Calls grow for knighthood for "quite simply the greatest athlete Northern Ireland has ever produced" Rory McIlroy

McIlroy became just the fourth golfer in history to retain the green jacket after a nail-biting one-stroke victory at Augusta National on Sunday, April 12.

The 36-year-old joined Jack Nicklaus (1965 and 1996), Sir Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001 and 2002) in an elite club of players to successfully defend their title.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows called on King Charles III to confer a knighthood on McIlroy, calling his back-to-back victories at Augusta ‘the stuff of legend’.

Mr Burrow said: “To win the Masters once is extraordinary. To defend it places him in the rarest company in the history of sport. To have also completed the career Grand Slam, something only six men have ever done, confirms beyond doubt that Rory McIlroy is one of the greatest golfers of all time.

“But more than that, he is quite simply the greatest athlete Northern Ireland has ever produced.

“We are living in an era of a true sporting icon, a living legend. Rory transcends golf. He is an ambassador for Northern Ireland and for the United Kingdom, representing us across the world with humility, professionalism and class.

“He inspires people from every background and every community. In a place that can too often feel divided, Rory McIlroy unifies. He gives us all something to celebrate together.

“His impact goes far beyond sport. He is a major draw for golf tourism in Northern Ireland, helping showcase our world-class courses and bringing global attention to our economy and our people.

“A knighthood is the highest honour our nation can bestow. In Rory McIlroy, we have a figure whose achievements, character and contribution make the case overwhelming.

“My predecessor Mike Nesbitt was right to call for this honour after Rory completed the Grand Slam. After these back-to-back Masters victories, the case is now simply unanswerable.

“It is time for King Charles III to recognise one of the greatest sportsmen these islands have ever produced.”

And, the captain of Royal Portrush Golf Club is in agreement.

Speaking to the News Letter, Nick Pollock said: “We are all very proud of him at Royal Portrush but I’m sure all of Northern Ireland is too.

"It was amazing to watch Rory go back-to-back at the Masters and I think he could now easily win ten majors.”

McIlroy was awarded an MBE for his services to sport in January 2012 and Mr Pollock has no doubts further recognition later on down the line is fully justified.

He stated: “I would have to say that would be the right thing to do.

"Sir Nick Faldo received a knighthood and Rory now has the same amount of majors as he has, as well as completing the grand slam.

"I haven’t met Rory in quite some time but I have watched him mature as a player from a boy to a man and I always knew he was going to be good.

"It’s a credit to him and his family for everything that he has achieved in the game.”