The mum of a Co Down toddler with a special connection to golf has told of how a chance encounter with Rory McIlroy at last week’s Irish Open was more “significant” to her family than the Holywood golfer could know.
Three-year-old Alex Chambers was invited to the golf tournament in Co Kildare last week after the organisers found out about her golfing fundraiser which she carried out throughout the summer.
The toddler suffered a brain haemorrhage at the end of 2023 which left her in a coma followed by a three-month stay at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children (RVHSC).
After intense recovery and rehabilitation, the toddler embarked on a challenge to walk five miles last summer in aid of charity Little Heroes, which supported her during her time at hospital.
Alex getting some practice in at last week’s Irish Open PICTURE: FACEBOOK/ALEX AND CREW
This year she completed a golfing challenge at local Scrabo Golf Club, where she teed off and then walked the length of nine holes.
When the Irish Open found out about her special fundraiser, they invited her down to The K Club.
Speaking to The Irish News, Alex’s mum Nadine said that her daughter was now “a big golf fan” and as they were trying to find the kid zone at the event, one of the employees let them pass through the clubhouse – which led to an eventual meeting with Rory.
“I just turned and Rory McIlroy was walking towards me,” she said.
“I just thought well, what a beautiful coincidence.”
Nadine said her daughter told Rory: “I’ve been looking for you!” PICTURE: FACEBOOK/ALEX AND CREW
She said Alex had been given a replica of his driver head in the off chance they would meet Rory by someone who used to work at Holywood Golf Club.
“I explained the story to him and he was happy to sign it,” she said.
“I had a kind of brief chat with him about what we were trying to do [with the fundraiser]. He was happy to have a chat with Alex and get a photo.”
Before the meeting, little Alex said they were “going to look for Rory” that day.
“When Rory met her, I said, ‘Alex, who have you been looking for?’ and she went, ‘Rory, I’ve been looking for you!’,” Ms Chambers said.
Alex with mum Nadine PICTURE: FACEBOOK/ALEX AND CREW
“I don’t think Rory quite knows what that meeting meant to us and what it meant to Alex. It was a really significant ending to such a good fundraiser.”
While the young girl was able to raise over £22,000 for Little Heroes through her golf fundraiser and sponsorships from local businesses and community initiatives, her mum said it was so important for her recovery.
“We started this fundraiser because I was looking into the health benefits of golf,” she said.
“It brought up lots of benefits on coordination and balance and strength and the part of Alex’s brain that was damaged after her brain haemorrhage, it was her cerebellum, so she really needs to focus on that.
“She first held a golf club in January, but she started the challenge in April.
“From April until now, Alex has learned to stand independently, to walk independently, to toddle about for a minute or two and she can stand on her own and swing a golf club – which was never on the cards.
“Definitely not this soon anyway.”
Donations can still be made to Alex’s fundraiser via her JustGiving page.