Rory: We showed it's not toff at top

BLUE-COLLAR CONQUEST

- Neil McLeman

RORY MCILROY has revealed that the European Ryder Cup stars bonded over having shared humble upbringings that gave them the drive to succeed.

The world No.2 has won more than £66 million on the PGA Tour and flew home to Florida from Rome in his private jet.

But the Northern Irishman's father Gerry worked as a cleaner and barman, and his mother Rosie did extra night shifts in a Belfast factory to help pay for his golf education.

Europe's captain Luke Donald got his 12 players talking and sharing around a firepit on a bonding trip to Rome ahead of the Ryder Cup.