Monday, July 18, 2011

(Northern) Irish Eyes are smiling

Canada produces its fair share of fantatsic athletes in any number sports - hockey at the top, of course, but we have talented professional athletes in the NBA and soccer leagues throughout the world.
Our winter Olympians owned the podium at the Vancouver Games and there are enough Major Leaguers to form a dangerous baseball squad in red and white.
Mike Weir won the Masters a few years back, but the Canadian contingent on the PGA tour has not come close to the incredible results of another tiny (population wise) nation - Northern Ireland.
Rory McIlroy followed up a dreadful final round at the Masters with a convincing, emphatic, eight-shot win at the U.S. Open.
Media jumped all over it and dubbed the Northern Irishman the "next big thing" in golf and the heir apparent to the struggling Tiger Woods.
McIlroy was in contention again last weekend at the British Open, but it was countryman Darren Clarke who stole the show.
Clarke rode a strong wave of support to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. A laid-back, every-day-type of bloke, it's hard not to warm to Clarke, who suggested most in his nation would be up late downing pints after the win.
Clarke mentioned he may go on a weight watchers diet and hates the gym, a far cry from the sculpted and moulded-in-every-which way typical pro's.
McIlroy, just 22, made it back-to-back U.S. Open wins for the Northern Irish after Graeme McDowell mastered Pebble Beach in 2010.
The trio have put Northern Ireland in a favourable light.
A country recognized, too often, for the "troubles" has shown it isn't all about the past. Three brilliant golfers have displayed class, skill and professionalism and battered the best the sport has to offer.
In the process, they have lifted a nation with a population of less than two million into rarified air. It's was a joy to watch McDowell win at Pebble Beach and Clarke tame the weather in Sandwich.
The future may be brightest for McIlroy.
All of Northern Ireland are proud and the golf world is taking note.

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