Leading article: The ghost of Augusta is laid

Good to know that Rory McIlroy has no intention of resting on his laurels. Speaking after his impressive victory in the US Open championship, he was already looking forward to future tournaments, future titles and future records. Not that he had exactly lacked for records at the weekend. At 22, he was the youngest player to win the US Open since 1923, the youngest to win a major tournament since Tiger Woods won the US Masters in 1997, and the youngest European to win a major since 1872. His score, 16 under par, sliced four strokes off the tournament record.

In clinching his front-running triumph, McIlroy gave the best possible answer to those who had questioned his temperament after he squandered his lead in the US Masters to finish 15th equal. He vowed then to take that as a lesson; his victory at the US Open demonstrated how fast he learns. Whatever achievements or disappointments await, the ghost of Augusta has been laid.

As the exultant scenes from his home club in Holywood showed, McIlroy's success was not only a boost for him, but – with Graeme McDowell's victory in the 2010 US Open – for golf in Northern Ireland. It's now up to that sporting star from another part of the Celtic fringe, Andy Murray, to show what he can do on some green grass rather closer to home.