Rory Mcilroy wins the Masters: “The dreamer with the wide eyes that made his dream come true”

From his amateur triumphs, such as winning the Irish Amateur Close Championship at 15 years of age and earning a 2007 silver medal as a teenager – at his first professional victory in 2009, Rory welcomed me and at Northern Ireland of the BBC in his world.

He often told me how much he meant sharing his journey with people at home, a connection with his roots that remains vital for him today.

I still smile thinking about the time when I gave Rory a passage home from the airport after the opening of ’07. His enthusiasm was contagious as he told his best shots and in the end we repaired to put the green that his parents had built at their home.

Those moments revealed the joy and passion that I think they still call it.

While Rory exploded on the global stage, we were there for his debut in Masters in 2009 and, two years later, for the heartbreaking collapse when he let a four -round advantage slide in the final round in Augusta.

Rory did not avoid pain.

A few moments after finishing, he gave us an interview in tears and only a week later, he reopened at home in Northern Ireland for a special documentary.

I will never forget what he said: he was undaunted by the setback and confident that a great victory was close.

Faithful to his word, less than two months later, Rory silenced the doubtful with a victory of eight record blows at the US Open.

It was Father’s Day and the movie that we captured by Rory embraced his father, Gerry, remains a precious memory.

Returning to Northern Ireland with him after that triumph, I saw tears in the eyes while identifying Holywood from the jet that descended to Belfast City airport.

His emotion in bringing that home of the trophy was palpable.