There were scenes of unbridled joy in the crowd as McIlroy's eagle putt dropped - with the celebrations of two young lads dressed in red tops particularly noticeable
As Rory McIlroy addressed his eagle putt on the last hole of the Amgen Irish Open on Sunday, among the thousands surrounding the green stood two young lads clad in red and enraptured by what might happen next.
The putt from just inside 30 feet unerringly tracked before disappearing into the hole at perfect pace and both boys leapt, limbs flung in all directions, with uncontrolled delight.
Their unbridled glee was felt by every one of the thousands who let out the most glorious roar of celebration. It was louder than the cheers that greeted McIlroy's historic, Grand Slam-clinching victory at the Masters last April.
Here was their hero snatching a place in a play-off for their home Open. This was a moment that confirmed McIlroy as the sport's most exciting talent on the planet; golf at its most glorious.
