10 stunning facts about Rory McIlroy’s record-breaking 61 at Royal Portrush

Mark Townsend
A 16-year-old Rory McIlroy in 2005.

Rory McIlroy is known for his low-scoring exploits but one round as a 16-year-old amateur is almost as memorable as any of the others. Twenty years ago, the Hollywood youngster tore Royal Portrush apart in qualifying for one of the most renowned amateur championships in Ireland.

1. Breaking Padraig Harrington’s longstanding course record

Padraig Harrington had held the course record at Royal Portrush for years with a 65. Then there was a 64 and then came McIlroy’s 61 during the qualifying rounds for the 2005 North of Ireland Championship. It would include a back nine of 28.

2. A rising star: McIlroy’s amateur success in 2005

Earlier that year, McIlroy had become the youngest winner of the West of Ireland Championship, beating David Finn 2&1 in the final, and the Irish Closed Championship. He would win both titles again the following year. His handicap at the time was +4.

3. McIlory’s 61 steals spotlight during The Open at St Andrews

McIlroy produced his 61 on July 12 which is notable as it was the week of The Open at St Andrews. So on the Tuesday of the oldest Major on the calendar, the likes of Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell were being quizzed on a score by a 16-year-old back home which is a bizarre turn of events.

4. A modest front nine before the storm

Given that he shot 10-under, his front nine was fairly unspectacular. He missed a short putt for birdie at the 1st, made a two at the short 6th and two-putted the two par 5s at 2 and 9, the second of which followed an approach with a wedge.

5. The explosive back nine: eagle, birdies and Calamity Corner 

Then came the fireworks. He would eagle the 10th and then picked up another shot at the short 11th. That left him at six under for the day. The course back then did not feature the now 7th and 8th, so his next birdie would come at the 14th, Calamity Corner, which is now, of course the 16th.

“He hit a big high draw out over the valley into the middle of the green. It was one of those shots you wish you could hit yourself,” remembers one of his playing partners, Stephen Crowe.

6. Crowds grow as McIlroy catches fire

And from there he would somehow birdie his way in. The now 17th and 18th, then 15 and 16, were reduced to a pair of threes.

“I think, when the crowd got bigger, he started to play better,” says Crowe. “I couldn’t hit my shot. I had to say to people: ‘Excuse me, do you mind moving back?’ It wasn’t getting out of control but it would have been no harm to have a marshal there.

“The 16th was terrifying. The fairway used to bottleneck down at the bottom right corner into a pathway up to the green. It was an incredible shot at eight under. I don’t think I’d hit driver down there at nine o’clock in the evening on my own with a shag bag.”

7. A strong finish: birdies at 17 and 18 seal the 61

He would then find the old par-5 17th and birdie the last.

“He didn’t take his foot off the pedal, he didn’t miss a shot the last two holes,” adds Crowe. “He hit driver and a long iron to the 7th. He always hit it long, even for the size of him; he only put on muscle after he turned pro and he was always aggressive. He wouldn’t shy away from a shot and he had the belief that he was going to pull it off.

“The old last was a tough tee shot with lots of bunkers, but he stayed aggressive, found the fairway and hit an 8-iron into the middle of the green and then holed about a 20-footer. That was the most impressive thing, how he kept things going. Lots of us wouldn’t have had the mindset to shoot that sort of score but he did.”

Eight pars, nine birdies and that eagle at 10. Out in 33, back in 28 for a round of 61.

8. Word spreads with recognition from Darren Clarke and beyond

“News started to filter across there (St Andrews) that I had done something special and I got a text from Darren Clarke, which was so cool,” said McIlroy. “It felt normal to me. I had that cockiness and thought this was what I was supposed to do. It is only when time goes on that I realise these things are special and you should savour them. It was a defining moment. I became pro in 2007 and had two years to make the Walker Cup. But it was defining because the wider golf world took notice.”

9. Looking back at the 61 during the 2019 Open

When asked about the 61 at the 2019 Open he played things down.

“This golf course has changed so much. It’s a different par, different holes. There are a lot of holes that have been lengthened. There’s been a par 5 turned into a par 4. I think this week, conditions like this, then you’re looking at 67, 68 is a good score. Conditions like I played it last night, then you could probably potentially see someone shoot a 63, 64, 65.”

He would then open up with that 79 and follow it with a 65. Shane Lowry is the course-record holder for the new course with his third-round 63.

10. Aftermath: leading qualifier but falling short in the knockouts

He would obviously lead the qualifying (by five) and he would then win on the 17th in his first two knockout matches. But he would then come undone, losing to Andrew Pitcher 4&3 in the third round. Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw would emerge from Portrush as the new champion.

READ MORE: Revealed: why JJ Spaun’s magical US Open putter will go down in history?