On April 13th, from a location near Johnson City, Tennessee, former East Tennessee State head golf coach Fred Warren was captivated by his television screen. He observed Rory McIlroy, the dynamic golfer with a distinctive curly hair, whom Warren had first encountered as a prodigious 13-year-old in Ireland, as McIlroy fought to maintain his lead during the crucial back nine at Augusta National.
A tumultuous sequence of shots ensued: birdie, bogey, par, double bogey, bogey, birdie, par, birdie, bogey, culminating in a playoff. Two decades after Warren almost recruited McIlroy to join his team, the golfer once again put the seasoned coach through an emotional rollercoaster.
“He held a five-shot lead after ten holes, and you`d expect him to comfortably close it out,” Warren recalled. “Then suddenly, he was struggling, and you become so engrossed in watching him because he has always been such a captivating presence.”
The moment McIlroy`s birdie putt found the hole in the playoff, Warren`s phone began to vibrate incessantly, inundated with congratulatory messages. Weeks after what appeared to be McIlroy`s Grand Slam triumph, Warren recounted the ensuing excitement with a chuckle.
“Within minutes, I started receiving texts saying, `Your guy just won!`” Warren explained, amused. “Yet, I never actually coached him!”
For a fleeting period, a mere snapshot in a career spanning decades, McIlroy had planned to relocate to a modest Tennessee city nestled between Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. While McIlroy`s brief commitment to East Tennessee State is often overlooked in the grand narrative of one of his generation`s premier golfers, it remains a cherished memory in Johnson City.
“He had his pick of any institution,” stated Aaron O`Callaghan, an observer of McIlroy`s ascent in Northern Ireland. O`Callaghan was McIlroy`s playing partner during his memorable 2005 round at Royal Portrush – the venue for this year`s Open Championship – where a 16-year-old McIlroy set a course record with a 61. “His career rapidly accelerated once he started winning consistently.”
In contemporary college athletics, the significance of a national letter of intent, which formalizes an athlete`s commitment, has been somewhat diminished by the rise of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements. However, within the East Tennessee State University golf performance center, an emerald-framed, two-page NLI remains displayed – a tangible reminder of a commitment that, though unfulfilled, still carries historical weight.
Dated November 15, 2004, the document clearly shows McIlroy`s typed details at the top. More notably, the signatures at the bottom, belonging to a 15-year-old McIlroy and his mother, Rosaleen, remain perfectly preserved.
Fred Warren was truly a visionary.
Assuming the role of head golf coach at East Tennessee State in 1986, he swiftly recognized the necessity of evolving his recruitment approach.
“We are a mid-major institution, not a flagship university,” Warren explained. “Given golf`s global nature, I understood I could scout talent beyond the United States, positioning me as an early adopter of international recruiting.”
“Fred understood that securing the top player in Tennessee was unlikely,” O`Callaghan commented. “However, he believed that by attracting elite players from Wales, Scotland, and perhaps the top or second-best from Ireland, his team could become highly competitive. And he proved that strategy successful.”
Warren`s initial Irish recruit for the Buccaneers was JP Fitzgerald, who later served as McIlroy`s caddie from 2008 to 2017. Warren`s efforts didn`t cease there; he consistently ventured to various parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, forging a robust recruitment channel between these European regions and East Tennessee State. This dedication eventually secured commitments from notable players like Gareth Shaw, an eventual All-American at ETSU, and Cian McNamara.
McNamara and Shaw, along with O`Callaghan, were members of Ireland`s national boys` teams. As Warren scouted them and attended tournaments across the United Kingdom and Ireland, a younger player`s name frequently arose. “They were the ones who first mentioned Rory to me,” Warren stated. “I began observing him when he was around 13 or 14. Even then, it was clear he possessed that special quality – whatever `it` is, he definitely had it.”
During one of his frequent visits to Ireland, Warren watched a 15-year-old McIlroy at Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin during the 2004 Boys Home Internationals. McIlroy, playing alongside O`Callaghan and McNamara (the latter already committed to ETSU), consistently excelled, even among older and physically more developed competitors.
“Rory possessed a unique magnetism, even back then – a quality he still has,” Warren remarked. “I liken watching him to opening a bag of potato chips; you intend to have just a couple, but you end up consuming the whole bag. I`d typically plan to observe him for only a few holes, but his play was so exhilarating that I`d invariably end up watching his entire round.”
Even at that early stage, Warren recognized that McIlroy was unlikely to spend much time in collegiate golf. However, if McIlroy and his family would consider playing for even a year or two, Warren believed he had a strong chance, especially since several of McIlroy`s close friends were already headed to Johnson City.
