McIlroy triumph a ‘marvellous national occasion’, Taoiseach says

Rory McIlroy’s historic Augusta triumph was a “marvellous national occasion”, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said.

Paying tribute to the Co Down golfer, Mr Martin said he had created a “moment in time that we will all remember”.

McIlroy defeated England’s Justin Rose at the first playoff hole at the Masters to complete the career grand slam of golf’s four majors.

Mr Martin said: “It was an incredible evening and we were all up late in the morning.”

The Irish premier said the occasion reminded him of Ireland’s 1990 World Cup penalty shootout win over Romania and George Hamilton’s famous “the nation holds its breath” commentary.

He said: “Well, we were holding our breath every five minutes for a good few hours yesterday. Literally holding our breath at every putt and every tee-shot.

“It was a marvellous national occasion and it’s a moment in time that we will all remember.

“Our family WhatsApp was going hell for leather, and it won’t be revealed until about 50 years’ time in terms of the kind of commentary in the middle of it.”

Mr Martin said McIlroy’s triumph was a lesson in overcoming adversity.

He added: “It was that kind of night but fantastic for him.

“And it was a great lesson in life, it’s Easter, people fall, people have ups and downs. It’s a triumph of overcoming adversity, it’s resilience in the most raw way demonstrated last evening.

“He bounced back and right throughout you have a person who is showing tremendous mental resilience, a tremendous lesson for all of us in life and for young people in particular they should watch that and learn from it, that life is about taking on challenges.”

“Sometimes you won’t get over the line.

“Then the very primal expression of joy and he’s thinking of his family, his parents, his wife, and kid and his closest friends.

“And for him, it’s a very special moment and for the rest of the nation, we were privileged to share in it.”

The Taoiseach said: “There is a tremendous history and magic to Augusta, through all these big golf events and they have an Irishman joining five others in the pantheon of greats in golf is a moment of pride for the nation.”

Only five other male golfers have completed the career grand slam – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.