Rory McIlroy spent time with 8-year-old autistic fan to make his dream come true at the 2024 BMW Championship

The third round of the 2024 BMW Championship is in progress, with Rory McIlroy vying for victory. Currently tied for ninth place on the leaderboard, the PGA Tour star is seven strokes behind the sole leader, Keegan Bradley.

Prior to the start of the first round, McIlroy shared a heartwarming moment with his biggest fan, 8-year-old Luke, who has autism. McIlroy played the Pro-Am event with Luke, offering a memorable experience for the young fan.

Dream On 3, an organization that fulfills the sports dreams of children with life-altering conditions, granted Luke's wish to meet his favorite PGA Tour player, Rory McIlroy.

Luke told the PGA Tour that his dream was to meet and play a round of golf with the 35-year-old. He cheered on the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship winner as he teed off, unaware that he and his parents would be joining him on the course for the day.

The duo engaged in a fun and wholesome conversation, discussing Luke's interests, including his favorite country artist, Chris Stapleton. When asked if the day was "pretty cool," Luke responded with a resounding yes and a huge smile

Luke's father also engaged with the 26-time PGA Tour winner, asking him about his game and how he was adjusting to the altitude change at Castle Pines Golf Club. His father also shared Luke's golf journey with McIlroy. Having grown up watching numerous tournaments on television, Luke now participates in Special Olympics golf and Top Golf tournaments.

Inspired by the PGA Tour star, Luke is dedicated to the sport and practices in his home's front yard every day after school. His mother revealed that the budding golf star even sleeps with his golf clubs by his side, a habit that young McIlroy used to have as well.

McIlroy handed Luke a driver, and the latter proceeded to hit the shot exceptionally well, receiving enthusiastic applause from the crowd. McIlroy also engaged in conversation with Luke's brother, Eli, who is a left-handed golfer.

Here's a look at the wholesome interaction:

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Rory McIlroy 2024 BMW Championship Final Round Tee Time and Pairing

Rory McIlroy currently sits tied for ninth place on the leaderboard with a five under par score, seven strokes behing solo leader, Keegan Bradley. The PGA Tour star is poised to deliver a strong performance on the final round tomorrow.

On Sunday, August 25, the Irishman will tee off with Tommy Fleetwood, who is also tied for ninth place. The pair will commence their round at the Castle Pines Golf Club at 10:35 AM MDT, starting from the first hole.

About the author

Lathika is one of the newer additions to Sportskeeda’s budding golf journalism team and has brought plenty of in-game experience to the role. Having been a golfer for over 12 years now, some of her crowning achievements include winning titles on the Indian Golf Union Ladies tour and Junior Girls Amateur tour.

She currently competes in Division 1 golf in New York, and hopes to play in the U.S. Open and Chevron Championship one day. She is set to cover the 2025 Ryder Cup as well. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Management, and holds a Sports Marketing certification from Northwestern University, which helped her learn to draft press releases and ultimately transition into journalism.

Lathika has thus developed a knowledge base that allows her to view golf from both player, spectator and media lenses, enabling her to bring statistics, insights and an understanding of fan emotion together in her copies. She only uses verified information from reliable sources like the PGA TOUR.

Her favorite golfers are Nelly Korda and Tiger Woods, both for their playing style as well as their mental strength. Much of her time away from work is spent playing golf, but she also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and learning new hobbies or upskilling.

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Edited by Pratham K Sharma