Rory amazed by 11-year-old Korean girl

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World number 3, Rory McIlroy met his match in the shape of an 11 year old South Korean girl at The Belfry this week.

McIlroy, who was a world champion at the age of nine, played alongside South Korean prodigy and Girl’s 10-year old World Champion, Chun Youngin during a ‘King of Skins’ tournament on the world-famous Brabazon  course.

Youngin, who won her title by nine clear shots at Pinehurst, North Carolina, already hits the ball 240 yards off the tee and can send a seven iron shot 165… and she certainly impressed the current US Open Champion.

McIlroy said: “When I was 11, I was hitting a 5 or 4 iron 165 yards. It’s incredible. She’s obviously a very talented girl and as she’s only 11.  It’s phenomenal.

“I won the World under 10 Championship when I was 9 so I’ve been in that position a little bit but you never know what’s going to happen because she’s still very young. There’s obviously a lot of potential there and if she works hard she can fulfil it and obviously become a very good player.”

Youngin was delighted to play alongside the US Open Champion and the young Korean starlet said: “It was an honour to play with him and to see him play close up. He was a world champion when he was young so he is a great inspiration to me. Annika Sorenstam has always been my favourite player in the world, but now she has competition!” 

The final of the King of Skins Tournament was organised by Sports compression wear company, Skins and featured club golfers from the UK and the Far East. The 8 pairs of finalists, who won the right to play alongside McIlroy travelled from Ireland, Scotland, Merseyside, Derbyshire and Hertfordshire as well as South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.

Rory McIlroy who wears the Skins G400 range during tournament play and recovery, joined each of the two-player teams for three holes of their round to complete a round of a lifetime experience for players with handicaps ranging from 1 to 18.

*Golfing partners, Jonathan Crickmore and Alan Gunnigle had a day to remember when they won the inaugural ‘King of Skins’ tournament with the help of world number 3, Rory McIlroy.

The round-of-a-lifetime on the famous Ryder Cup course at the Belfry saw them overcome testing, windy conditions on the unforgiving Brabazon course to beat their nearest challengers by two Stableford points.

Jonathan, from Southport and Alan from Skelmersdale, both play at the Heron’s Reach club in Blackpool and qualified to play alongside McIlroy by topping regional entries with the most net birdies between them during a qualifying round on their home course.

 

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