Rory McIlroy shows true colours as he leaves fan in tears with heartwarming gesture at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy was in incredible form at the Irish Open, but it wasn’t just his dazzling and calculated play on the greens and fairways of the K Club which had fans watching worldwide talking

Rory McIlroy left a young girl in tears of joy after tossing her his golf ball at the weekend’s Irish Open.

The 36-year-old was back to his heroic ways at the K Club last weekend, clinching the DP World Tour event’s title following a nail-biting play-off with Joakim Lagergren on Sunday as both men finished the tournament at 17-under-par. But it was his heartwarming gesture a day earlier that caught the attention of fans worldwide.

As he approached the media tent on Saturday after carding a four-under-par round score of 68, he noticed a young girl from the fan area chanting his name. Showing his caring side, McIlroy then threw the ball he had been using to the youngster, who erupted into tears of joy.

The girl then hugged a woman, thought to be her mother, before looking at the ball again with amazement, as commentators let out a collective awe at the touching moment. Following his play-off win, McIlroy was joined by his wife, Erica Stoll, and their daughter, Poppy Kennedy, on the 18th green.

Speaking to RTE about the support he received from the Irish crowd, he said: “The support of the crowd out there and playing in that atmosphere, especially coming down those last few holes knowing what I needed to do, the crowd spurred me on.

“It’s an incredible day. That eagle putt on the 18 to get into the play-off will probably go down as one of the coolest moments in my career.

“It has taken me a while to get to this place, where I do embrace it and enjoy it. After the year I have had, and the career I have had, to be able to come home in front of these crowds and feel the love, and show them my appreciation for their support over the years, I love it.”

Thanks to his win, the world No. 2 bagged a mammoth £752,000 payday as well as yet another coveted title to add to his collection. It comes as McIlroy looks to finish a whirlwind season on the PGA Tour strong.

The Holywood-born pro saw success early on at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, before pipping JJ Spaun to the Players Championship via a play-off the following month.

The biggest win of his career to date then ensued at April’s Masters on the famed holes of Augusta National, with McIlroy winning the major for the first time to complete the coveted Career Grand Slam.

However, a slurry of mixed results then ensued in the months that followed, with McIlroy’s best outing before the weekend’s Irish Open coming in the form of a T2 finish at the Scottish Open alongside Marco Penge.

Now back to winning ways, he has his eyes on the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black between Friday, September 26 and Sunday, September 28.

Under the stewardship of Team Europe captain Luke Donald, McIlroy will join the likes of Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry in their attempt to defeat Team USA, led by Keegan Bradley.