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• The 22-year old wins by eight shots from Jason Day • ‘I couldn’t have asked for more,’ says McIlroy All hail Northern Ireland, golf’s new global superpower, and all hail golf’s new superstar Rory McIlroy, who won the 2001 US Open at Congressional Country Club in a style that earned favourable comparison with some of the game’s greatest performances. The 22-year-old from the small town of Holywood emulated his compatriot Graeme McDowell, who won this championship at Pebble Beach last year. And then some. McIlroy’s winning score of 268, 16 under par, was a record for an event that has been staged 111 times and competed for by every great golfer who has lived during that time. His margin over the second-placed finisher, Jason Day of Australia, was eight shots, well short of the record set by Tiger Woods when he won in 2000, but the dominance shown by the Northern Ireland player was on a par. Like the great American in his prime, he simply outclassed his peers. He also stripped the Congressional course of its brutish reputation. The US Open is not meant to be this easy but McIlroy made it so. “The whole week has been incredible. I couldn’t have asked for more,” he said, cradling the famous trophy in his arms. Mcllroy has long been recognised to have the potential to become the leading player in the game. Now that potential seems close to being realised. At the very least the search to find a successor to Woods, who was at home in Florida nursing injury, has narrowed. Rich and famous already, the Northern Irishman will become richer and more famous. He has broad appeal, a winning personality and now has the silverware to back it up. What a turn-around from two months ago, when he led by four shots going into the final round of the Masters at Augusta only to finish 15th. This time his lead after three days was eight shots. At one stage he extended that advantage to 10 shots with a stunning birdie at the 10th hole, where his tee shot ended inches from the cup. “That was the point when I really felt this was mine to lose,” he said. “I would have had to do something pretty bad from thereif I was going to lose it.” He did nothing bad, playing his final eight holes in one over par to take a famous victory. When it was over he fell into the embrace of his father, Gerry, and then was hugged by McDowell on the edge of the 18th green. “I know my friends back home [in Holywood] will be celebrating tonight. I can’t wait to get back and join them,” he said. Rory McIlroy US Open Golf 2011 US Open Golf Lawrence Donegan guardian.co.uk