Rory McIlroy’s Birthday Throwback: Young Rory Once Practiced Golf by Chipping Balls Into His Mom’s Washing Machine

“I chip soft balls into my mum’s washing machine,” he told the host. He would hit them down the hall, through the kitchen door, and straight into the washing machine.

The interviewer asked him to do it live, and he pulled it off easily, demonstrating his natural talent. By 19, Rory McIlroy had already won the Dubai Desert Classic, impressing Mark O’Meara enough to make a bold comparison to Tiger Woods.

“Ball-striking wise at 19, he’s probably better than Tiger was at 19,” O’Meara said. “His technique, I think, is better.”

By 2026, the boy from Hollywood had won back-to-back Masters titles at Augusta National, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as repeat champions.

Kid Rory McIlroy, Who Always Knew What He Wanted

When Rory was asked what the best part of his game was, he answered right away: chipping.

At the time, his favorite Irish golfer was Darren Clarke, who later gave him his phone number, mentored him on tour, and welcomed him into his foundation at age 12.

“The first year I went there, Darren gave me his phone number and said, ‘If you ever need anything or need to know anything, just give me a shout,'” McIlroy said. “He showed me the ropes when I have been out on tour.”

McIlroy’s early success was backed by his parents, Gerry and Rosie, who worked long hours to fund his golf, sacrificing holidays for years to support his junior career. They also built a floodlit putting green at home, and by age 7, he had a handicap of 36.

Just two years later, when he appeared on Kelly, he had already won a junior world championship.

The host’s closing prediction proved remarkably accurate. He said, “If the Americans have Tiger Woods, we have young Rory, and trust me, this boy can hit a ball.”