Rory McIlroy and his caddie, Harry Diamond, have shown generosity by supporting snooker star Mark Allen's charitable efforts. Despite the different worlds of golf and snooker, the Northern Irish sportsmen share a commitment to worthy causes.
Allen, who secured a 10-6 first-round victory over Zhang Anda at the World Snooker Championship, revealed that he has occasionally approached McIlroy and Diamond for auction items for charity events. Speaking to Midnite, Allen said: 'I've only met him a few times over the years. But he's very well thought of back home, not just for what he's done on the golf course but some of the initiatives that he's been involved in off the course. He's been very good to local charities and stuff. That's something I get involved with a lot.'
Allen added that he often messages Diamond rather than McIlroy to avoid getting in his way, and that they have 'always been good to me over the years.' The snooker star was delighted to see McIlroy successfully defend his Masters title, drawing inspiration from the golfer's decade-long journey to complete the grand slam.
Allen, a UK and Masters champion, is still seeking his first world title. He said: 'This [the world title] will always be the one that has got away from me so far in my career and I'll look back on my career as a disappointment if I don't win one. I think I can resonate a lot with what Rory went through, 10 years with no major, trying to get that Green Jacket to complete the grand slam.'
He praised McIlroy's resilience, as shown in a Prime Video documentary, and believes that winning a first world title would make subsequent victories easier.
