Rory McIlroy has been named The 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for June following his devastating performance at the US Open Championship.
The 22 year old Northern Irishman’s sensational eight-shot victory at the Congressional Country Club saw him post the lowest winning score (268) in the Championship’s illustrious history by an incredible four strokes as he became the youngest winner of the season’s second Major since Bobby Jones in 1923.
McIlroy, who receives an engraved alms dish and a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne for winning the Golfer of the Month award, moved to third place in The 2011 Race to Dubai and is now hot on the heels of the two men ahead of him – World Number One Luke Donald and Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel.
“It is always nice to win any award for playing good golf but this Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month has to go down as an extra special one given that I won the award due to my performance at Congressional. I hope this will not be the last Golfer of the Month Award I receive after winning a Major Championship!”
In much the same way as his US Open victory left the rest of the field playing for second place, McIlroy left the other candidates to be named the June Golfer of the Month somewhat in the shade.
Despite the outstanding performances of Alex Noren in winning the SAAB Wales Open; Robert Rock at the BMW Italian Open; Matthew Zions at the SAINT OMER OPEN presented by NEUFLIZE OBC; Pablo Larrazabal at the BMW International Open and Fredrik Jacobsen at the Travellers Championship on the PGA Tour, there was only going to be one winner of the June Award.
The judging panel – which comprised members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from radio and television – were quick to acknowledge the sheer brilliance of McIlroy’s history-making performance.
McIlroy joins an illustrious list of Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month winners in 2011, following Martin Kaymer (January), Luke Donald (February and May), Paul Lawrie (March) and Charl Schwartzel (April). McIlroy will now join his fellow award winners to be considered for The 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award, which was won jointly by Graeme McDowell and Kaymer in 2010.
