section_path: Amateur career
section_name: Amateur career
paragraph_text: Amateur career
  
  McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship in 2002 and the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship in 2003. At the age of 15, he was a member of the Irish team at the 2004 European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and the European team which won the 2004 Junior Ryder Cup against the United States on foreign soil in Ohio.
  
  In 2005, McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. He had signed a letter of intent in late 2004 to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.
  
  At age 16, McIlroy made his European Tour debut in May 2005 at the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters. Two months later, he shot a 61 at the Dunluce Links of Royal Portrush Golf Club, breaking the competitive course record. McIlroy represented Ireland at the 2005 European Amateur Team Championship. However, Ireland did not advance to the match-play portion. Two years later, he competed for Ireland again at the 2007 European Amateur Team Championship, this time with future Open champion Shane Lowry as one of his teammates. McIlroy was the individual leader in the stroke-play portion and Ireland ultimately defeated France in the final to claim victory. This was Ireland's first title in the championship since 1987.
  
  In August 2006, McIlroy won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy, which earned him an exemption to The Open Championship the following year. Also in 2006, he represented Europe against the Asia/Pacific team at the Bonallack Trophy in New Zealand, represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, and retained both his West of Ireland and Irish Close titles.
  
  McIlroy made his first cut in a professional tournament in February 2007, as a 17-year-old at the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic. He had to forego prize money of over €7,000 due to his amateur status. Following his performance in Dubai, McIlroy rose to number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. In March, he won the Grey Goose Cup in Sotogrande, Spain, defeating Marius Thorp in a playoff.
  
  In his major championship debut, at the 2007 Open Championship held at Carnoustie Golf Links in July, McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round of 3-under-par 68. He ended the tournament in tied-42nd place, ranking as the low amateur and winning the silver medal. McIlroy chose to end his amateur career at the 2007 Walker Cup in September, where he represented the Great Britain & Ireland team at the Royal County Down Golf Club. McIlroy's overall record was 1–2–1, including a win in his Sunday singles match against Billy Horschel, as the United States emerged victorious over Great Britain & Ireland by a score of 12.5–11.5.
  
  McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship in 2002 and the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship in 2003. At the age of 15, he was a member of the Irish team at the 2004 European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and the European team which won the 2004 Junior Ryder Cup against the United States on foreign soil in Ohio.
  
  In 2005, McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. He had signed a letter of intent in late 2004 to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.
  
  At age 16, McIlroy made his European Tour debut in May 2005 at the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters. Two months later, he shot a 61 at the Dunluce Links of Royal Portrush Golf Club, breaking the competitive course record. McIlroy represented Ireland at the 2005 European Amateur Team Championship. However, Ireland did not advance to the match-play portion. Two years later, he competed for Ireland again at the 2007 European Amateur Team Championship, this time with future Open champion Shane Lowry as one of his teammates. McIlroy was the individual leader in the stroke-play portion and Ireland ultimately defeated France in the final to claim victory. This was Ireland's first title in the championship since 1987.
  
  In August 2006, McIlroy won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy, which earned him an exemption to The Open Championship the following year. Also in 2006, he represented Europe against the Asia/Pacific team at the Bonallack Trophy in New Zealand, represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, and retained both his West of Ireland and Irish Close titles.
  
  McIlroy made his first cut in a professional tournament in February 2007, as a 17-year-old at the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic. He had to forego prize money of over €7,000 due to his amateur status. Following his performance in Dubai, McIlroy rose to number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. In March, he won the Grey Goose Cup in Sotogrande, Spain, defeating Marius Thorp in a playoff.
  
  In his major championship debut, at the 2007 Open Championship held at Carnoustie Golf Links in July, McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round of 3-under-par 68. He ended the tournament in tied-42nd place, ranking as the low amateur and winning the silver medal. McIlroy chose to end his amateur career at the 2007 Walker Cup in September, where he represented the Great Britain & Ireland team at the Royal County Down Golf Club. McIlroy's overall record was 1–2–1, including a win in his Sunday singles match against Billy Horschel, as the United States emerged victorious over Great Britain & Ireland by a score of 12.5–11.5.