NEW ORLEANS — Rory McIlroy, the world's second-ranked golfer, entertained a raucous post-tournament crowd with a rendition of Journey's classic 'Don't Stop Believing.'
McIlroy, who along with partner Shane Lowry, captured the title at the Zurich Classic in the PGA's only two-man team format, seemed to enjoy the week immensely.
The largest crowds of a record-setting crowd, followed the pair of Irishmen on the final day as they rallied from two strokes behind to start the day to force a playoff and then won in extra holes.
McIlroy was obviously the crowd favorite. Still only 34, he burst onto the scene as a youngster and so is actually a long-time veteran now, as Lowry reminded him.
“He's getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry jokingly told the Associated Press as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we've gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We've had just the best week.”
The New Orleans-area tournament benefitted from some rare good weather in late April and those who came out enjoyed the benefits. Befitting New Orleans, the tournament had a post-tournament concert with a local band and McIlroy was prodded to sing along to the Journey song, but not before belting down a beer, to the crowd's delight.
“People have come out in the thousands to support us. It’s not lost on me how cool that is,” McIlroy said. “Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it’s so cool and so exciting.”
McIlroy and Lowry even received a standing ovation at the normally reserved, New Orleans French Quarter restaurant, Arnaud's.
The New Orleans tournament, coming on the same weekend as the opening of Jazz Fest, along with a New Orleans Pelicans' playoff game, had the city rocking all weekend long.
Zurich Classic director Steve Worthy, said the large crowds, an expected large TV audience and promotion of the city and state is a win-win-win for everyone involved.
“We’re on TV for 40 hours, with replays this week, going to 155 countries. And, you look at going in and out of commercials, all of the skyline shots, the shots of the streetcars and the oyster shucking, all of the great things about our city and state, it’s a commercial for our state that goes worldwide. And, when you have big names on the leaderboard… I’ve got to believe TV ratings are up.”