Latest news with #GrandSlam-clinching
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘It was a true honour': Belfast Giants captain announces retirement after four years with club
The 33-year-old Canadian winger played for the team for four years, captaining them in the latter two, and retires having played a significant role in bringing seven trophies to the SSE Arena in that time. Cooper leaves the Giants having scored a remarkable 105 goals and 242 points in 259 games in all competitions, including providing the assist for Ben Lake's dramatic overtime winner against the Cardiff Devils in the 2022 Challenge Cup Final and netting against the same opponents in the Grand Slam-clinching Play-Off Grand Final a year later. An ever-reliable presence on the roster since joining from the South Carolina Stingrays in 2021, Cooper formed a dynamic partnership with Lake throughout his four years in Belfast, playing on the same line for all four campaigns, and will be fondly remembered for his time in teal. Having flirted with the idea of retiring last season, this time Cooper has decided it is time to move on from the professional game and admits that getting to play for the Giants has been one of the highlights of his long career. 'It was a true honour to be a Belfast Giant, and the memories that I have made throughout the last four years have been unforgettable,' said the Ontario man. "I want to thank the Belfast Giants organisation for the opportunity to make such good memories, and the people of Belfast for being so genuine and caring. Thanks for everything.' A Toronto native, Cooper had four years at Bowling Green State University before he broke into the pro ranks with the AHL's Chicago Wolves in 2016, bouncing between there and the ECHL for the next five seasons. But it is his time in Belfast that he will be best remembered for, where he became an integral part of the Giants' dynasty since the turn of the decade as a relentless competitor that left everything on the ice for the team. He would be named an alternate captain to good friend David Goodwin in his first season and would help the team to double success as he scored 33 goals and 72 points in 69 games in his rookie Elite League season. Most notable was his performance in the Cup Final where he was the one who provided the killer pass for Lake to score the dramatic winner in overtime to down the Devils and earn their first title following the Covid-19 pandemic, and they would add League joy shortly after. Cooper's second season would be even more impressive as, although his own scoring tally declined slightly, he would be part of the Grand Slam winning Giants side that swept all before them by convincingly defending their Cup and League titles. And, fittingly, it was their reliable right winger who rounded it all off with the final goal of the season in their 4-1 Play-Off Grand Final win over the Devils, sealing the third trophy and the clean sweep. With Goodwin confirming his departure following that campaign, Cooper was the man to take over as captain for the 2023/24 season, leading them in the Champions League as they won three of their six group games, but it would be a season filled with team and personal frustration as the Giants ended the year trophy-less and their captain was limited to just 47 games due to a persistent injury. But he would bounce back last season in emphatic fashion with an outstanding final season, breaking the 30-goal mark again in 72 games and adding 65 points as the Giants clinched another Cup and League double, with the captain netting another crucial goal in the final game of the regular season against the Nottingham Panthers to help secure the League. Although the Giants undoubtedly would have wanted him back for a fifth season, the Canadian has decided it is time to move on and he leaves with the glowing praise of head coach Adam Keefe. 'Coops embodies everything we strive for at this club – integrity, resilience, and an unrelenting commitment to the team. He has been a true leader in every sense of the word and someone who set the standard each and every day,' praised Keefe. "Mark's contributions to our success cannot be overstated, and his presence will be deeply missed, both in the locker room and on the ice. It has been a privilege to coach him, and I know he will go on to make a positive impact in whatever path he chooses next.'
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McIlroy will return to defend team title says Lowry
Shane Lowry has confirmed newly crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy will return to defend the pair's Zurich Classic of New Orleans title in Louisiana next week. McIlroy has returned home to Northern Ireland after skipping this week's RBC Heritage event on the PGA Tour following his career Grand Slam-clinching success at Augusta National. But Lowry says the five-time major winner will fly back to the United States in time for the team event, which begins on Thursday. "We'll be there," Lowry told Golfweek. "I talked to him [Wednesday] morning. We're good to go."To be honest, I didn't want him to feel like he had to play because of me."He's not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there."McIlroy and Lowry beat Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off to win last year's Zurich is also due to compete in the Truist Championship in Philadelphia between 8-11 May. He will then return to major action at the US PGA Championship on 15 May at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, a course where he was won four PGA Tour events. The 35-year-old will attempt to win his third US PGA title after victories in 2012 and 2014.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
McIlroy could win 'five or six more majors'
