Rory McIlroy's father Gerry: Handicap result and his golf skills revealed ahead of $5 million event

“Behind every great man there is a woman.” I think we have all heard of this saying. But have you ever heard that behind every great athlete there is a supportive person to their parents? NO? Well, it's true, and in Rory McIlroy's case, that person is his father, Gerry McIlroy. Since childhood, the golfer's father was committed to helping McIlroy turn his love of golf into something great. And it wouldn't have been possible without the groundwork his father did for him, as McIlroy says.

Being a golf enthusiast himself, Gerry McIlroy also has a handicap of 2 and many believe that it was his passion for golf that inspired McIlroy. He has some skills in the game and is ready to show them off at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship. The event will take place on October 3rd and has a prize pool of $5 million. So who's excited? Because we definitely are. If you think this is McIlroy Sr.'s first time on the green, you're wrong, my friend.

Rory McIlroy and his father Gerry have made the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a family tradition since its debut in 2009. Yes, that was so long ago!

But it was the 2019 event that stood out of them all. In 2019, they came agonizingly close to winning the Pro-Am team championship, finishing second to Tommy Fleetwood and Ogden Phipps II. While many fans were actually happy for the winners, they couldn't help but feel sad for the McIlroys , as this year was probably McIlroy and his father's best performance.

Despite the disappointment, the experience created a special bond that now binds them both on and off the track. Therefore, fans are excited to see McIlroy's father take home the trophy as they already know how many sacrifices he has made for the golfer to get him to where he is today.

One could say Rory McIlroy was destined to become one of golf's outstanding players as he showed interest in the sport from a young age. His father introduced him to the game when he was a toddler, and those early target practice ignited a fire that still burns brightly today. According to People, McIlroy received his first plastic golf club when he was just 21 months old, and over the course of four years, he showed signs of developing into a top player in the future.

His father saw his potential and hired coach Michael Banno to hone his skills, and the rest is history.

McIlroy's father was not only a supportive parent, he was his training partner, coach and caddy until he was 17. McIlroy Sr. traveled to tournaments with the golfer, sacrificing time and energy to help his son achieve his dreams. But these sacrifices were not in vain, as now everyone in the golf world knows McIlroy's name. The golfer respects and acknowledges his parents' issues and has even expressed them.

Rory McIlroy would 'never be able to repay his mother and father'

You may think you know the story of Rory McIlroy, but you may not know the various sacrifices his parents made to get him to where he is today.

His father, Gerry, put in 100 hours of work every week, juggling three jobs, to support his son's golf dreams for four long years. These jobs included night shifts at a local factory in Holywood or cleaning showers and even toilets at a sports club.

“I worked as a cleaner in a sports club from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. I was a bartender at Holywood Golf Club from 12pm to 6pm; After I went home for tea, I returned to the sports club to work behind the bar from 7pm to midnight.” recalled Gerry McIlroy in an interview with Dailymail.

But it paid off, and it's no wonder McIlroy credits his parents for his success. The golfer previously said he would never be able to repay his parents. “I will never be able to repay mom and dad for what they did. But at least they know they'll never have to work again. I will do everything I can to take care of her,” The PGA Tour symbol said previously.

McIlroy's story is definitely an inspiration to any young golfer who finds themselves struggling. What do you think of the golfer's story? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!