I remember first meeting a young kid from the North of Ireland in 2001 at an Irish Panel training session. We were asked by the then National Coach Howard Bennett to help with the equipment for the Irish Teams. On a cold October on the range at Citywest we met a 12 year old lad with a huge baseball hat pulled down over his eyes. His name was Rory.
He could shape the ball at will and after gathering the group of players I asked him to tell the group of 16 other young guys what he did to shape the ball so well and watched him hit low fades and high draws. He tipped up his little hat and simply said,
“Derek, I just think draw and I hit draw, I see it in my head and then I just hit the shot”.
I nodded and dismissed the group knowing full well that this was the response of natural talent and was un-teachable. I decided then and there that this kid was special.
As part of the training sessions, we encouraged the kids to understand their clubs better and wanted them to know exactly what type of shafts and specifications they were using. This would help them as they got older to manage their golf careers better as they knew exactly what their clubs did or didn’t do. We could then help them to understand and identify weaknesses in their game and produce clubs to help solve those problems. Most of the young group hadn’t a clue what loft was on their driver or what loft their SW was so it was our job to measure and note all their clubs.
Here is a copy of Rory McIlroy’s club check sheet that he filled in himself as a 12 year old 5 handicapper in Shandon Park G.C. It is remarkable that even way back then and at only 12 years old he knew exactly what clubs he was using and the lofts and shafts.
Well done to Rory, J.P, Gerry and Rosie. It’s all been worthwhile and the boys done good!! Here’s to the first of many Majors…..
– Derek Murray
Tags: Rory McIlroy US Open
