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RORY McILROY made golfing history yesterday as he won The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool with a regal display to win the famous Claret Jug.The Ulsterman joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as only the third player to win three Majors by 25 years of age and his father Gerry and friends also won £200,000 after betting on him to win The Open within 10 years exactly a decade ago.

McIlroy, who fired a one-under-par 71 yesterday to win The Open by two shots, revealed he collected the £975,000 first prize, then had to fight back the tears after sinking his final putt on the 18th green and spotting his mother Rosie crying.

He said: “My mum hasn’t been at my two previous Major wins so it was great to see her at the back of the 18th hole and to know how much it meant to her. I was trying not to cry at the time because she was bawling her eyes out.

“The support of my parents has been incredible and the sacrifices they have made for me. Even to this day they are the two people I can talk to anything about and they are there for me at the worst of times like this time last year when I missed The Open cut at Muirfield and the best of times like walking off now as the champion golfer. They are the best people in the world.”

McIlroy moved up to second in the world rankings yesterday on the back of his Claret Jug success and looks set to dominate the sport for years to come. He said: “I want to win as many tournaments and as many Majors as I can because I feel there is a lot more left in me.

“I’ve really found my passion again for golf. It’s what I think about when I get up in the morning and it’s what I think about when I go to bed. I just want to be the best golfer I can be.”

The only sour note yesterday came on the 16th tee as a heckler was ejected by police.

“He was giving me grief all day and I’d put up with it for the first 15 holes then he deliberately coughed on my down swing so I turned around and got him chucked out,” said McIlroy.

Northern Ireland’s hero was followed home by American Rickie Fowler and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who carded 67 and 66 respectively, with another Ulsterman, Graeme McDowell joint ninth.  —  Express