On that specific day at Portmarnock, Warren accompanied Rory`s father, Gerry McIlroy, throughout the course. As they headed towards the parking area, Warren seized his moment, believing this was his prime opportunity to convince the McIlroy family about East Tennessee State.
Unbeknownst to Warren at the time, Gerry had already conducted his own research. The McIlroys had previously consulted with McNamara and Shaw, as well as their parents, gathering information about Johnson City and why ETSU might be a suitable fit for Rory. Nevertheless, Warren gently broached the subject.
“Would Rory consider playing college golf?” Warren inquired.
“Yes,” Gerry responded, “and he would prefer to play for your team.”
For someone from Holywood, Northern Ireland, a town with a population just over 11,000, Johnson City`s more than 73,000 residents might initially seem a significant cultural shift. Yet, the very charm of Johnson City made it an attractive destination for numerous young international golfers seeking to refine their skills in the United States. The picturesque landscape was an added benefit.
“Johnson City`s terrain, with its rolling hills and cattle, bears a strong resemblance to Ireland,” O`Callaghan noted. “The locals are incredibly hospitable, and their passion for golf, combined with the small-town atmosphere, makes it highly appealing.”
“It`s not necessarily a destination for a top American golfer. However, for us international players, our understanding of college golf is limited,” Shaw explained. “When you observe the tournaments and the rigorous schedule, and then I personally witnessed the practice facilities for the first time, it was simply astonishing.”
In addition to the welcoming presence of Coach Warren, a state-of-the-art practice facility designed by Tom Fazio (a rarity for college programs at the time), and an impressive tournament schedule, the allure for Irish and Northern Irish players like Fitzgerald, McNamara, and Shaw was also what ultimately drew McIlroy to East Tennessee State for an official visit in autumn 2004.
“For athletes like Rory and myself, a larger city would have been a major deterrent,” O`Callaghan stated. “Here in East Tennessee, the training facility is conveniently located only about a kilometer from the student residences.”
Warren`s most effective recruitment method was positive peer reviews among UK players. Consequently, by the time McIlroy visited Johnson City, little persuasion was needed.
“I believe the appeal stemmed from the opportunity to join a team with familiar faces, individuals he enjoyed spending time with, and a clear path to developing his game for professional golf,” O`Callaghan remarked. “It met all his criteria.”
Despite Gerry and Warren reaching a verbal agreement regarding Rory`s commitment at Portmarnock, Warren understood that in recruiting, nothing is truly finalized until a document is signed. As Warren recounts, during a check-in call to the McIlroy residence, Rory`s mother answered. She informed Warren that Mike Holder, the head coach at Oklahoma State, had recently called, seeking to speak with Rory.
“Oklahoma State had accumulated 12 national championships, with Holder personally responsible for eight of them,” Warren stated. “It was akin to a legendary figure like Coach K reaching out to one of your prospective players.”
Warren recalled Rosaleen attempting to summon McIlroy from his room to the phone, informing him that Holder wished to speak.
“She told me Rory shouted back, `Tell him I don`t need to talk to him. I`m going to ETSU!`” Warren recounted. “That sealed the decision, and in November, he officially signed.”
Despite McIlroy declining overtures from other coaches and maintaining his commitment to Warren and ETSU, an undeniable progression was unfolding: with every round played, it grew increasingly clear to everyone, including McIlroy himself, that he was prepared not merely for college golf, but for a professional career. This is precisely why O`Callaghan, Warren, and Shaw express no surprise at McIlroy`s eventual achievements.
“He was four and a half years my junior, so by the time I was 18 or 19, we were, so to speak, on par,” Shaw remarked. “He could hit the ball as far as I could, but he had superior control – he could hit it lower, draw it, or fade it with greater precision. He was an exceptionally confident young individual.”
All remember the distinct sound of his ball striking during practice when they first encountered him at age 12. O`Callaghan recalls a sleepless night, at 15, anticipating a match against a 12-year-old McIlroy whom he feared losing to. The unforgettable 61 at Portrush, which drew a crowd seemingly comprising the entire town, remains a vivid memory for them.
“I recall some details, though not much,” McIlroy stated this week when asked about that particular round. “It was undeniably the first time I`d ever experienced being `in the zone`.”
O`Callaghan vividly remembers a specific instance in 2006 when McIlroy pieced together four almost-perfect golf rounds, enabling him to clinch the European Amateur title in Italy.
“That week, a PGA Tour event – the 2006 Buick Open – was taking place, and Tiger Woods won it by consistently shooting 66,” O`Callaghan recounted. “I recall us celebrating Rory`s victory, and him then seeing Tiger`s scores and immediately comparing them to his own. At just 16, he was already aiming to challenge Tiger`s dominance.”
