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Rory McIlroy's just a regular guy, says Cape Cod police officer

His job with the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office keeps Lieutenant Barney Murphy too busy to play much golf. But when the 49-year-old canine handler from Ireland received an invitation to meet newly anointed U.S. Open champ and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy at a Cape Cod golf course Monday, Murphy jumped at the chance.

Little did the veteran dog officer know that he would end his day shuttling McIlroy and his father Gerry from Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, Mass., to Boston’s Logan Airport. Yet there he was, with "the most famous golfer in America and Ireland" in the passenger seat of his county police car and playing with his dog, Jaxx.

"He’s a dog-lover, like me," Murphy told us Wednesday in a telephone interview. "We were talking about dogs and how we train dogs for police work."

McIlroy, who flew directly from his four-day conquest of Congressional Country Club in Maryland to the Cape for a previously scheduled sponsor’s event , was set to take a limo back to Boston. But Murphy, who said that "the wheels were turning in my head," offered to provide the ride as well as a police escort (sans the blaring siren) for the golfer and his dad.

"It didn’t make sense that the most famous golfer in America and Ireland would just jump into a car and go to Boston without any security," Murphy said.

Rory McIlroy (r.) enjoys his new U.S. Open trophy with his father Gerry (Photo: Getty Images)

Before they hit the road, Murphy spent time chatting with the elder McIlroy about the economy and their similar backgrounds. "I’m from Dublin and he’s from up in Belfast," said Murphy, who retains a bit of an Irish lilt.

The affinity between father and son ("They’re like two best friends," said Murphy) was in evidence during the young golfer’s tour de force performance at Congressional, as  Gerry spent the week in Bethesda  with his talented offspring. When McIlroy the younger lifted the trophy on Sunday night -- Father’s Day -- he  dedicated his victory to his dad .

"Happy fathers day, dad," McIlroy said. "This one’s for you."

As for the airport jaunt, Murphy got the okay from his boss and the Massachusetts State Police in nearby Yarmouth to accompany the McIlroys to their plane. During the 90-minute rush-hour drive, the conversation naturally turned to golf, and Murphy asked if the young champion would say a few words to his nephew back in Ireland.

Rory McIlroy's just a regular guy, says Cape Cod police officer ...

His job with the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office keeps Lieutenant Barney Murphy too busy to play much golf. But when the 49-year-old canine handler from Ireland received an invitation to meet newly anointed U.S. Open champ and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy at a Cape Cod golf course Monday, Murphy jumped at the chance.

Little did the veteran dog officer know that he would end his day shuttling McIlroy and his father Gerry from Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, Mass., to Boston’s Logan Airport. Yet there he was, with "the most famous golfer in America and Ireland" in the passenger seat of his county police car and playing with his dog, Jaxx.

"He’s a dog-lover, like me," Murphy told us Wednesday in a telephone interview. "We were talking about dogs and how we train dogs for police work."

McIlroy, who flew directly from his four-day conquest of Congressional Country Club in Maryland to the Cape for a previously scheduled sponsor’s event , was set to take a limo back to Boston. But Murphy, who said that "the wheels were turning in my head," offered to provide the ride as well as a police escort (sans the blaring siren) for the golfer and his dad.

"It didn’t make sense that the most famous golfer in America and Ireland would just jump into a car and go to Boston without any security," Murphy said.

Rory McIlroy (r.) enjoys his new U.S. Open trophy with his father Gerry (Photo: Getty Images)

Before they hit the road, Murphy spent time chatting with the elder McIlroy about the economy and their similar backgrounds. "I’m from Dublin and he’s from up in Belfast," said Murphy, who retains a bit of an Irish lilt.

The affinity between father and son ("They’re like two best friends," said Murphy) was in evidence during the young golfer’s tour de force performance at Congressional, as  Gerry spent the week in Bethesda  with his talented offspring. When McIlroy the younger lifted the trophy on Sunday night -- Father’s Day -- he  dedicated his victory to his dad .

"Happy fathers day, dad," McIlroy said. "This one’s for you."

As for the airport jaunt, Murphy got the okay from his boss and the Massachusetts State Police in nearby Yarmouth to accompany the McIlroys to their plane. During the 90-minute rush-hour drive, the conversation naturally turned to golf, and Murphy asked if the young champion would say a few words to his nephew back in Ireland.

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