Graeme McDowell says "it could be incredible what Rory McIlroy will achieve in the sport" following his dramatic career Grand Slam-clinching Masters triumph.2010 US Open champion McDowell said he was among the millions of TV viewers who "lived every shot with him" during Sunday's rollercoaster of a final round at Augusta."He's now a legend of the game. To win the Grand Slam is something a lot of players don't even come close to touching," said McDowell as he recalled his first ever round at St Andrews with a then 18-year-old McIlroy on the eve of the Dunhill Links Championship in despite achieving the career Grand Slam goal that he spoke about in a BBC TV interview as a eight-year-old in 1998, the "floodgates could now open" for McIlroy added McDowell."I still look at him as a kid that looks like he's got 10 or 15 years of career ahead of him," added McDowell, who played alongside McIlroy in the victorious European Ryder Cup teams in 2010, 2012 and 2014."As in any sport, or in any facet of life, when you've absolutely climbed to the top peak of what you want to achieve in your life, where do you go from there?"Some people can be just like 'that's it' and maybe not do a lot more in their career. Others people can kick on and the world is their oyster and he could go on to win four, five, six more majors from here." McDowell added that he wasn't remotely surprised by McIlroy's hugely emotional response to his play-off triumph over Justin Rose as he sank to his knees and cried tears of joy after holing the winning putt."Yesterday was a microcosm of everything he's gone through at Augusta over the years. I remember in 2011 when he had that four-shot lead going into the last round."Just to see the outpouring of emotion from him after he beat Justin Rose in the play-off. Everything he has gone through over the last 14 or 15 years just came pouring out of him."The former US Open champion, who now plays on the LIV tour, recalled his St Andrews encounter with McIlroy as the then 18-year-old prepared to tee up in what was only his second professional tournament after joining the paid ranks a month earlier."We played at a practice round at St Andrews. I shot a 68 and lost the money and it was like, 'who is this kid just out of school?'. From a very early age, we knew he was special."Three years later, McDowell felt the need to take McIlroy under his wing during his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor amid earlier comments from the then youngster casting doubt on the competitive element of the biennial team event."He was taking a lot of heat for his 'the Ryder Cup is just an exhibition' comment but we instinctively knew we had to protect him because he was the special one. "We had to look after him and it was a lot of fun to be by his side at a couple of Ryder Cups and watch him blossom into the player he is today." Padraig Harrington's Open triumph at Carnoustie in 2007 began a remarkable era of major championship success for Ireland but McDowell acknowledges that McIlroy's success puts him on another level."Myself and Darren [Clarke] and Padraig [Harrington] and Shane [Lowry], we all feel very proud of what we've accomplished and what we've done for Ireland in golfing terms but Rory is in a different stratosphere with what he has accomplished in the game and what he continues to accomplish."McDowell added that McIlroy's Augusta triumph only increases the "spectacle" which this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush was already going to be given the presence of the home hero."We're all looking at Portrush. The Open in July. For him to go there. What would that not be like? This will certainly lift a huge weight off his shoulders and he can now be back to being loose and free, and the bouncy Rory McIlroy that we all know and love."I don't think proud even covers it, it is unfathomable what he has accomplished and he is on the wall of the greatest ever which Northern Ireland have produced. The Open at Portrush will be special and a celebration of what he has achieved."
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Masters champ Rory McIlroy gets emotional talking about caddie Harry Diamond
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy has endured plenty of anguishing moments while seeking to snap a decade-long drought in major championships. That made celebrating Sunday's win at the Masters with his caddie and longtime friend Harry Diamond all the more special. Advertisement They became friends after meeting on a putting green in Holywood, Northern Ireland, when they were 7 years old and have remained close since. When McIlroy decided to make a change on his bag in the summer of 2017, he asked Diamond to become his caddie. Critics questioned the move time and time again, asking whether Diamond was the best man for the job. But McIlroy stayed staunchly loyal to Diamond and refused to make a change, even though he hadn't won a major since 2014, before his friend took the job. That made his career Grand Slam-clinching win at the Masters even sweeter. 'We've had so many good times together. He's been like a big brother to me the whole way through my life,' McIlroy said as his eyes swelled up with tears. 'So to be able to share this with him after all the close calls that we've had, all the crap that he's had to take from people that don't know anything about the game, yeah, this one is just as much his as it is mine.' Advertisement McIlroy called Diamond 'a massive part' of what he's accomplished, which includes 40 worldwide victories and 29 on the PGA Tour. 'I couldn't think of anyone better to share it with than him,' McIlroy said.
NBC Sports
14-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Masters champ Rory McIlroy gets emotional talking about caddie Harry Diamond
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy has endured plenty of anguishing moments while seeking to snap a decade-long drought in major championships. That made celebrating Sunday's win at the Masters with his caddie and longtime friend Harry Diamond all the more special. They became friends after meeting on a putting green in Holywood, Northern Ireland, when they were 7 years old and have remained close since. When McIlroy decided to make a change on his bag in the summer of 2017, he asked Diamond to become his caddie. Critics questioned the move time and time again, asking whether Diamond was the best man for the job. But McIlroy stayed staunchly loyal to Diamond and refused to make a change, even though he hadn't won a major since 2014, before his friend took the job. That made his career Grand Slam-clinching win at the Masters even sweeter. 'We've had so many good times together. He's been like a big brother to me the whole way through my life,' McIlroy said as his eyes swelled up with tears. 'So to be able to share this with him after all the close calls that we've had, all the crap that he's had to take from people that don't know anything about the game, yeah, this one is just as much his as it is mine.' McIlroy called Diamond 'a massive part' of what he's accomplished, which includes 40 worldwide victories and 29 on the PGA Tour. 'I couldn't think of anyone better to share it with than him,' McIlroy said.