The outcome for ETSU was becoming increasingly clear. O`Callaghan and McIlroy`s circle of friends were aware of his commitment to Warren, but also recognized his trajectory towards greater achievements. Meanwhile, in Johnson City, Warren himself pondered whether McIlroy would truly arrive. Eventually, he received a call from McIlroy, who, according to Warren, conveyed a specific message to the veteran coach: “I`m still planning to come, but please offer my scholarship to someone else.”
Warren understood the unspoken implication: McIlroy would almost certainly never don an East Tennessee State uniform. While a sense of disappointment was present, it was coupled with a profound understanding. McIlroy`s career trajectory was akin to a rapidly ascending rocket.
“There was absolutely no ill will,” Warren affirmed. “He was such a genuinely kind individual, and I completely understood the circumstances.”
Days after McIlroy`s call, Warren met with a compliance director from the university to clarify the situation: McIlroy would no longer be attending ETSU. As the director prepared to finalize McIlroy`s file, Warren made one last plea.
“Please do me a favor,” he urged her. “Don`t discard that letter. I believe that young man is destined to become the world`s number one golfer.”
Although McIlroy never physically arrived in Johnson City, he remains a pivotal figure in the history of East Tennessee State golf. The repercussions of both his initial commitment and his eventual decision not to play continue to resonate today.
In 2005, Jordan Findlay had planned to spend another year in Scotland, awaiting the optimal moment and location to commit to a university. Then, he received a call from Coach Warren.
Warren knew that Findlay, the 2004 British Boys Amateur Champion, was keen on moving to the United States, but space was an issue on the ETSU roster. However, when it became apparent that McIlroy would likely remain overseas and turn professional, Warren reconnected with Findlay and his family. While he couldn`t offer the full scholarship intended for McIlroy, he could provide a valuable roster spot for that upcoming autumn.
With limited knowledge of Warren and the program beyond reputation, and never having visited Johnson City, the Findlay family sought advice from a well-known contact.
“My father had a decent relationship with Gerry, Rory`s dad, so he actually called him to ask for his input,” Findlay explained. “Knowing Rory had already undertaken a recruiting trip there, we made our decision relying solely on their judgment.”
This decision proved to be incredibly fortunate. Findlay not only played for ETSU but remained in Johnson City, where he continues to live and work. “I`ll give you one guess why,” he quipped, then answered his own rhetorical question: “I met my wife during my very first week here.”
In the season following McIlroy`s unofficial withdrawal, Warren utilized the newly available scholarship, originally intended for McIlroy, to recruit another promising player from Ireland: Seamus Power.
“Recruiting one individual can lead to a dozen more. I believe the comfort of having peers from the same or a similar country was highly appealing,” stated Findlay, who hails from a Scottish town of 15,000 residents. “It simply became known among Scottish and Irish individuals that it was a welcoming community.”
“It truly felt like a second home,” Shaw commented. Fittingly, upon Warren`s retirement last year, Seamus Power knew precisely whom to contact as a potential successor for the esteemed coach. The two-time PGA Tour winner and East Tennessee State alumnus was on the putting green at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio when he called O`Callaghan to gauge his interest in the Buccaneers` head coaching position.
Although O`Callaghan never played under Warren (having attended Southeastern Louisiana instead), he observed ETSU`s growing reputation in his native country and held great respect for Warren`s program. The intricate connections between O`Callaghan, Power, and McIlroy, and how their individual narratives wove their home island`s story with this modest Tennessee town, made his decision straightforward.
“To have the opportunity to lead a program that holds such significance for your friends – individuals you grew up playing with, competed against, and represented Ireland with – it`s an immense honor for me,” O`Callaghan expressed.
Today, in Johnson City, the strong bond between the university`s golf team and the region that nurtured McIlroy persists. O`Callaghan has faithfully maintained Warren`s recruitment strategy; the current roster proudly includes six players hailing from various European nations.
The team comprises a senior from Denmark, a junior from Germany, a redshirt sophomore from England, a redshirt senior from Scotland, and two promising freshmen: Gavin Tiernen from Dublin and Ben Oberholzer, who grew up in Belfast, merely a few miles from Holywood.
“It`s truly come full circle,” O`Callaghan observed. “It`s a very unique situation.”
On Monday, McIlroy arrived early at Royal Portrush for a solo practice round. As he navigated the very course he had once mastered as a teenager, a substantial crowd trailed him, with fans eagerly seizing the opportunity to welcome their Grand Slam champion home. Among the onlookers, observing his every shot with keen interest, was Oberholzer.