MAYNOOTH, Ireland — Irish eyes were riveted on Peter Uihlein, trying to understand how a golfer with a United States passport and a world ranking outside the top 120 could be 11 strokes better after 36 holes of the Irish Open than the favorite, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who grew up on windswept links layouts like Carton House’s Montgomerie course.

Uihlein, 23, who held a share of the halfway lead on his way to finishing tied for 32nd Sunday, is three months younger than McIlroy, the world No. 2, who seems to age a few years every time he appears before the news media tribunal to account for his golfing sins, the most recent of which was his missed cut here.

In his golfing progression, Uihlein is a few years behind McIlroy, who started his professional career in 2007 on the European Tour before playing his first full year on the PGA Tour in 2010. The road less taken for promising young Americans like Uihlein (pronounced U-line) was the path of choice of the past three major winners: McIlroy, Adam Scott of Australia and Justin Rose of England.

“I look at those guys’ success and the success they are having now and where they are at now on the PGA Tour,” Uihlein said. “I think that’s the right route to go.”

Uihlein’s journey is about breaking par and stereotypes. A child of privilege, he is determined to make his own way in the world rather than ride the connections of his father, Wally, the chief executive of Acushnet, the umbrella company for the Titleist and FootJoy golf brands.

And with a passport that has acquired roughly two dozen stamps in the past two years, Uihlein defies the notion of the geographically challenged American. If anything, his weekly presence on the first page of leaderboards in recent weeks here and in Wentworth (tie for 12th), Munich (tie for 10th) and Madeira, where he posted his first pro victory, at a dual European Tour/Challenge Tour event, is exposing the blind spots in the Europeans’ view of United States geography.

After posting his second sub-70 round in stiff breezes comparable to what he faced on the Great Plains during his collegiate years at Oklahoma State, Uihlein was asked twice about the “peculiarity” of his prowess in the wind, with one questioner prefacing his question by saying, “I presume people at home might find it strange that you would revel in these conditions.”

“I spent three and a half years in Oklahoma, where we would play in a tornado,” Uihlein replied good-naturedly. “So it was a good experience there.”

Uihlein won the 2010 U.S. Amateur on a links-style course, Chambers Bay, outside Seattle. So for those who have followed his career, his success abroad hardly qualifies as a surprise.

The Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell recalled being impressed by Uihlein’s ball flight when they were grouped two years ago at the U.S. Open, where Uihlein competed as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and McDowell as the defending champion.

“He had that kind of low trajectory, like a Sergio García-type ball flight,” McDowell said. “It was very un-American, very European looking. I thought to myself, ‘There’s a guy that could play well on the European Tour.’”

Uihlein, a Massachusetts native, took his first detour from the beaten path when he was barely a teenager. At 13, he begged his parents to let him move to Florida to attend the IMG Academy golf program outside Tampa so he could work under David Leadbetter. Uihlein was accompanied by his mother, Tina, while his father remained in Boston with Uihlein’s older brother, Jonathan.

In West Palm Beach, Fla., Uihlein’s U.S. base, he comes across many people his age with more money than ambition, postcollegians content to drift wherever the tide of their families’ fortunes carries them. His motivation from the start was to lead a purpose-driven life.

“I’ve always wanted to be a top player,” he said, “and I figured being down in Florida year-around was going to make that easier.”

Following his father into the behind-the-scenes side of golf was not appealing to Uihlein, who laughed and said: “Hitting a golf ball is easier than what he does. My dad’s the hardest-working man I’ve ever met. I’ve grown up seeing how hard he works, so I try to incorporate that into my golf.”

Uihlein won six college tournaments while at Oklahoma State, represented the United States on two Walker Cup teams and spent several months atop the world amateur golf ranking. In 2011, after failing to advance to the final stage of qualifying for the PGA Tour as an amateur, Uihlein turned pro and signed up for the Challenge Tour, Europe’s second-tier circuit.

With his father’s standing in the industry, Uihlein could have remained in the United States and used sponsor exemptions as a springboard to the PGA Tour, as 19-year-old Jordan Spieth has successfully done this year. But as Uihlein noted, for every Spieth, “there are 20 guys who don’t play great right from the start.”

From Kazakhstan to Kenya to Copenhagen, Uihlein has faced different conditions and a smorgasbord of courses.

“I think it’s made me more of an all-around player,” he said, adding: “I feel like the more you do that, you’re going to have more chances at success. That’s what I’m just trying to do.”

During a news conference at the Irish Open, Uihlein, ranked 121st in the world, spoke so softly the microphone barely picked up some of his answers.

What does he miss most about home? “Ice in the drinks probably the most,” he said, laughing.

What is the most common question he fields from his friends about his life abroad?

“Women,” he answered.

It took a moment for Uihlein’s response to register with the reporters, but when it did, the room erupted in laughter. Someone asked, “What do they ask you about the women?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Uihlein said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “They are just curious, I guess.”

Uihlein embraces the fascination with his unconventional path, even if he does not quite understand it.

“I think anytime you can get on a tour where you can try and improve your world ranking and gain some experience,” he said, “I think that’s the ultimate goal.”