Rory McIlroy drops Masters truth bomb about The Open
PGA Tour fan favorite Rory McIlroy made history earlier this year. The Northern Irishman joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods as the only players to complete the career grand slam. He did so by capturing the Masters Tournament title back in April. It was an accomplishment more than a decade in the making.
He had already won the other three majors, with the most recent back in 2014. But if you thought that McIlroy had the Masters circled on his 2025 calendar, you would have been wrong.
The Open Championship is this week and will be hosted in his home nation of Northern Ireland. That adds an element that moved this year's Open to the top of his list.
'When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was circled, even more so than the Masters,' McIlroy said following his practice round, per ESPN. 'I've done something that I've told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it's like I still feel like I have a lot more to give … I still feel like there's a lot left in there. The story certainly isn't over.'
Rory McIlroy Returns Home as the Masters Champion
Returning to his home course as the reigning Masters champion is a bit surreal for the five-time major champion.
'The fact that I'm here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way and enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them,' said McIlroy. 'But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that.'
The World No. 2 is certainly capable of earning the honor of being named the Champion Golfer of the Year (a title bestowed upon The Open winner). After all, at just 16 years old, McIlroy set the course record at Royal Portrush (61). He knows this track as well as anyone in the field this week. But that does not automatically translate to success.
The last time the Open Championship was hosted at Royal Portrush was in 2019. McIlroy carded a snowman on his first hole on his way to missing the cut. But unlike six years ago, Rory McIlroy is planning a different approach this time around.
'I think in '19, I probably tried to isolate,' said McIlroy. 'And I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it.'
But with a star-studded field including who is considered the be the best player since Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, it will be far from easy.
Related: Rory McIlroy goes full sicko mode to prepare for the Open Championship
Related: Former NHL star Joe Pavelski almost speechless after winning American Century Championship
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Remarkable' North London school girl, 10, becomes youngest female to beat chess Grandmaster
A ten-year-old school girl from Harrow has made chess history after she became the youngest female to beat a chess Grandmaster. Bodhana Sivanandan pulled off the win on Sunday (August 10) against 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells in the last round of the 2025 in Liverpool. Sivanandan's victory at 10 years, five months and three days beats the 2019 record held by American Carissa Yip, who went on to become an International Master. Bodhana gained 24 points during the event, finishing in equal 26th place, which has been recognised as 'remarkable' for a 10-year-old. She has been stirring up a commotion in the chess world for more than a year, having already won more than three junior world titles. Bodhana has now picked up the title of Women's International Master which is one of the rungs of the ladder to becoming a Grand Master. Her game against chess Grandmaster Peter K. Wells, 60, may have begun a little rocky, but the young chess prodigy soon turned the tide to earn herself a historic win. Danny Gormally, the English Chess Federation's expert commentator, said: 'How on earth did she win this? She must be some kind of magician!' He added: "She likes to play simple positional moves, nothing special, very solid player and she tends to outplay her opponents later in the game. There's a touch of a [world number-one] Magnus Carlsen or the great Jose Raul Capablanca about her play. I would imagine Magnus Carlsen is probably one of her chess heroes." More than 1,000 chess players from around the UK attended the event to compete for the title of British Chess Champion. The King of Chess, Michael Adams, 53, won the tournament for the ninth time, winning £4,400 in prize money and the British Crown Trophy. Bodhana was not the only child prodigy to compete in the championships. Supratit Banerjee, 11, finished on 6/9, beating two grandmasters and sealing his first International Master title. The 2026 British Chess Championships will be held at the University of Warwick in Coventry, marking the tournament's 112th event. Got a story? Please get in touch at Stay informed about the latest West London news. Sign up for our MyWestLondon newsletter HERE to receive daily updates and more.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool build an ALL-CONQUERING attack by signing Bradley Barcola
Liverpool want to win everything in sight when they start a season. It's a mentality that often leads to criticism from fans of rival teams when the Reds fail to win a quadruple - which is an achievement that no one in England has ever been able to win before. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range 🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨 LFC x adidas Shop the away range TODAY LFC x adidas Shop the home range today! LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! But regardless, the team's focus is constantly on success and while it often sets them up for failure, the club has managed to become the most successful team in England based on major trophies. 