EXCLUSIVE Former major champion reveals why Rory McIlroy will be 'under a lot of emotional stress' as he prepares to tee up at The Open
Bounding in form following a T2 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, much of the talk at Portrush this week has centred around how the Northern Irishman will perform on this swirling links golf course.
His compatriot and former Ryder Cup team-mate, Graeme McDowell, believes the expectations and emotion of coming back to play in front of his home crowd could get the better of the 2025 Masters champion.
'I think Rory is going to be under a lot of emotional stress,' McDowell, who will feature on The Open exclusively live on Sky Sports as an analyst this week, told Mail Sport.
'I think the weight of a golfing nation on his shoulders, it's one part of a celebration for what he's achieved in the Grand Slam.
'He obviously desperately wants to perform here after A) the way he played in 2019, and B) the fact he's in front of his adoring public here in Northern Ireland.'
McIlroy endured a nightmare in front of his home fans at The Open at Portrush in 2019. He carded an opening round of 79, followed by a 65, and missed the cut at two-over-par.
McIlroy admitted that he had felt pressure to perform for the home fans when he stepped onto the first tee in 2019, notably gripping a long iron on the first tee and hooking his first shot left into the rough.
McIlroy admitted earlier this week that he wasn't mentally prepared to take on Portrush that year but did not want to let people down.
'It's a major championship, everything that comes along with it, and I just think that that feeling, the walk to the first tee and then that ovation, I was still a little surprised and a little taken aback, like geez, these people really want me to win,' McIlroy said.
'I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself and not really wanting to let people down. I guess it's just something I didn't mentally prepare for that day or that week. 'But I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle.
'I talked about it at the Masters on that last day. The battle on that last day wasn't with Augusta National. It wasn't with Bryson. It wasn't with Justin Rose. The battle that day was with myself.'
McDowell spent a lot of time alongside McIlroy during the fledgling years of his glittering career.
He has previously backed his compatriot to go on to win 'five or six more majors' and believes if he can stay focused on his game, McIlroy can be in contention come Sunday afternoon.
'It's a massive undertaking,' the LIV Golf star added.
'I wouldn't put anything past him. He's so good that I hope he competes. I hope he's there on Sunday afternoon because it'll be such a compelling watch.'
McIlroy recounted that opening day as he stood on the first tee at Portrush in 2019.
And as he lauded McIlroy's epic achievement this year, the 2010 US Open champion explained even he struggles to fathom the magnitude of his career grand slam.
'I have had the honour to spend a lot of time with Rory when he first turned pro. And I know he's one of the most special players I've ever seen. [He's among players like] Tiger Woods - I put him up there with two or three of the greatest I've ever seen play the sport.
'He just makes it look so easy.
'And he did that from a young age, not just the way he drives it, but just his short game and his general demeanour and the way he plays the sport. It's just so good.
'So it's a massive, I can't imagine how he's going to feel. Obviously, to win the Grand Slam, I mean, it's crazy stuff. It's actually, I find it a bit hard to believe.
'It's a bit surreal, even, it's actually, I find it like, you know, a bit hard to believe now, you know, it's a bit surreal.
'Even as an outsider looking into his life, you know, someone who knows him reasonably well.
'It's a bit surreal. It's mad. It's going to be cool to watch him go at it this weekend.'
McIlroy tees off on Thursday alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas at 3:10pm, local time.
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