donate time to help others. “It would be good if every person could stop every once in a while and reflect who has been right by them and reflect on who got them to where they are.â€� This is something McIlroy for one can certainly agree on. He admitted it took time for him to truly appreciate what his parents have done for him and continue to do to help him be the person he is. “I didn’t truly realize until maybe when I was out of my teenage years, when I was on my own two feet, and I realized that my childhood wasn’t the norm and that’s not what a lot of parents do for their kids,â€� McIlroy said. “And so it took me a while to realize just the sacrifice and the hard work that they put in to just give me a chance to do what I do. “I always said I can never repay them for what they have done for me … just make sure they’re happy and comfortable for the rest of their days.â€�
Strong foundation key to success on PGA TOUR
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3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Shane Lowry | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – B. DeChambeau v B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -150 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Smith v M. Homa | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -140 |
Cameron Smith | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau v T. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -145 |
Tom Kim | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. McIIroy v X. Schauffele | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Rory McIlroy | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – K. Bradley v J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -125 |
Keegan Bradley | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English v T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Thomas Detry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – J. Day v M.W. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -120 |
Min Woo Lee | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa v S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -145 |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay v C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Cameron Young | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -150 |
Tom Hoge | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -125 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English vs K. Bradley | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -110 |
Keegan Bradley | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs B. Hun An | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Tony Finau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Moore | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -140 |
Lucas Herbert | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge vs M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -120 |
Tom Hoge | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – M. Hubbard vs A. Rai | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Mark Hubbard | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. MacIntyre vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -110 |
Robert MacIntyre | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -115 |
Sahith Theegala | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -115 |
Bryson DeChambeau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs D. Burmester | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -115 |
Alex Noren | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -150 |
Rory McIlroy | +125 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – C. Ciganda / A. Valenzuela | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carlota Ciganda | -120 |
Albane Valenzuela | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Lee / M. Alex | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | -115 |
Marina Alex | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / S. Kemp | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sarah Kemp | -110 |
Minji Kang | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Khang / A. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Megan Khang | -105 |
Andrea Lee | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Buhai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -105 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Y. Nishimura / A. Furue | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -135 |
Yuna Nishimura | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | -250 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -200 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -150 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +150 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +650 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1200 |
Win PGA Championship & The Open | +1400 |
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3rd Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / N. Koerstz Madsen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | +105 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Ruffels / M. Saigo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Gabriela Ruffels | -145 |
Mao Saigo | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -230 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +250 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / S. Mi Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | -180 |
So Mi Lee | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +175 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |