Appearing on David Letterman was fun, but the coolest thing since winning the US Open is how fans pull for you more. Getting applause every time I walk up to a green. That's different.
+
Winner's Bag: Justin Rose
+
Winner's Bag: Tim Clark
+
McIlroy: Winner's Bag?
>
AGE: 29
LIVES: Greenville, South Carolina
STORY: Won this year's US Open at Bethpage Black and the 2005 Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort.
Why Golf?
My grandfather got me started in the game. In high school I played football. I was a short, dumpy kid, and so they put me on the line. I didn't like being on the bottom of the pile.
Donnie Baseball
Don Mattingly called to tell me congratulations. He was my favourite player growing up, the reason I like the Yankees. I guess someone passed that along to him. I've still got his message saved on my voice mail.
Revenge...
Wednesday at the Travellers Championship pro-am, the first time I was ever announced as a US Open champion on the first tee, my buddy Johnson Wagner got me good with a pie to my face. I'm not sure if I'm going to retaliate. Maybe I'll let him squirm.
Nuun For Me
I'll drop one of these Nuun hydration tablets into a bottle of water. You basically get the electrolytes of a sports drink without the sugar or artificial colours.
Dad's Change
Several years ago my dad gave me this 1965 quarter. Sixty-five is a good number. I've used this coin to mark my ball on the greens ever since.
The Egg
I play the Nike One Tour D. It has a slightly softer cover than the regular version. I'll use any colour Sharpie, but I always do two dots, just like above.
Memento
Every US Open contestant gets one of these pins. Mine was in my bag during the Open Championhsip. When I finally got home, I took it out for safekeeping.
Chalk Line
You extend the string from the cup, tap it, and blue chalk settles in a straight line. Then you practice rolling putts along it. Hardware stores sell them. 
Have you joined the Golf Digest SA Facebook group? Click here.
home | what to play
Copyright 2005 Golf Digest, a division of
Comment on this story