Rory McIlroy reveals reason for struggles after Masters win as he targets victory in The Open at Portrush
Rory McIlroy feels he can scamper to a sixth Major triumph at the Open - after finally getting a break from the 'hamster wheel' of professional golf.
McIlroy believes the reason it took him so long to recapture his competitive vibe after his Masters triumph was because he had no chance to enjoy his career-defining achievement.
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Rory McIlroy is feeling more refreshed after his two-week golf break
Credit: Sportsfile
The USPGA and the US Open followed hard on the heels of Augusta, where McIlroy, 36, finally completed the career Grand Slam, after a Major drought lasting more than a decade.
And he says it was only when he took two weeks off following last month's Travelers Championship that he was able to appreciate what he had achieved.
He explained: 'Yeah, I think everyone could see over the last couple of months how I struggled with resetting my goals, after I've done something that I've told everyone that I wanted to do.
'I probably just didn't give myself enough time to let it all sink in. But that's the nature of professional golf.
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"They do a very good job of keeping you on the hamster wheel, and you feel like it's hard to get off at times.
'But it's been an amazing year. The fact that I'm here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream.
'Now 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.
'But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that.'
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McIlroy proved he is not ready to simply bask in the glory of becoming only the sixth player ever to win all four Majors as he launched himself into his Open preparations yesterday.
He was still on the course at the Scottish Open until nearly 7pm on Sunday - and was back in action just 12 hours later to play his first practice round at Portrush.
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He added: 'We didn't get into the hotel here until around 1am, and I only had four hours sleep before it was time to get ready for my practice round. So I'm looking forward to taking a nap after this.
'The last couple of Majors, at the PGA and the US Open, the practice rounds took so long. And I feel like there are fifty people inside the ropes all the time. I feel like I just can't get good work done, good preparation.
'I didn't come up here ahead of time to try to get a couple of practice rounds in, and I've only played the two competitive rounds here at the 2019 Open since they made the changes to the course.
'So I just wanted to get out early, sort of beat the rush, beat the crowd, and do my work with not a lot of people around.
"That was the reason that I was out so early today. It worked out well. I feel like I got a productive day of work in.'
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Leader Live
6 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Padraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. The morning starters, which included world number one and US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler playing alongside Irish 2019 champion Shane Lowry and former winner Collin Morikawa off at 10.09am, were likely to get the best of the weather. That also meant the group ahead of Xander Schauffele, beginning his defence of the Claret Jug, Jon Rahm and US Open champion JJ Spaun would also be likely beneficiaries. Conversely McIlroy, not due out until 3.10pm with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and American rival Justin Thomas, was facing a greater chance of rain, some of it heavy, with winds gusting up to 20mph. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, second at last month's US Open, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, European Ryder Cup partners Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, were also paired together in the two groups immediately prior to McIlroy.
Rhyl Journal
6 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Padraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. The morning starters, which included world number one and US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler playing alongside Irish 2019 champion Shane Lowry and former winner Collin Morikawa off at 10.09am, were likely to get the best of the weather. That also meant the group ahead of Xander Schauffele, beginning his defence of the Claret Jug, Jon Rahm and US Open champion JJ Spaun would also be likely beneficiaries. Conversely McIlroy, not due out until 3.10pm with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and American rival Justin Thomas, was facing a greater chance of rain, some of it heavy, with winds gusting up to 20mph. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, second at last month's US Open, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, European Ryder Cup partners Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, were also paired together in the two groups immediately prior to McIlroy.
