Rory Mcilroy tries earlier this year to succeed his Masters triumph with Victory in the Open, who starts on Thursday morning at Royal Portrush
Rory McIlroy was so relaxed during his last Royal Portrush running round that he was sitting on the couch behind the fifth Green to pose for photos in the glorious sun.
“It is like this in Noord -Ireland every day,” he beamed. And the Masters champion was in equally good shape when he proudly put on his green coat to accept a prize while dinner of the Association of Golf Writer on Tuesday evening.
Asked for his brutal short hair clipping, he laughed: “It is for the summer. Fortunately it will grow back – I still have decent genetics. It will be a bit gray. It will be the perfect length for the Ryder Cup in September!”
It is quite a contrast from 2019 when The Ulsterman tried to treat his house open as just another tournament. Instead, he was grabbed by nerves on the first T -shirt and hooked his long iron from the borders on his way to a four -fold bogey eight and the weekend free.
This time he enjoys the updated 2025 version of Rorymania, who has already encouraged him the Driving range and every T -shirt and green.
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“2019 doesn’t seem like six years ago,” he said. “It came pretty quickly. It’s nice to have another chance here.
“I will probably be on the first tee on Thursday and think about the first shot I hit in 2019 -and try not to do something like that anymore!
“I think I have ever experienced the experience. And I have always played a little more at home since then. The reception I had here has made a celebration of what I have achieved in my career this week, but it is also a chance that I want to embrace with open arms.
“I did everything I wanted in the game, but at the same time I still want to do a lot more. I said after Augusta that it would make me free. But I still have the same desire as I am on the golf course.”
That has returned after a post-masters dip. “Spring is back in his step,” claimed his former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. McIlroy has always had the game here to win here after photographing a course record 61 here as a 16-year-old 20 years ago. The big question is how he deals with the pressure.
Justin Rose, who defeated McIlroy in the play -off of the Masters, said: “Rory is clearly a local hero here, and rightly so. I think he has shot here as a child 61, isn’t the legend around him in these parts is growing a long, long time. Of course he is being incredibly well supported this week.
“I feel that this time the pressure is almost rid of him from that point of view, as it was until 2019, perhaps even, the fact that he has nothing more to prove anymore. This would be just like cherries on top of everything.”
But Sky Sports analyst Graeme McDowell warned: “I think Rory will have too much emotion this week. I still hope he will compete, but it will be very difficult for him with the weight on his shoulders with all the emotion and weight of a country on his back.”
It has not looked like this this week. Buddhist monks speak more than Harry Diamond, but even McIlroy’s Caddy gave a short TV interview on the range.
“He is in great form,” he said. “It should be good, just start tomorrow!”
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