Rory McIlroy made history in Augusta on Sunday but 20 years ago he began his mesmeric journey to the top on the west coast of Ireland.
The then 15-year-old mercurial talent defeated Mallow golfer David Finn 2&1 in the final of the West of Ireland at County Sligo – the stars had begun to align.
This weekend Stuart Grehan resumes his own journey, having turned professional in October 2017, he has returned to amateur golf with the dream of playing at a Walker Cup in Lahinch.
And before McIlroy shot 66 at The Masters on Saturday, Grehan took home the first amateur title on his return, with an impressive five-shot victory at the Rosslare Senior Scratch Cup.
The following day he became one of the 1.85 million viewers who made McIlroy’s Grand Slam success the most watched in Sky Sports history.
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Grehan.
“It was amazing. Rory is definitely my favourite golfer after Tiger, so he moves the needle for me. To see him trying to get over the heartbreak and get past the burden after many years, it was very inspiring to watch and the outpouring of relief from him was incredible.
“I really enjoyed it. I stayed up with my wife to watch it. We were both glued to it like the rest of the country, but it was amazing to see.
“Hopefully this opens a valve and he goes on to win many more Majors.”
Grehan is a Financial Advisor with DFP Pensions and Investments in Dundalk and has spent the last six months wading through his difficult QFA exams. While he still has two remaining, they have been compartmentalised in favour of a big season opener in County Sligo.
After seven years as a professional, the 32-year-old called time on that career to focus on his family life and that dream of representing GB&I in Lahinch next year.
“This year might be a bit of a stretch, obviously starting out again, but the Walker Cup in Lahinch is definitely a goal. It is a goal for any Irish golfer and I would love to make that team,” said Grehan.
“Our chairman Eoin Doohan is actually a member of Lahinch so there is a bit of banter between both of us. The Irish Open was there a few years ago, Palmer Cup last year and the Walker Cup now along with the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor.
“It feels like that area of Ireland is getting some incredible events in the years to come. I would love to try and get on the Walker Cup team, I will give it my best.”
The Tullamore native relocated to Termonfeckin in January 2020 where he has a family now, with his wife Carla and ten-month old son Kai.
That was another massive draw, enticing him away from professional ranks and back to life on the amateur circuit in Ireland.
“Kai was born last June and trying to play professional golf, it was quite tough with traveling as well,” said Grehan.
“That was probably a big indicator of getting a full-time job and being home with him and everything, to be honest it was the best decision for me so it’s great.
“It is very rewarding, it’s great going home and he would come over and he has a big smile on his face.
“He’s great, in good form and nearly learning to walk now, so things move fast.”
Grehan will hope to clock up the steps himself, this weekend, with over 7,150 yards of Rosses Point links and ideally five days of action in store.
He arrived in Sligo earlier this week having not played there for seven years and a potential intriguing storyline on the horizon. Grehan’s younger brother, Matthew (26), is in the field too.
“If we are playing against each other, I only want myself to win,” said Grehan.
“It would be great, we’ll see if that is a possibility. Hopefully if it does happen it’s down the line, at the latter end of the event.”
The R&A approved his new status recently and that was a welcome relief as attentions turn to the 2025 amateur season.
In a year when the European Amateur Team Championships return to Killarney, for their 50th anniversary, there is plenty to play for.
However, Grehan is under no illusions that the standard is high on the island and he will need to perform if he is to be in the reckoning for silverware and Irish panels along the way.
“I was playing Challenge Tour in my last event in October and I kind of fleshed out the idea with a couple of people. I found out it was six months, so I was able to plan and knew it worked out perfect timing.
“I thought it would be a bit longer but luckily the threshold I fell in was just on the six-month mark, I’m delighted with it.
“The West will be tricky. In terms of my own game I feel like it is still pretty strong, I still have that desire, motivation, practice and stuff like that, obviously time wise is a little bit different.
“I have Kai at home and working full-time so my priorities were elsewhere but I still enjoy it, still love competing but going back into the West, I’m a member of the links course in Baltray so I understand the conditions and weather.
“Over in the West it can be a little bit different, but I am looking forward to the challenge. The weather might be a little bit different compared to last week but we will just take each day as it comes and go from there.”
Grehan is also looking forward to representing his club in Inter-Club events, while life goes on away from the golf course.
And he doesn’t harbour any major regrets from his time as a professional and subsequently leaving that scene. Some of his bigger wins came on the former EuroPro Tour and at the K Club Pro-Am, although he knows he could have had even more success.
Grehan has a slightly different perspective now and while he is determined to make the Walker Cup team next year, he knows there are other important things in life too.
“The QFAs are tricky enough, I have an interest in it, so it makes things a little bit easier to understand and get through the book,” said Grehan.
“The lads up here in the office have been brilliant to me, giving me advice and they kind of brought me under their wing. There’s an investment team here and administration so everything I learn in the office is really relevant to the book as well, so I’m learning on the job.
“It’s interesting what’s going on in the world with the markets, I look at it pretty much for seven or eight hours every day, when I’m here. I love the investment side of things, so I’ll probably specialise in that in a couple of years.
“I have a big interest in that and things have been pretty tricky the last couple of weeks but that’s the way the market goes.
“It’s a bit volatile but this is obviously an exception, you just have to keep going.”
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