No golfer has been as popular with the galleries at the British Open as Rory McIlroy. One young fan at St. Andrews made his affinity for McIlroy clear.
For much of Sunday, a McIlroy victory seemed to be all but a foregone conclusion. He led throughout the first nine, often by more than one shot. Then, things changed. Cameron Smith got ridiculously hot, making five straight birdies. By the time that McIlroy got to the 16th tee, he was no longer in control, trailing Smith by a shot.
Despite that, a kid who was following McIlroy was not giving up. And while McIlroy was teeing off on the 16th hole, his young fan was doing everything he could to help his favorite golfer. He crossed his fingers on both hands while McIlroy was teeing off, then quickly celebrated McIlroy’s successful tee shot.
This young @McIlroyRory fan crossing his fingers for Rory as he drives is too pure for words. #TheOpen
📺 @nbc and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/sz7vQYn4xN
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 17, 2022
If that doesn’t make you smitle, we don’t know what will.
That young fan earned himself a lot of new fans, who were also pulling for McIlroy to prevail.
That young kid with fingers crossed on both hands watching Rory tee off at the 16th…. Great players have great influence. Rory is certainly one to follow, too. @McIlroyRory @PGATOUR @TheOpen
— Anne McLean (@AnneMcLean1961) July 17, 2022
To the fingers crossed kid behind Rory on that drive on 16.. we’re all with you kid #TheOpen
— june. (@_jking0811) July 17, 2022
That's incredible stuff with the camera shot of the kiddo standing behind Rory on the tee box, fingers crossed on both hands, watching in awe. #TheOpen
— Ben Whitehead (@thebenwhitehead) July 17, 2022
Wonder how much money fingers crossed kid has on Rory
— Chase Howell (@chasehowell__) July 17, 2022
That kid behind Rory with both his fingers crossed is literally all of us right now lol
— Ian Scheuring (@IanScheuring) July 17, 2022
This kid is definitely going to be one of the stars of the week. And if McIlroy didn’t notice his young fan cheering for him when he was on the 16th tee, we hope that he sees it at some point.
