Rory McIlroy returns to the tournament where he started his professional career when he plays the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
The four-time major champion is a late inclusion to the field at Close House, where he features in the first professional event he ever played and also made his professional debut.
McIlroy was a 16-year-old amateur when he received a tournament invite to play the event in 2005, before returning two years later to make his professional debut.
In 2007, McIlroy won the silver medal as leading amateur at The Open before switching to the professional ranks after featuring in the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team.
The-then 18-year-old became a professional on September 18 2007, ahead of playing in the British Masters at the Belfry later that week.
McIlroy was six strokes off the pace after the opening round and successfully made the cut despite following that three-under 69 on Thursday with a six-over 78 the following day.
Rounds of 70 and 73 over the weekend left McIlroy in a share of 42nd spot – the same position he reached at The Open earlier the summer – as future tournament host Lee Westwood claimed a five-stroke victory.
The €15,128 McIlroy won that week was followed by top-four finishes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Open de Madrid, securing his European Tour card for the following season.
Over the following decade, McIlroy has gone on to register 21 worldwide victories, appear in four Ryder Cup teams and spend a cumulative total of 95 weeks as world No 1.
Watch the British Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage begins with the Hero Challenge on Tuesday September 26 at 7.30pm.
