After watching Rory McIlroy gut out a win Sunday at The Players championship, we were reminded of a great Rory story at Pinehurst.
Less than a week before the 2014 U.S. Open, several players visited Pinehurst early to get a look at No. 2, many of them taking local caddies. That included McIlroy, who stayed at The Carolina Hotel and routinely rode the shuttle over to the course. There, at the clubhouse, he’d run into Frolin Hatcher every day.
Pinehurst’s Frolin Hatcher.
If you’ve been to Pinehurst, you’ve likely met Frolin. He’s one of the lovable guys at the bag drop who has been working for Pinehurst for over 50 years.
One day, after finishing a practice round, Rory came up the steps at the veranda and walked into the long hallway of the clubhouse. He passed the men’s locker room, and a few steps later, out came Frolin from that locker room.
Looking ahead, Frolin recognized Rory. He hollered out, “RORS!”
McIlroy stopped, turned, and seeing Frolin, yelled back.
“FROLIN!”
McIlroy stood still, waited for Frolin to reach him, and put his arm around Frolin’s shoulders, walking the rest of the way to the clubhouse door.