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| World sports greats applaud US Open winner Rory McIlroy | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy is expected to arrive home on Wednesday following his victory in the US Open. | |
| The 22-year-old from Holywood, County Down, broke a series of records as he won his first major title with an eight shot victory. | The 22-year-old from Holywood, County Down, broke a series of records as he won his first major title with an eight shot victory. |
| Now ranked fourth in the world, he has been congratulated by several leading figures in the sporting world. | |
| South African veteran golfer Gary Player described McIlroy's Open performance as "incredible". | |
| Player, who won nine major championships during his career, said words failed him when he thought of the Holywood man's achievement. | |
| "I wish I had words, I wish I had a vocabulary of a Winston Churchill," he said. | |
| "I'm so excited about this young man having done something that is quite incredible, not only for himself, but for his friends and his mother and his father - honour thy mother and thy father - and also for the great country of Ireland." | |
| Reigning Wimbledon tennis champion Rafael Nadal, said he would use his friend's victory as inspiration for the Wimbledon fortnight. | |
| In a message posted on twitter Rory McIlroy said he was "proud to be a major champion". | |
| His triumph follows that of compatriot Graeme McDowell in the same event last year. | His triumph follows that of compatriot Graeme McDowell in the same event last year. |
| During the presentation ceremony McIlroy shouted across to his father Gerry: "Happy Father's Day - this one's for you". | During the presentation ceremony McIlroy shouted across to his father Gerry: "Happy Father's Day - this one's for you". |
| Mr McIlroy said it was hard to put the magnitude of his son's victory into words. | Mr McIlroy said it was hard to put the magnitude of his son's victory into words. |
| "He has been fantastic," he said. | "He has been fantastic," he said. |
| "After the Masters he worked hard over the last couple of months to get where he is now, it is unbelievable. | "After the Masters he worked hard over the last couple of months to get where he is now, it is unbelievable. |
| "On Father's Day, what a present." | "On Father's Day, what a present." |
| The Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers led the tributes to McIlroy following his victory. | The Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers led the tributes to McIlroy following his victory. |
| He has also been praised at Westminster and in the Northern Ireland Assembly. | He has also been praised at Westminster and in the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said McIlroy's win was "tremendous". | Prime Minister David Cameron said McIlroy's win was "tremendous". |
| "He's an incredible talent and clearly has a very exciting career ahead of him," he added. | "He's an incredible talent and clearly has a very exciting career ahead of him," he added. |
| Leaving his rivals in his wake, McIlroy became the quickest player in the 111-year history of the US Open to reach 10 under par (after 26 holes). | Leaving his rivals in his wake, McIlroy became the quickest player in the 111-year history of the US Open to reach 10 under par (after 26 holes). |
| He was also the first player to go beyond 12 under, reaching as much as 17 under on Sunday, and also recorded the best 36 and 54-hole totals. | He was also the first player to go beyond 12 under, reaching as much as 17 under on Sunday, and also recorded the best 36 and 54-hole totals. |
| He is the third person from Northern Ireland to win a major, as Fred Daly won the Open in 1947. | He is the third person from Northern Ireland to win a major, as Fred Daly won the Open in 1947. |
| NI First Minister Peter Robinson said McIlroy's triumph was "one of Northern Ireland's greatest sporting moments". | NI First Minister Peter Robinson said McIlroy's triumph was "one of Northern Ireland's greatest sporting moments". |
| "Over the past four days Rory played perhaps some of the best golf we have ever witnessed," he said. | "Over the past four days Rory played perhaps some of the best golf we have ever witnessed," he said. |
| "To have led from the first day of the tournament to the last shows a maturity and composure far beyond his years." | "To have led from the first day of the tournament to the last shows a maturity and composure far beyond his years." |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the manner of the Holywood golfer's success was "nothing short of incredible", following his disappointment at the Masters in Augusta in April. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the manner of the Holywood golfer's success was "nothing short of incredible", following his disappointment at the Masters in Augusta in April. |
