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A look at the career and achievements of newly-crowned Open champion Rory McIlroy

HOYLAKE, ENGLAND - JULY 20:  Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland answers questions from the media after his two-stroke victory at The 143rd Open Championship
Image: Rory McIlroy is all smiles as he poses with the Claret Jug after his Open victory at Hoylake

We take a look at the career and achievements to date of newly-crowned Open champion Rory McIlroy.

1989: Born on May 4 in Holywood, Northern Ireland.

2005: Plays in his first professional European Tour event as a 16-year-old at The Forest of Arden. In July, shoots a course-record 61 on the Dunluce links at Royal Portrush.

2007: July - Shoots opening round of 68 in the Open at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round of the day. Goes on to tie for 42nd and wins Silver Medal as leading amateur.

September 18 - Turns professional.

October - Finishes third in his second pro event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The following week, he secures his card for the 2008 season by finishing joint fourth at the Open de Madrid.

2008: September 7 - Takes a four-shot lead into the final round at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland but bogeys the 18th to tie with Jean-Francois Lucquin, who goes on to win in a play-off. Finishes the season in the top 100 of the world rankings and ranked 36th on the European Tour Order of Merit.

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November - Finishes second in the UBS Hong Kong Open, helping him become the youngest player ever to make the top 50 in the world rankings.

2009: February 1 - Wins first professional title at the Dubai Desert Classic by one shot from Justin Rose.

November - After finishing second to Lee Westwood in the Race to Dubai, enters the world's top 10 for the first time.

2010: May 2 - Secures first PGA Tour win with victory in the Quail Hollow Championship. His final-round 62 is a new course record. Becomes the first player since Tiger Woods to triumph on the PGA Tour prior to his 21st birthday.

July 15 - Shoots 63 on the opening day at St Andrews to lead the Open. Rounds of 80, 68 and 69 see him finish joint third.

October 4 - Wins a crucial half point against Stewart Cink to help Europe win the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

2011: April 10 - Takes four-shot lead into final round of the Masters at Augusta but shoots a closing 80 to finish tied 15th.

June 19 - Wins US Open at Congressional by eight shots for his first major title.

2012: March 4 - Wins the Honda Classic in Florida to claim the world number one ranking, although he later loses it to Luke Donald.

June - Misses the cut in the defence of his US Open title. Finishes a lowly 60th in the Open Championship at Royal Lytham the following month.

August 12 - Lands the US PGA title at Kiawah Island, winning by eight shots.

September 30 - Having almost missed his singles match due to a timekeeping issue, McIlroy beats Keegan Bradley as Europe recover from 10-6 behind on the final day to win the Ryder Cup at Medinah.

October/November - Second place at the BMW Masters in Shanghai is followed by third place at the Barclays Singapore Open as McIlroy wins the Race to Dubai with two events remaining.

November 25 - Wins the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, beating Justin Rose by two shots after five closing birdies.

2013: January 14 - Signs a multi-year sponsorship deal with Nike, reportedly worth up to £156million.

March - Walks off course in second round of Honda Classic, telling reporters he was "not in a good place mentally". His management company later issue a statement saying he was suffering from toothache.

June - Bends a club out of shape in frustration in the final round of the US Open at Merion, finishing 41st.

July - Labels his own play as "brain dead" after missing the cut in the Open at Muirfield.

September - Sets up his own management company, Rory McIlroy Inc, prompting a legal battle with former company Horizon Sports.

December - Wins first tournament of year in Australian Open.

2014: May - Wins BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after starting the final round seven shots behind. Five days earlier had called off wedding to Caroline Wozniacki after invitations had been sent out.

July 20 - Wins third major title by two shots in the Open, leading from start to finish at Royal Liverpool.

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