Rory McIlroy’s former rival reveals giving up golf for a job in finance - “I started losing some passion for the game”

Rory McIlroy's former rival, Philip Francis gave up golf even after he found success in the game at an early age. He was one of the most successful amateur golfers in the world, winning over 140 junior events.

Francis even broke Tiger Woods' record by winning the Junior World Golf Championship four times. He also competed in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2006.

Years later, the former American golfer made headlines again after Rory McIlroy mentioned him in a recent interview with Normal Sports. The Northern Irish golfer said:

"I finished second and third to [Francis] all of my teenage years. Like, I just could not beat this guy. He went to UCLA. He won the US Junior, I think. He won the US Junior Am. And I thought this kid was unbeatable."

However, despite his early success in golf, Phillip Francis eventually left the sport and began a career in finance. He once revealed in an interview with A Life in Golf how he lost his "passion for the game." He said:

"I started losing some passion for the game in college. I started to become very technical with my golf swing and that led me down a dark path of not enjoying the same game I grew up loving."

Notably, when McIlroy was asked if there was any player he thought he couldn't beat, the four-time Major winner said, via A Life in Golf:

"Yes, Phillip Francis.”

Francis played for UCLA before later transferring to Arizona State University. He turned professional in 2011 and competed on the PGA Tour, but an injury caused him to struggle with his game. By 2015, he had completely given up on golf after failing to qualify through Q-School.

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Rory McIlroy names the most surprising golfers from his early years

In the interview with Normal Sports, Rory McIlroy opened up about the most surprising golfers during the time he was growing up and playing in junior and amateur events.

Along with Francis, he also mentioned Jordan Spieth, who now plays on the PGA Tour, as well as Oliver Fisher and Jamie Lovemark. Speaking of Fisher, McIlroy said:

"If you would have asked anyone 20 years ago ... Everyone would have said Ollie Fisher was probably going to go on to have a better career than I’ve had. It's hard."

Notably, Fisher enjoyed tremendous success during his amateur career, having played in the Junior Ryder Cup and becoming the youngest player to compete in the Walker Cup. However, in his professional career, he could only win one European Tour event.

McIlroy also mentioned Lovemark, saying:

"Like a Jamie Lovemark, for example, who I played on Walker Cup, and you just look at him, you're like, this guy is like 6’4 and absolutely ripped and swings the club perfectly. I don't know. There's so many intangibles in golf that some guys looked like world leaders at an early age."

Lovemark was also successful during his amateur career and was ranked the number one amateur golfer in the WAGR in 2007. However, in his professional career, he only won two tournaments, on the Korn Ferry Tour.