🔴 Furthermore, in the 2021/22 season, the Reds become the closest team in English football history to achieving the quadruple - winning the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, alongside missing out on the Premier League by one point and losing the Champions League final 1-0 to Real Madrid. In order to succeed on all fronts, you need an all-conquering attack and Liverpool are on the brink. Barcola would complete Liverpool's fluid attack Of course, I'm in no way trying to set the team up for failure here by suggesting that the quadruple would be on if Bradley Barcola signs, but it would be a seriously dangerous forward line if he did. He was really influential in Paris Saint Germain's Champions League winning side last season and the European Cup trophy was just one of three Luis Enrique's team won across all competitions. Including the Club World Cup games added on during the summer, he had 21 goals and 21 assists in 64 appearances, which is nothing short of remarkable for a 22-year-old winger. He's generational. Which is why Liverpool fans were incredibly excited by the rumours that Barcola is on Liverpool's shortlist of dream signings, if Alexander Isak cannot be signed, alongside Rodrygo at Real Madrid. Based on last season's form at least, it doesn't feel a stretch to call him a world class asset and he's so young that he could play a pivotal role in the team over the next decade, if we keep hold of him. You might be thinking, how come Liverpool are considering a left-winger, since we have Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha has been earmarked for a breakout campaign this season? Well, to put it simply, it's all about Arne Slot's decision to change things stylistically to become a more well-rounded outfit. Over at PSG where Barcola would be coming from, we've seen an attacking line that is unlike anything we've really seen before. Wingers don't really exist since each member of the front three will move into space when it's available. Tracking your man is impossible. They're fluid in a sense. And Florian Wirtz inadvertently suggested that Liverpool could start using PSG's blueprint this season when he spoke in his first interview with the media as a Red after a pre-season game. He said: "I think I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me. Of course, I have to respect the position and the players around me, but I try to give my best on the pitch and find the right places. I have the freedom for this." In a sense, he isn't really a No. 10 at all and even though he can play at left-wing or as a centre-forward, he might feature in each of those roles temporarily throughout a 90-minute appearance. Arne Slot isn't building a rigid team, he's purposefully trying to create chaos. We've already seen it throughout pre-season, with Hugo Ekitike's assist against Athletic Club coming when the Frenchman forayed down the left-hand side, with Gakpo switching with him to move into a more central zone. Barcola would only be an extension of that. Last season he played 223 minutes on the right-hand side of the pitch, delivering one goal and three assists. He'd be able to cover Mohamed Salah at times if the Egyptian need to be our targetman and Jeremie Frimpong can play everywhere. So while Isak would certainly sure-up the team in a conventional sense, having three wingers and two strikers to choose from, Barcola would add more carnage and unpredictability to the side. As part of PSG's team, they managed to conquer football, winning Ligue 1, the Champions League and the Coupe de France. If he became a Liverpool player - for a substantially lower fee than Isak - then rival teams would have no idea how to defend against us, a tried and tested winning strategy.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool Transfer News: Back-up plan CONFIRMED for Alexander Isak
Regardless of whether moves this summer or not, Liverpool have to make sure a framework is in place for his transfer to be agreed in due course, since he really wants to join. Of course, going into a season with just one striker available is far from ideal, but the Reds could certainly make it work temporarily if they really needed to. There are options to try and utilise. Shop the LFC Store 🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨 LFC x adidas Shop the home range today! LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! One idea currently on the table is to bring a winger in this transfer window instead, since Luis Diaz hasn't been formally replaced. Rio Ngumoha has been called up from the academy in his place. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range Meanwhile, another is to keep the cash and wait for a more opportune moment to get Isak finalised. Isak to follow the Van Dijk blueprint? Given how much Isak has damaged his reputation on Tyneside, it appears as though a move to Liverpool is now inevitable, just like how Philippe Coutinho's transfer to Barcelona was always likely. That specific analogy was in reference to a team letting a crucial player go during the January transfer window, with Liverpool losing out. However, we could look at Isak joining through the perspective of the Virgil Van Dijk's move from Southampton to Liverpool in the winter of 2018. Chris Bascombe for The Telegraph has been mulling over this very possibility in his latest report. He said: "...Ekitike might allow Liverpool the luxury of adopting the same patient approach with Isak as they did with Van Dijk in the summer of 2017 - denied his signature in the short term in the knowledge [that] once a player has set his mind on an Anfield move, it is usually a case of when, not if, he joins. "Van Dijk's six month delay before signing, after Southampton stood firm, was soon forgotten once the Dutchman began his journey to legendary status." And if we're honest, it's plausible that Isak could have just as significant an impact on the team. He's in the prime of his career, we have a clear track-record to look back on in terms of his success in front of goal, delivering consistent attacking returns and he's pretty clinical when gets a chance. Ekitike's transfer fee doesn't have to make a difference to how Arne Slot decides to use him. If Isak joins, he might become a 'back-up' as some have claimed, or he might just be a more flexible asset, able to feature on the left-wing on occasion if Liverpool desperately need him to. In terms of making it happen, Liverpool would need to call upon Jayden Danns as a back-up striker and Florian Wirtz might have to facilitate Ngumoha's left-wing minutes being managed as well. Another caveat might be that the Reds aren't quite as on it as we expect them to be, given the new signings, because injuries are likely to hit the team harder than they'd him most with squad depth. But the boost of getting Isak in January would certainly be something worth waiting for, although in this instance, Newcastle might have managed to convince him to sign a new contract by that point. Most certainly, it would be a risk. The loyalty that Van Dijk showed to us during his transfer saga was incredibly noble and you would hope that Isak might do the same. But his conduct throughout this summer has been a little bit questionable, given how easily he was able to defy Eddie Howe's orders. As such, it's definitely not going to be a strategy that Liverpool will be eager to deploy, but if the situation becomes drastic in the last few days of August then it might be an ideal back-up plan.
