Rory McIlroy could never look at Roy Keane the same again after one of his heroes refused to sign an autograph for him.
The Hollywood golfer asked the Manchester United legend for his signature when Keane was on Ireland duty a number of years ago.
According to McIlroy, Keane declined to give him his signature and the 33-year-old has never forgotten about it.
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But the world number two, who is aiming to win his first major since 2014 at The Open on Sunday, turned his disappointment into a positive by vowing never to be like Keane when it comes to treating his fans.
Speaking after a video went viral of him giving a youngster one of his golf balls in 2017, McIlroy recalled: “I remember going and watching the World Match Play at Wentworth every October, getting golf balls from Mark O’Meara or Sam Torrance and I remember how I felt when that happened.
“I mean, I must use between six and nine balls a round and every time I need a new one, I look for a young kid in the crowd in between holes to give it to.
“So it’s not anything out of the ordinary and it’s not just me that does it. Basically every golfer on tour does it.
“So I was sort of surprised how that little moment last week became so big because it’s quite a regular occurrence on tour. But it just shows what such a small thing to me can mean to a kid, and that kid might be inspired to go and play.
“It’s a nice thing to be able to do but I’ve had it go the other way as well. I’ve asked someone for an autograph as a kid and they didn’t give it to me and I’ve never liked them since. So it just shows how it goes both ways.”
When asked who the famous person was, McIlroy revealed: "Roy Keane. Who should be one of my heroes. He’s a Man Utd player after all.
“But I remember I went and asked for his autograph at the Portmarnock Links Hotel when he was with the Ireland squad and he said no – and it just sort of stuck with me.
“I’m sure he’s all right but I’ve never really ... it just sort of stuck with me ever since I guess. So that’s why if a kid asks me for an autograph I try to always do it.”
McIlroy shares the lead on -16 with Norway's Viktor Hovland going into the final round of The Open and he is confident that he can 'get the job done' at St Andrews.
McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug in 2014 and won the US PGA Championship a month later, but injury prevented him from defending his title at St Andrews in 2015 and he has endured a long wait for more major success.
“It would mean everything because of what I’ve been through the last few years trying to get that fifth one,” the world number two added.
“But here we are talking about not getting ahead of myself…I need to go out and keep the same mindset I’ve had the last three days.
“I know if I play my game I can shoot scores like this on this course and I need to do it one more day and then I’ll give you all the superlatives and everything else if that does happen.
“I’m a better player than I was 12 months ago. I have a lot of belief in myself. I’ve done it before, I know I can do it again. I’ve just got to go out and stay in my own little world, shoot a good score and hopefully that’s enough.”
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