Rory McIlroy Made a 7-Year-Old’s Wish Come True With Heartfelt Interaction at Irish Open

Michael Horgan simply wanted a personalized video message from his favorite PGA Tour pro, Rory McIlroy. But with a little help from the Make-A-Wish foundation and McIlroy himself, the 7-year-old—who has a brain tumor—got much more than that. 

Michael was invited to attend the Horizon Irish Open practice rounds on Wednesday by Make-A-Wish Ireland, and that’s where his dreams suddenly became reality. 

Instead of just recording a video for Michael, McIlroy generously offered to take him for a spin around the K Club’s ninth hole. 

Michael sat next to McIlroy as he drove up the fairway of his final hole of the day, and even tried his hand at giving the four-time major champion a yardage for his approach shot. 

When the pair arrived at the green, McIlroy handed Michael a cut-down version of his own putter so he could hit a few putts as well. Michael’s birdie attempt flew past the cup, to which he noted, “My dad always tells me to hit it softer.” 

Michael’s face lit up throughout the entirety of the interaction, which you can watch in full below courtesy of the DP World Tour. 

“Taking him out of the course with Rory was inspiring and added so much to the occasion,” Michael’s father, Conor, said to Make-A-Wish. “Not just meeting him but being able to play with him is a thrill he’ll never forget.”

McIlroy was also touched by the opportunity. 

“It’s always very fulfilling,” McIlroy told the Belfast Telegraph. “It puts a lot of things in perspective. Just makes you feel very grateful for what you have.”