Before the Glory: A 16-Year-Old Rory McIlroy and a Royal Scorecard

Hogan’s Alley

It was back in September of 2005 and I had just played a round at one of my favorite golf courses: The Royal Portrush GC Dunluce Course. My friend for many years in Portrush was Wilma Erskine, who was the only female Secretary Manager of a Royal golf club, a true visionary in the game of golf and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. 

Wilma gave me a tour of the renovations inside the clubhouse and we came across the trophy case that was brimmed with historic artifacts that really only a prestigious Royal golf club in the UK could possess. Of particular note was the scorecard of the new course record of 61 on The Dunluce Course that had been set just two months prior in the North of Ireland amateur championship. I looked at it and gasped: “oh my God, how could anybody shoot a 61 on that golf course?” It seemed impossible. 

I think Wilma was waiting for me to say something, and she immediately responded with “you know Bill, he’s only 16 years old!” 

That was the first time I ever heard of Rory McIIroy. 

Of course, Rory has continued his success and after winning the Masters this year, he is now one of only six people to have won all four majors (Grand Slam), along with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

Wilma too achieved legendary status. After submitting the bid and successfully landing the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, she retired from her Secretary position of 35 years and was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and British Empire Medal (BEM) for ‘meritorious service’. Wilma Erskine OBE, BEM, is currently Brand Ambassador of the new luxury Dunluce Lodge overlooking the 4th fairway of the Royal Portrush, where she’ll certainly have a nice view of McIlroy this July in The Open Championship. 

Author’s note: the course that McIlroy shot the 61 was renovated prior to the 2019 Open, when the 17th and 18th holes of the old version were replaced with two new, more difficult holes, which are now the 7th and 8th. On the new Dunluce routing, the course record is held by Shane Lowry who shot 63 in the third round of the 2019 Open Championship, which he won.