| "The manner in which he has conducted himself this weekend, showing tremendous resilience and character following the disappointment of this loss at Augusta, is a tremendous example to us all," he added. | "The manner in which he has conducted himself this weekend, showing tremendous resilience and character following the disappointment of this loss at Augusta, is a tremendous example to us all," he added. |
| Superstar | Superstar |
| "This win follows on from Graeme McDowell's great win last year and I am very pleased to be able to say that our local golfers are among the very best in the world and I have no doubt that both Rory and Graeme will go on to win further Majors." | "This win follows on from Graeme McDowell's great win last year and I am very pleased to be able to say that our local golfers are among the very best in the world and I have no doubt that both Rory and Graeme will go on to win further Majors." |
| McDowell also expressed his delight at McIlroy's achievement and said he was the best golfer he had "ever seen". | McDowell also expressed his delight at McIlroy's achievement and said he was the best golfer he had "ever seen". |
| It is understood Northern Ireland golfer Darren Clarke has withdrawn from this week's European Tour event in Munich because he wants to be at the homecoming party for McIlroy. | It is understood Northern Ireland golfer Darren Clarke has withdrawn from this week's European Tour event in Munich because he wants to be at the homecoming party for McIlroy. |
| "He's potentially the next Tiger Woods - he's that good," McDowell said. | "He's potentially the next Tiger Woods - he's that good," McDowell said. |
| "It's great to see him out there fulfilling his potential. | "It's great to see him out there fulfilling his potential. |
| "He's been groomed to be a superstar and he'll handle it very well. | "He's been groomed to be a superstar and he'll handle it very well. |
| "It's not a monkey off his back, it's a gorilla. | "It's not a monkey off his back, it's a gorilla. |
| "He could go on and do some big things. | "He could go on and do some big things. |
| "He's a breath of fresh air for the game and perhaps we're ready for golf's next superstar and maybe Rory is it." | "He's a breath of fresh air for the game and perhaps we're ready for golf's next superstar and maybe Rory is it." |
| The Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, described McIlroy's victory as "emphatic and inspiring". | The Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, described McIlroy's victory as "emphatic and inspiring". |
| "Rory led from the front and his record breaking victory stands as one of the great achievements in any sport," he said. | "Rory led from the front and his record breaking victory stands as one of the great achievements in any sport," he said. |
| "I'm sure this will be the first of many major golfing achievements Rory will attain in what I'm sure will be a long and stellar career." | "I'm sure this will be the first of many major golfing achievements Rory will attain in what I'm sure will be a long and stellar career." |
| McIlroy, the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923, said he had set his sights on winning more majors after his maiden triumph in Maryland. | McIlroy, the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923, said he had set his sights on winning more majors after his maiden triumph in Maryland. |
| Nicklaus | Nicklaus |
| "To get my first major out of the way quite early on in my career, especially after what's happened the last couple of months, feels great," he said. | "To get my first major out of the way quite early on in my career, especially after what's happened the last couple of months, feels great," he said. |
| "Now, I'm looking forward to putting myself in the picture for many more." | "Now, I'm looking forward to putting myself in the picture for many more." |
| Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 majors, is among those who have tipped McIlroy for further glory. | Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 majors, is among those who have tipped McIlroy for further glory. |
| "I think this kid's going to have a great career - I don't think there's any question about it," he said. | "I think this kid's going to have a great career - I don't think there's any question about it," he said. |
| BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss said McIlroy's progress was "remarkable". | BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss said McIlroy's progress was "remarkable". |
| "One tends to forget that he is still only 22," he said. | "One tends to forget that he is still only 22," he said. |
| "He played absolutely wondrously well and it was a joy to see the crowds rising to him. | "He played absolutely wondrously well and it was a joy to see the crowds rising to him. |
| "He played with such grace and style. | "He played with such grace and style. |
| "He has a long way to travel, but I think he will travel it very well." | "He has a long way to travel, but I think he will travel it very well." |