Belfast Telegraph
6 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: NI star among the leading pack as Portrush causing problems for early starters in round one
7 minutes ago Adam McKendry How it stands First group going along nicely. Keeping good pace, too. 9 minutes ago The eagle lands!! Lovely putt from McKibbin up and over the ridge, right to left, and in she drops! After a rocky start, he's now three-under for his last three holes and up to -1! That would be a share of the lead if it wasn't for Nicolai Højgaard getting up and down from the left of the green for birdie and he's reassumed the solo lead at -2! Harrington, meanwhile, scrambles for his par which is not a bad outcome after that drive. Still +1. 17 minutes ago The roar carries We could hear that roar for Phil's bunker shot all the way down on 7, where Tom McKibbin got a loud ovation after crushing his drive down the middle. He'll have a great chance to go for the green and maybe set up an eagle chance. Pádraig Harrington has had to lay up after finding the fairway bunker. Things are fun in this group - McKibbin and Højgaard in particular are having a good few laughs. 19 minutes ago Gareth Hanna A beautiful noise The Open on Twitter / X First tee shot. First birdie of the Harrington is off to a strong start. The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 21 minutes ago Gareth Hanna He'd pay for that in my fourball... Phil Mickelson won't be under par for long. His tee shot on the 176-yard par three third was plugged in the face of the front bunker, and he can't get it out of the trap. In my fourball, that would be 50p to every other player for not escaping the bunker. OH BUT WAIT! He WILL be under par for long. He's only gone and holed his next bunker shot for a glorious par!! He'd still owe 50p though... The Open on Twitter / X A short game holes out from the sand. The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 24 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Louis, Louis - oh baby! Oosthuizen becomes the first man to drive the par four fifth green. It's 372 yards but all downhill. Get the line right and these boys can get it there. Super shot on what is the most picturesque point on the course. He misses the eagle try up the hill but it's a two-putt bird and he's back to level par. Back at one, Darren Clarke has a two-putt par to get his Open off to a steady start. (Kudos to those who recognised the Kinks reference in the title of this one.) 26 minutes ago Pars all round The sixth is going to be another really tricky hole with the wind blowing directly left to right across the green but the lead group navigate it well, all of them hitting the green with their tee shots and two putting from range. Not much more to add - on to the seventh and a potential birdie chance! 27 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Mickelson in the red! A birdie on the second gets the LIV Golf player into red figures, joining Nicolai Hojgaard and Jacob Skov Olesen at the top. And Lucas Herbert who rallies in a long putt on the first. It smashed the back of the cup. It could be this golf legend's last time playing in NI – why you should catch him while you still can Phil Mickelson made scores of Northern Ireland kids happy on Tuesday. 37 minutes ago Adam McKendry Birdie for McKibbin The Newtownabbey man is on the board! A nice curling putt from right to left and he's back up to +1. Harrington tidies up nicely for par to remain on the same score but Højgaard continues to look impressive as he leaves his first chip in the rough but then holes from 15 feet to save par after his second pitch shot. 38 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Darren feeling it? He has spoken of changing his initial plan to hit iron of the first tee in 2019 due to last minute nerves. And it's the big stick again today - but it's ripped down the middle with a touch of draw just to send it out there an extra few yards. Fair play - and again the cheer goes up for the 2011 Champion Golfer, who now has a hole named after him on this course. 41 minutes ago "Where is it again?" Pádraig's struggles continue as he finds the thick rough left of the fifth fairway. In fact, it's so deep, he takes a couple of practice swings beside the ball and then has to ask caddy Ronan Flood where the ball is again because he can't see it! The recovery shot is magnificent, though, and gives him an outside look at birdie, while Tom McKibbin chips up from short of the green and has around six feet for a first birdie of his own. 41 minutes ago Gareth Hanna What's the weather forecast for the day? Well, if the early starters are struggling, it's not looking likely the scoring will improve drastically later. The clouds are to close in as the morning progresses with storms most likely just after lunch-time. There's even a weather warning in place between 11am and 8pm. Rory McIlroy will be hoping the showers come and go before his 3.10pm tee time. 46 minutes ago Here's Darren! We can hear the cheers from inside the media centre and it can only be one thing - Darren Clarke walking onto the first tee. 49 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Dustin does it That's the best tee shot of the day so far on 1, from American Dustin Johnson. The perfect shape - a cut into the wind - holds it against the breeze and sends it bounding up the centre of the fairway. No messing. His playing partner Jordan Smith, however, finds that thick, thick rough on the left and has to pitch out sideways. 49 minutes ago Putter has gone cold Harrington drops back-to-back shots as he three putts for the second consecutive hole, this time from 53 feet on the fourth, to drop back to +1. A par apiece for tournament leader Højgaard, who gets up and down, and McKibbin and they stay -1 and +2 respectively. 54 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Royal Portrush takes the upper hand There are 15 players on the course. Two of them are under par. Nine of them are over par. Perks of the job The impressive Dunluce Lodge flanks the fourth fairway, and a few of the employees have nipped out to catch our lead group playing through. Harrington and McKibbin both hit the fairway and then the green, so they have outside looks at birdie, but Højgaard finds trouble down the left again and hits his approach into the mound short left of the green, so he's got another tough up and down to navigate. Today 06:28 AM Gareth Hanna What about that first hole!? Now eight of the first 12 players have made bogey (or worse) at the first. It's playing into the wind, which is also coaxing the players towards the out of bounds on the left. Phil Mickelson is out there now, and he managed to get his tee shot away OK, into the semi round before chasing his second on to the right edge of the green. Early frustrations Pádraig Harrington no longer shares the lead as he leaves his first putt a good five feet short of the hole and then can't hole his second either, so that's a three-putt bogey at the third and he's back to level-par. Tom McKibbin also drops another shot, his second in three holes as his chip from the front of the green leaves him about four feet for par but it burns the edge and stays up. +2 for the Newtownabbey man. Højgaard gets the job done, though, bumping a nice chip up the green to three feet and sinking the putt to stay -1.
