- Rory McIlroy's world number one status is a boon for Irish golf.
The pitch? Well, it involves putting the message out there to U.S. golfers that if you want the best outside America, take flight to the island home of McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.
"Rory McIlroy's success is a wonderful opportunity for Tourism Ireland to showcase our world-class golf to potential visitors around the world," said Tourism Ireland's North American chief, Joe Byrne.
"In the all-important American market, golf is a major focus for Tourism Ireland right now. A six-week advertising campaign, featuring a brand new, 60-second golf ad, which includes Rory extolling the virtues of Northern Ireland, has just kicked off on the extremely popular Golf Channel," said Byrne.
Tourism Ireland chief executive, Niall Gibbons, was equally effusive.
"This is a tremendous achievement for Rory and we are absolutely delighted for him. He is a fantastic ambassador for golf and his success has placed our world-class golf, once more, to the forefront of everyone's mind.
"Tourism Ireland will be working hard to capitalize on this in the U.S. inviting potential holidaymakers to come and visit the 'Home of Champions,'" Gibbons said.
In a few weeks, Tourism Ireland will host an event at the U.S. Masters in Augusta. It will target influential golf media and showcase this year's Irish Open, which will be played at Royal Portrush.
As well as the Masters, Tourism Ireland will also have a presence at two PGA events later this year, the Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Meanwhile, McIlroy's win and new status has resulted in a flood of congratulatory messages from political leaders on both sides of the border and fellow golfers, including Graeme McDowell.
"It's going to be exciting. Irish golf has had an amazing run for six years. I told someone the other day, that amazing run is only just beginning because Rory McIlroy is about to become the world's number one......... and he's going to win multiple, multiple majors and it's exciting, and Irish golf is going to be healthy for a long time to come," the 2010 U.S. Open champion said.
