Interview with Rory McIlroy

Posted by Gary in Articles, Featured, News | 2 comments

If I had a thousand words for the word gentleman I would use them all to describe Rory. He took everything in his stride yesterday at Kilarney Golf Club on his first day of practice. He came in and shook everyones hand and was eager to go. I was lucky enough to be part of the group that asked him a few questions:

Question: Did you get much training in today?

Rory: I did a little bit yeah, I woke up at half five and was practicing about half seven. Early start but I got a lot of good work in, got to see the golf course. Yeah I mean its a pretty straight forward golf course and I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing in the tournament.

Question: How does it feel to be on the cover with Tiger?

Rory: Yeah I mean its sorta, if you said to me five years ago “You will be on the cover of the game with Tiger Woods” I would have said nahhh! Yeah its amazing, I think my first Tiger Woods game was PGA Tour 99. Its amazing that I get to be on the cover and I was in the game last year. To be on the cover next to the man himself, its a pretty cool feeling.

Question: Is this going to be a regular occurrence with EA?

Rory: I’m not sure, its just for this year but we will see if they want to keep me or not!

Question: Has Tiger said anything about sharing the cover?

Rory: Not really, I havent really talked to him about it. I’ve met him a couple of times this year but I think he has more important things on his mind!

Question: A major new feature of the game is the inclusion of the Ryder Cup. What are your thoughts on how the European team is shaping up.

Rory: I think its shaping up very very nicely. I think its going to be one of the strongest European teams we have had in a long time. I’m really please I’m going to be a part of that team. And I know if we go to Wales and play the way we know we can, we have a great chance of winning.

Question: Do you think we will see yourself and Graham McDowell teeing up this Friday?

Rory: I’m sure theres a good chance of that yeah!

Question: How much of an inspiration was it to see Graham win the US Open?

Rory: It was a huge inspiration for me because it made me realize winning a major wasn’t as far away as I thought it was. I thought in a couple years time I might be able to win a major but seeing a good friend like that go and win one, win a huge event it gives you a lot of belief. I mean I have played a lot of golf, I know at any given day if he plays his best and I play my best then there isn’t a lot between us. So yeah it gives me a lot of  confidence to see if he can do it, I can do it too.

Question: Whats it like going from picking players in the older games to picking yourself on the virtual golf courses?

Rory: Thats the thing, the graphics since the first one have gotten so much better. Its amazing when you play a golf course now on the game and how realistic it is, its so precise. I remember before the players championship, which is played at Sawgrass, I played Sawgrass hundreds of times in the game, but you sorta go back to it and try and refresh your memory. It can benefit you.

Question: Did EA get much detail from you while making your character in the game?

Rory: Yeah a little bit, they suited me up in lycra and put loads of little shiny balls on me and let me swing away! So I think the swing in the game is very similar to the swing in real life.

Question: Do you usually pick yourself in the game when you play?

Rory: *laughs* Well yeah most of the time. Sometimes I make my own character to see if I can beat myself!

Question: Do you play games much yourself?

Rory: I would when I’m at home yeah. A few of the guys actually carry their Xboxs around with them and travel with them. Ross fisher does a lot. When I’m at home and have a little down time I’ll play. I’m big into just sports games like FIFA, NBA and Madden. I’m not really into any others, a few of my friends play Call of Duty but I havent really gotten into it.

Question: One thing I really like about your career is that this really is only the beginning. You have so much further to go. Do you hope in the future to have your own name on the game?

Yeah we will see how it goes and how Tiger plays in the next few years. It might be tough to dislodge him from the front. But yeah it would be something I would like to have!

After which we got a few photos as you can see above. It was such a surreal experience to talk to someone with his amazing talent yet he is so down to earth. There were queues of kids outside as he left looking just to shake hands with him (which he had no problem doing,  he had so much respect for his fans). Then he left and drove off in an unbelievable Audi R8 Spyder which he got a couple weeks ago. I said to one of the other interviewers “Ya know for a car like that I might take up golf!”. One second thought, I think I’ll stick to the day job!

The questions above were mainly related to the game, some other sports related questions were also asked. If you want me to post them up too just drop me a comment bellow.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is out now with Rory on the cover and I would recommend everyone to get it (Its even Move compatible on the PS3). These games are something I have always loved, even as far back as Microsoft Golf back on my windows 98 machine!

And finally, I would like to thank Rory for his time and wish him the best of luck playing in the Irish Open this week!